Page:History of King Robt. Bruce (1).pdf/2

 THE HISTORY

KING ROBERT BRUCE

of England, having constrained John Baliol to abdicate the throne of Scotland, and succeeded, by treachery in securing the renowned Sir William Wallace, whom he cruelly put to death at London on the 23d of August 1304 took possession of the country as his by right of conquest. The people everywhere rose against the usurper, who were determined to fight for the freedom of their country, and relieve themselves from the galling yoke of the English; and therefore, such great nobles as thought they had a right the vacant throne began to stand forward to claim it. Among the competitors for the regal honour were two powerful noblemen. The first was, Earl of Carrick, grandson of that Robert Bruce who had disputed the throne with John Baliol; the other was of Badenoch generally styled the Red Comyn, to distinguish him from his kinsman, the Black Comyn, so called from his swarthy complexion. These two powerful barons had both assisted the immortal Wallace in the wars against England; but after the defeat at Falkirk, being afraid of losing their great estates and desponding of ever regaining the independence of the country, they not only acknowledged Edward as King of Scotland, but even bore arms along with the English against their patriotic countrymen, who resolved rather to die in defenee of their rights than submit to the tyrant's sway for a moment.

Bruce's feelings concerning the baseness of his conduct are believed to have been roused by the following ineident:- In one of the numerous battles which took place between the English and their adherents on the one side and the Seottish patriots on the other, Bruce had assisted the English in gaining the victory. Wlien the battle was over, he sat down to dinner without washing his hands, on which were spot of blood which he had shed during the action. "Look at the Scotchman," whispered some of the English lords to their messmates," who is eating his own blood." Bruce felt the cutting remark, and, beginning to reflect that the blood upon his hands might well be styled his own blood, seeing it