Page:Life of King Robert Bruce.pdf/3



, king of Seotland, was born 21st March, 1274, at the Castle of Turnberry, in the county of Ayr. The family of Bruce was of Norman origin, and his father married the Countess of Carrick, by whom he had four sons and seven daughters. The eldest son, Robert, the hero of our story, had the title of Earl of Carrick, and afterwards became king of Scotland.

Edward the First of England, a brave and powerful prince, had prevailed upon the weak and timid John Baliol to resign the crown of Scotland, and having also cruelly put to death the renowned hero, Sir William Wallace, who had been treacherously delivered into his hands, took possession of the different strongholds of the country, with the intention of annexing Scotland to the English crown. But the people everywhere rose against the usurper, and determined to relieve themselves from the galling yoke of the English. Such of the nobles as thought they had a right to the vacant throne, stood forward to claim it; and among the competitors for the regal honour were Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick—whose grandfather had formerly disputed the throne with John Baliol—and John Comyn, of Badenoch, generally styled the Red Comyn, to distinguish him from his kinsman, the Black Comyn, so called from his swarthy complexion. These powerful barons had assisted the immortal Wallace in the wars against England; but after the defeat at Falkirk,