Robert Bruce

  General Notes:

Crowned King of Scotland 1306. Lived during the time of William Walla ce of Scotland and fought with Wallace against the English.

The heart of King Robert Bruce was, by his own explicit direction, tak en by his most trusted knight (Sir James Douglas) "to be presented", o rdered the King, "to the Holy Sepulchre where our Lord lay, seeing myb ody cannot come there and wheresoever ye come let it be known that yo u carry with you the heart of Robert Bruce."

Casketed in silver, the heart, in Sir James constant care, began its j ourney. But Sir James never reached Jerusalem. He kept to his ship," kept always his behaviour and great triumph, as though he were King o f Scots himself, and in his company were 26 young squires and gentleme n to serve him, his vessels were of gold and silver, pots, pans, basin s, ewers, dishes, flagons, cups. And all such as would come to see hi m were well served with wine and diverse manner of spices, all peoplea ccording to their degrees." This is related by Lord Berner's English version of The Flemish Sttory, rich in the prose of the fifteenth cent ury.

Near the Spanish border, Sir James was attacked by Saracens, and thoug h his party did wonders in arms, all were slain save William Keith, ke pt from the fight by a broken arm. He embalmed Sir James body and too k it and the heart of Robert Bruce in its silver casket back to Scotla nd. The heart lies in the Abbey of Melrose that Bruce had loved.

Robert married Isabel or Mar.

Robert next married Elizabeth of Ulster.