THE HOUSE OF BRUCE (1306-1371) Vaught-Jasper-Trusty-Molloy, Genealogy Tree Robert I (the Bruce) (r.1306-1329) Robert the Bruce, 2nd Earl of Carrick and grandson of the old Competitor had supported Edward I against Balliol but, when Wallace renounced the guardianship of Scotland Bruce and Balliol's nephew, John "Red" Comyn replaced him as joint guardians. After a quarrel with Comyn he returned to Edward's camp and obtained a pardon. Bruce, seeking a reconciliation with Comyn, impulsively stabbed him at Dumfries in a church. He was again outlawed by Edward and excommunicated. Bruce claimed the Scottish throne as great-great-grandson of David I and was crowned at Scone in 1306. He went into hiding in a cave on an island off Ireland after he killed Red Comyn. This is where we get the legend of Bruce and the spider. We do not know if this is a true story but it makes a good legend. He watched the spider spinning its web and attempting to fix the web to the ceiling. At last the spider succeeded. According to the legend, this inspired Bruce to overcome his many hardships and persevere until he had won back Scotland. He made plans to take back his original home, Turnberry Castle. As they made their way to the castle, the plan was that if all was well, a light would be showing at the castle wall. They did see the light but upon nearing the castle, discovered that it was an enemy fire. Nonetheless, Bruce attacked and by this surprise attack gained food, armour and horses. He learned that three of his brothers and his wife, daughter and two sisters had been imprisoned by the English. Although he was now King, he was not well supported by the nobles and so Scottish lands and castles remained in the hands of the English. He knew that he would have to fight castle by castle in order to regain Scotland and drive the English out. Through his perseverance, by 1324 all castles in Scotland except Stirling were in Scottish hands. By this time Edward II was on the throne of England and was much more ineffectual than his father. Bruce's much smaller force spectacularly defeated Edward II's 20,000 strong army at Bannockburn. The Declaration of Arbroath, an affirmation of Scottish independence, was sent to the Pope but the Pope did not recognize Bruce for four years as the rightful king of Scotland. After Edward III ascended to the throne, Bruce's army harassed the English so much that Edward III was forced to acknowledge his sovereignty and Scotland's freedom. Not long after the peace Bruce died. He was buried in Dunfermline Abbey. He had always wanted to go on a crusade. When he died his heart was placed in a silver casket and kept by Sir James Douglas who planned to take it on a crusade to the Holy Lands. Douglas joined the army of the King of Spain and while fighting a battle was killed. But before he died, he threw the casket in the midst of the battle crying, "Now go before, brave heart, as you always did, and I shall follow you or die." The casket was recovered and returned to Scotland. At the end of Bruce's life, he had achieved what he had fought for years to accomplish. Scotland was once again an independent kingdom. Scotland remembers him as "Good King Robert" and his triumph at Bannockburn is a rallying cry to Scots everywhere. Scotland would never again be conquered. Bruce's final legacy was to confirm "Scotland as separate and distinct, not just as a kingdom but as a community, a people and ultimately a nation." Robert & His Wife Isabel De Clare Robert "the Competitor" De Brus and The Molloys are 1st cousins 26 times removed. Their common ancestors are David Earl of Huntingdon and Maud De Meschines. Isabel De Clare is the 25th great grand aunt of the Molloys. Their common ancestors are Gilbert De Clare Earl of Gloucester and Isabel Marshall.

DAVID II (r.1329-1371) David almost lost all that his father had gained. David was only five years old when Robert the Bruce died. He was the son of Robert and his second wife, Elizabeth. He was married at the age of four to Edward II's daughter, Joan, and became Scotland's first anointed king a year later. Robert the Bruce had received oil blessed by the Pope and permission for it to be used to anoint his son at his coronation. It was the first time that a king had been anointed during the crowning ceremony. The oil was sprinkled on ten parts of the king's body, his head, breast, shoulders, armpits, elbows and the palms of his hands. He was thus considered "The Lord's anointed." Edward III realized the vulnerability of the Scottish throne. The men who had been close to Bruce were gone, Douglas killed in Spain and Randolph, the Earl of Moray, had died. Edward turned a blind eye when Edward Balliol, the son of Toom Tabard, defeated David's army and proclaimed himself king. The Scots had apparently forgotten the ways of warfare under Bruce and lost the battle with Balliol's army. Scotland now had two kings. Balliol was quickly ejected from Scotland but returned a year later while David was sent to France for safekeeping. Scotland was shared between Edward III and Edward Balliol but David's cause was kept alive by John Randolph, Robert Steward and Sir Andrew Moray. During this time Edward III was pursuing his claim to the French throne and so began the Hundred Years' War between France and England. Five years after returning to Scotland, David invaded England for the French (rather foolishly) and not being the warrior that his father was, he was captured. Scotland was impoverished by war and needed peace and good government but David provided neither. In captivity he became friendly with Edward III, who, after all, was his brother-in-law. In the meantime, Edward Balliol returned to Scotland. Edward Balliol apparently realized his position was futile and retired on a pension from Edward III who took Scotland under his direct control. After nine years of captivity, David paid a ransom of 100,000 merks per year and was returned to Scotland. Robert Stewart, the Bruce's grandson, had been guardian of Scotland during David's time in France and England. David antagonized parliament because he wanted a union between Scotland and England so that he wouldn't have to pay his yearly ransom. He had no children and his proposal was that when he died the crown would go to Edward or one of his sons. He felt the Scots would accept this to avoid the payment of the ransom. However, they did not agree. After Queen Joan died, David married his mistress, Margaret Drummond, the widow of Sir John Logie, but she failed to produce an heir and he unsuccessfully tried to divorce her. The Scottish nobles regarded her as unworthy to be Queen. As an aside, it was during David's reign that the Black Death swept across Europe. Scotland was the last country to suffer. Scotland did prosper under David at the end of his reign but taxes were increased to pay the ransom which had been changed from a ten year payment to a 25 year payment and increased. The increases in taxes did not necessarily reflect such an increase in productivity. David died at the age of 46 without a direct heir but Scotland was still independent. David II King of Scotland and the Molloys are 3rd cousins 24 times removed. Their common ancestors are Gilbert De Clare Earl of Gloucester and Isabel Mashall.