[MR] Dark Deeds in Scotland (What Else?)

[Brynjolf]

As a side note, it was the Comyns who originally built Balvenie Castle, one
of the first castles in Scotland to have a curtain wall. Today, The
Balvenie Distillery stands nearby, where some of the finest whisky in the
world is made. The 88 bottles from Cask 5576 are currently fetching
$32,000. Each.

-Brynjolf

On Mon, Feb 11, 2013 at 6:58 AM, Groff, Garth (ggg9y) <ggg9y at virginia.edu>wrote:

>  Noble Friends, Especially Fellow Scots, ****
>
> ** **
>
> Yesterday, 10 February, was the anniversary of a grim but extremely
> important moment in Scottish (and English history). It was the day in 1306
> that John Comyn ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Comyn ) was murdered,
> and Robert the Bruce ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_the_Bruce )
> began his quest for the crown of Scotland.****
>
> ** **
>
> Relations between the Bruce and Comyn had been bad for some time, and
> neither man had a sterling record. Both were rival claimants for the
> Scottish crown, and both had equally good (or tenuous) claims.
> Unfortunately for John Comyn, he had been tainted with the cowardly
> (perhaps treasonous) flight of the Scottish cavalry under his command at
> the Battle of Falkirk (
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Falkirk_(1298) ). Bruce had played
> footsie with the English for some time, having lands in English-controlled
> France that he was protecting. He had been present at Falkirk on the
> English side, though he supposedly took no part in the battle. Bruce was
> playing on both sides of the Scottish/English divide, and his dealings with
> the Scots may have been exposed to Edward I by John Comyn. What a pair!***
> *
>
> ** **
>
> So the two men agreed to meet in the Greyfriars Church in Dumfries to
> settle their differences. Nobody knows what exactly happened, but daggers
> were drawn, or a dagger was drawn which ended up in John Comyn's body.
> According to most accounts, Bruce emerged from the church and said to his
> followers, "I have just killed John Comyn." They rushed inside and found
> Comyn still alive though seriously wounded. Bruce's followers apparently
> finished the job, and also eliminated at least one Comyn follower who was
> protecting his lord.****
>
> ** **
>
> Sheesh! No wonder the English call us Scots "dagger happy". Maybe the Bard
> was right!****
>
> ** **
>
> In any case, Robert the Bruce had thrown the dice, and had to finish the
> game. He had himself crowned King of Scotland at Scone on 25 March 1306.
> This was just the beginning of his long slog to free Scotland from English
> domination and Edward I's grip. That took several years of hard fighting,
> against the English, their Scottish supporters, and other rivals for the
> throne (including the remaining Comyns). This culminated with the Battle of
> Bannockburn 23-24 June 1314, when The Bruce’s Scottish army trounced a much
> larger force, personally (and very ineffectively) led by the next English
> king Edward II ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bannockburn ).****
>
> ** **
>
> Robert the Bruce is generally thought of as Scotland's greatest king, and
> he certainly was a successful and popular ruler once he was firmly on the
> throne. Like most kings of his time, he had a ruthless streak, and there
> certainly was a considerable amount of blood on his hands. In any case,
> Robert the Bruce successfully restored Scottish independence.****
>
> ** **
>
> Yours Aye,****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> Lord Mungo Napier, That Crazy Scot****
>