[MR] Wikipedia: Dagger-happy Scotland

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble friends, especially fellow Scots,

10 February marks the anniversary of an infamous Scottish murder. I've
posted on these events in the past. Since this event had a tremendous
effect on Scottish history, this violent incident is worth recounting.

On this day in 1306, Robert the Bruce and his men offed John "the Red"
Comyn before the altar in the Greyfriars Church in Dumfries.

Comyn was one of the most powerful men in Northern Scotland, and had a
valid claim to the throne. Robert the Bruce also had an equally strong
claim. Both men had supposedly made peace with Edward I during his conquest
of Scotland, but were pursuing their own interests under the table. It is
quite possible that Comyn informed Edward about Bruce's double-dealing.
Bruce had been in London, but was tipped off that Edward had ordered his
arrest. Bruce and a squire made a dash for the relative safety of Scotland
with the English in hot pursuit.

Supposedly Bruce and Comyn agreed to a truce and were going to sort out
their differences on neutral ground in the church. Who drew a blade first
is uncertain, but Bruce got the better of Comyn and stabbed him several
times. He stumbled out of the church and said to his men, "I think I have
just slain The Red Comyn." Roger de Kirpatrick said, "You doubt? I mak
siccar." [*"I will make certain."*] When Kirpatrick and others rushed into
the church they found Comyn badly wounded but still alive, so they finished
the job. Sir Robert Flemming decapitated John Comyn and brought the head
out to Bruce, proclaiming "Let the deed shaw." [*"Let the deed show."*]
 And this is one reason the English branded the Scots as "dagger-happy"
(but certainly not the only reason).

Robert the Bruce was now an outlaw, and up to his neck in a civil war with
the Comyns, who went over more-or-less completely to the English, as well
as being hunted by Edward's men. To top it off, he was soon excommunicated
by the Pope for desecrating the Greyfriar's church with the bloody deed.
Having nothing left to lose, Bruce had himself crowned King of Scots on 25
March 1306 and raised the standard of rebellion. An ailing Edward I led an
army north to Scotland, but died on 7 July 1307 at Burgh by Sands just
short of the Scottish border. Robert the Bruce essentially wiped out the
Comyns, and eventually crushed an English army ineffectually led by Edward
II at the 1314 Battle of Bannockburn. Bruce was then able to unite the rest
of Scotland and ruled until his own death in 1329.

Whew! Rough game, Scottish politics!

Comyn's murder is recounted at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Comyn_III_of_Badenoch .

Yours Aye,

Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆
Continuing a crusade to keep the original Merry Rose relevant and in
business.