• General Notes

  Robert DE BRUCE, ,"The Good Bruce", King Robert I,of Scotland
  
  King Robert Bruce had made a vow to go to the Holy Land, to expiate the death of Comyn. Upon his death-bed he regretted exceedingly having, by the contests in which was incessantly in support of his throne, been prevented from fulfilling his vow, and desired that his heart might be taken to Jerusalem.The noble James Douglas, with the heart suspended from his neck in a silver casket, accompanied by a son of Sir Roger Kirkpatrick and other knights, undertook the Commission, but Douglas was slain in Spain by the Moors. Sir Simon Lochart of Lee afterwards brought the heart back to Scotland, and buried it under the High Altar, in Melrose Abbey.
  
  King Robert died on 7th June 1329, and his son, afterward David II. being only five years of age was sent to France for safety.
  
  The body of Bruce was interred in Dunfermline Church, which in time became a ruin, and the site of the tomb lost. In 1818 , this ancient church was restored; in removing masonry, fragments of the monument were found; excavating deeper, the workmen came upon the skeleton of a tall man wrapped in the remains of a shroud of cloth of gold, the breast bone was sawn through as if in order to remove the heart. These remains were solemnly buried in a new grave, with the respect due to one of Scotland's greatest Kings.
  (Research):As a Guardian of Scotland (1298-1301 and 1302-1304)Red Comyn often quarreled with the other nobles - in 1299 he was seen to seize the Earl of Carrick (later Robert I ) by the throat. At the Battle of Roslin in 1303, an invading English army led by Sir John Segrave was defeated by Red Comyn. Following the death of Wallace, Bruce and Red Comyn appeared to be moving to an alliance to rise up against Edward. The two met at Greyfriar's Kirk, Dumfries on 10 February 1306. We don't know the details of what happened but during the meeting but Robert the Bruce stabbed Red Comyn. Comyn (and his uncle who was also present) were killed and the following month King Robert I ("The Bruce") was crowned at Scone. Despite the principles of chivalry which prevailed at that time, murder of one noble by another was not unusual in those days. Even so, because it had taken place in a church, Robert the Bruce was excommunicated (at least for a while) by the Pope for his crime. Bruce ruthlessly raided the Buchan lands and destroyed the Comyn family there. When Red Comyn's only son died at the Battle of Bannockburn (fighting for the English) the hereditary office of Constable of Scotland and the castle of Slains were given to the Hays of Errol (who were distantly related). 

Details of The Bruce's family with Elizabeth de Burgh

Details of The Bruce's family with Isabella of Mar