英国民族38

And so, in 1306, Bruce, the most politically intelligent and militarily successful figure in medieval Scottish history, did just that. He met with John Comyn, his main rival, and ended up stabbing him before the altar of Greyfriars Church in Dumfries. The murder is neither explained nor justified by it being the case of a patriot knocking off a quisling - for Comyn had been a lot more consistent in his opposition to the English than Bruce. He remained loyal to King Balliol, who still lived, and so had to be removed. Barely six weeks after he had murdered Comyn, Bruce had himself inaugurated king at Scone. Instead of unifying the Scots behind a single leader, Bruce's actions only intensified what was already a Scottish civil war, one that he initially lost.

因此，在1306年，布鲁斯，这位在苏格兰中世纪史上最具政治才干，伟大的军事奇才，首先解决了内部问题。他与他的主要对手约翰·科明进行了一次会面。在格雷弗利尔斯教堂的圣坛前，一刀结束了他的生命。这一谋杀行为没有掀起任何政治波澜，被简单定性为一次爱国者铲除卖国贼的行动，虽然科明的反英情绪，甚至要比布鲁斯更胜一筹。但他一直对尚在人世的苏格兰王贝列尔忠心耿耿，因此成了布鲁斯的眼中钉。科明死后仅仅六周，布鲁斯在司康加冕为王。布鲁斯的行为没有使自己成为统领群雄的君王，反而激化了苏格兰的内部混战局势，他一开始就偏离了正确的道路。