The Lion at Bay - Download

As to who betrayed William Wallace to the English, we will probably never know for sure. The author chose to have Bruce's henchman do it. This is plausible since Robert Bruce would clearly be one of the prime beneficiaries of Wallace's removal, a point that is well made in the book. Other candidates are possible but Bruce is probably one of the likeliest. This is also one of the book's strongpoints: there is no bias in favour of Robert Bruce who is presented with all his qualities, defects, naked ambition and lack of scruples. Even if he didn't contrive to betray Wallace, he was certainly capable of the deed. As for the murder of the Red Comyn, the author has chosen to make this into a spontaneous event, rather than an planned and organized assassination. His choice is very plausible since Bruce does not seem to have planned an uprising at this time. In all likelihood, he was forced into it after the murder because he had no other option left.

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