John Balliol

Question 1

Michael Penman

• I J W A P K, H W A P O T C W C R M O H E G

Answer 1

• If John was a puppet king, he was a puppet of the Comyns who clearly ran most of his everyday government

Question 2

David Santiuste

• J M P W E, W S E O T A H R I S
• T C O S R I _ W M D T B W T E A A A C

Answer 2

• John’s main problem was Edward, who seized every opportunity to assert his rights in Scotland
• The collapse of Scottish resistance in 1296 was more due to Balliol’s weakness than Edward’s abilities as a commander

Question 3

Fiona Watson

• J W N T B F N S U T E S A I W C N S O W C H S T E K
• E W L T A R A H C C T S S O G B A W O C

Answer 3

• John was not to blame for not standing up to Edward sooner as it was clear nothing short of war could have stopped the English king
• Edward was likely to arouse resentment as he clearly considered the Scottish system of government backward and worthy of contempt

Question 4

Steve Boardman

• J T T A H O P A S K A T G E, B W F W O O T M P K I W E I E _

Answer 4

• John tried to assert his own power as Scottish king and to govern effectively, but was faced with one of the most powerful kings in Western Europe in Edward I.

Question 5

Alan Young

• T W W-R S F T G A P W R J B K

Answer 5

• there was wide-ranging support for the government and policies which represented John Balliol’s kingship.

Question 6

Michael Prestwich

• T H H P O T E P T E O T O A I S

Answer 6

• the high handed policies of the English provokes the end of their own administration in Scotland.

Question 7

GWS Barrow

• T E R W T S, N M T A H O L S H R T T E O A O

Answer 7

• the English regime was too superficial, no more than a handful of leading Scotland had resigned themselves to English overlordship and occupation.

Question 8

AAM Duncan

• J W A I K W N S F H R

Answer 8

• John was an ineffectual king with no stomach for his responsibilities.

Question 9

Michael Brown

• W J D N D T C, H W N P T F F H K - A V E O M R
• E W D T E H A A K, F J T A H S P

Answer 9

• while John does not deserve total censure, he was not prepared to fight for his kingdom ― a vital element of medieval rule.
• Edward was determined to exercise his authority as King, forcing John to accept his subordinate position.

Question 10

Amanda Beam

• J S E F A E B P L T A A B C K
• B H S T W O H P B _ A M H S I N F T A-F W

Answer 10

• John slowly evolved from an extensive but passive landholder to an ambitious but controlled king.
• Balliol had survived the worst of his problems by 1295 and might have survived if not for the Anglo-French war.

Question 11

Colm McNamee

• E T O S S I, I A A U O A L P I S W M H S

Answer 11

• Edward trampled over Scotland’s separate identity, ignoring an acceptable union or a limited presence in Scotland which might have succeeded.

Question 12

Peter Traquair

• E H N P P H I C A H H-H ‘C P’ M F F I

Answer 12

• Edward had not planned past his initial conquest and his heavy-handed ‘colonial policy’ made further fighting inevitable.

Question 13

Caroline Bingham

• B W A W A I M W C N S H P I A

Answer 13

• Balliol was a weak and indecisive man who could not sustain his position in adversity.