GEMMS IDGEMMS-PERSON-002062
NameRobert Bruce
Title
Gendermale
DenominationPresbyterian
Livedb. ca. 1554-03-25 - d. 1631-07-27 (old)
Linked Manuscripts
Linked SermonsSermon 1 on Hebrews 11:7 -- preacher? (autograph: no)Sermon 2 on Hebrews 11:7 -- preacher? (autograph: no)Sermon on Hebrews 11:1 -- preacher? (autograph: no)Sermon on Hebrews 11:11-12 -- preacher? (autograph: no)Sermon on Hebrews 11:13 -- preacher? (autograph: no)Sermon on Hebrews 11:13-14 -- preacher? (autograph: no)Sermon on Hebrews 11:15-16 -- preacher? (autograph: no)Sermon on Hebrews 11:17-18 -- preacher? (autograph: no)Sermon on Hebrews 11:17-19 -- preacher? (autograph: no)Sermon on Hebrews 11:19-20 -- preacher? (autograph: no)Sermon on Hebrews 11:2 -- preacher? (autograph: no)Sermon on Hebrews 11:20 -- preacher? (autograph: no)Sermon on Hebrews 11:21 -- preacher? (autograph: no)Sermon on Hebrews 11:22 -- preacher? (autograph: no)Sermon on Hebrews 11:23 -- preacher? (autograph: no)Sermon on Hebrews 11:24-26 -- preacher? (autograph: no)Sermon on Hebrews 11:26-27 -- preacher? (autograph: no)Sermon on Hebrews 11:27 -- preacher? (autograph: no)Sermon on Hebrews 11:28-29 -- preacher? (autograph: no)Sermon on Hebrews 11:30 -- preacher? (autograph: no)Sermon on Hebrews 11:31 -- preacher? (autograph: no)Sermon on Hebrews 11:32 -- preacher? (autograph: no)Sermon on Hebrews 11:33-37 -- preacher? (autograph: no)Sermon on Hebrews 11:38-40 -- preacher? (autograph: no)Sermon on Hebrews 11:4 -- preacher? (autograph: no)Sermon on Hebrews 11:5 -- preacher? (autograph: no)Sermon on Hebrews 11:6 -- preacher? (autograph: no)Sermon on Hebrews 11:8 -- preacher? (autograph: no)Sermon on Hebrews 11:9-10 -- preacher? (autograph: no)
Linked ReportsLetter from Robert Bruce to Sir Francis Walsingham on a Sermon by Richard Bancroft -- author of letter
Associated PlacesAirth Castle -- HomeKinnaird -- HomeEdinburgh -- ParishSt Andrews University -- Place of StudyUniversity of Louvain -- Place of Study
Source of DataCatherine Evans
Biographical Sources ConsultedODNB (Article: 3756)
Other NoteRobert Bruce was the second son of Sir Alexander Bruce of Airth, and Janet, the daughter of the fifth Lord Livingston. He graduated MA from St Andrews and then went to France and the University of Louvain, Belgium to study law. He practice law in Edinburgh for a short period, but abandoned law with hopes of becoming a minister. He spent ten years examining his conscience, and on the 31 August 1581 he experienced a call to the ministry as he lay in bed. He then returned to St Andrews to study theology under Andrew Melville, the principal of St Mary's College. Whilst completing his studies he found a natural aptitude for preaching. He was called to the ministry of Edinburgh on Melville's recommendation in 1587. He had also been suggested to become minister of St Andrews but thought it best to heed the call of the provost and council in Edinburgh. He was elected moderator of the general assembly in February 1588, a role he would hold again in February 1589 and May 1592. He married Martha Douglas, the second daughter of Sir George Douglas of Pittendreich on 22 August 1590. He then began to act as a privy councillor, which James thanked him for. However, in 1592 he as ordered the king to apologise for failing to act against Roman Catholics, which resulted in James accusing him of treason, for harbouring Francis Stewart. Bruce and the ministers of Edinburgh were ordered by the king to leave the city in December 1596 after a riot which he said they had incited. Bruce retired to Yorkshire where, with Walter Balcanquhall, he wrote an apologia claiming their innocence. In July 1597 the Edinburgh ministers were allowed to return, and in 1598 the king and Bruce reconciled. However, when Edinburgh was divided into separate parishes, Bruce refused the King's ordination and spoke out against episcopacy. He was warded and then ordered to leave the country. He travelled in France and England for several months before being allowed to return to Scotland. In 1605 he was forbidden from preaching, and warded in Inverness until 1609. He would be warded again in 1621. When Carles I ascended to the throne, Bruce was allowed to return to his estate, where he died on 27 July 1631. He left assets worth only £300 as he had been deprived of his stipend.
GEMMS record createdSeptember 28, 2018
GEMMS record last editedJuly 13, 2019