Robert the Bruce 

Robert the Bruce became Earl of Carrick in 1292.(See "The Temple and the Lodge" page 18)

Robert the Bruce was excommunicated by the Catholic Church in 1306.  This meant that the Catholic Church had no control of him or the lands he ruled. (See "The Temple and the Lodge" page 18)

Robert the Bruce wanted not only to get out from under the rule of England but he wanted to restore Scotland to a Celtic kingdom under Celtic institutions.  These are said to perhaps include the ritual sacrifice of humans. (See "The Temple and the Lodge" page 19)

Robert the Bruce was the leader of Scotland who defeated the English under King Edward II at the Battle of Bannockburn on 24 June 1314 with the help of a group of surviving members of the Knights Templar.

It is said that Robert the Bruce was a Knights Templar member himself by virtue of birth based upon his ancestors.

He welcomed the Knights Templar after they were arrested and tortured under the orders of Pope Clement V.

Robert the Bruce had already been excommunicated by the Catholic Church for warring with King Edward II. (See "Rule by Secrecy" page 309)

It is said that Robert the Bruce started the Order of Freemasonry so he could integrate the surviving members of the Knights Templar into the Freemasons so he could tell the Pope that there were no Knights Templar in Scotland so he could cease being excommunicated by the Church. (See "Cracking the Freemasons Code" In doing so he was able to reqard the Knights Templar and protect them from being killed by the Catholic Churce by Cooper page 7)