Robert the Bruce saw that Scotland need to be restructured, and the people needed a decisive leader to rally around. To do this, Bruce called a parliament at St. Andrews on March 16, 1309 — the first parliament in 18 years.

By August he controlled all of Scotland north of the River Tay. The following year, the clergy of Scotland recognized Bruce as king at a general council. The support given to him by the church in spite of his excommunication must have had great importance and was probably due to the example of Lamberton.