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September 17 Changing of the Guardian and Bannock BurnVIII: Changing of the Guardian and Bannock Burn
After Falkirk, Sir William resigned, an' went abroad in order to hide.
Later, he would return in an attempt to renew the uprising,
But one of his own men betrayed him.
He was drawn an' quartered in 1305.
Myself an' John Coym the Red, my clan's mortal enemy,
Were joint Guardians of Scotland after Wallace resigned.
'twas supposed to be a truce, but in the end,
The Red Coym was still sworn to Longshanks
In promise to make him king of Scotland.
1306, a year after Sir William's death, is when I made my claim.
In a quarrel in the
Church of the Covenant of the Minorite Friars in Dumfries,
I slayed my mortal enemy, John Coym, the Red.
This act of bloodshed on sacred ground,
Put me boyond redemption from God,
But, it angered Longshanks.
I was crowned king at Scone, an' became a fugitive.
My wife an' child were imprisoned, my brothers put to death.
Many Scottish patriots were killed.
These acts were only fuel for our rebellion.
An' before Longshanks could annex Scotland, he died, marching
Towards Scotland.
Later, I regained favor with the Church, an' in so doing,
Our freedom was assured, as the blessings of God himself
'twas now upon us.
Edward II was the opposite of his father. He was weak, an' more concerned
With courtly games. However, he did attempt to quell our rebellion
In the year of our lord 1314.
It was the total opposite of Falkirk.
Bannock Burn was a marsh, an' I positioned
My forces in order to
Make the English cross the marsh.
They were decimated.
Unlike his father, Edward II fled, and left us in peace.
We had won our freedom.
Thus ends my tale of Sir William Wallace an' I,
Robert I, King of Scotland.
-Dedicated to all those who need inspiration and freedom, and to Scotland
The Death of Sir WilliamVII: The Death of Sir William
In due time, I shall explain my final role in this play of Independance,
But Sir Wallace went to his death,
But for now,
We, as Scotsmen, endure his pain.
I remember it to this very day.
A supporter of the Scots became a vassal of Longshanks,
Many of us took the gold,
'twas not me who turned him in, even though, I did take gold.
Sir John Menteih, Keeper of Dumbarton,
Managed to pursuade John Short, a page of Wallace himself,
To turn him in.
August 23, 1305, Wallace was formally charged of treason.
His reply:
"I can not be a traitor, for I owe him no allegiance. He is not my Sovereign; he never received my homage; and whilst life is in this persecuted body, he never shall receive it. To the other points whereof I am accused, I freely confess them all. As Governor of my country I have been an enemy to its enemies; I have slain the English; I have mortally opposed the English King; I have stormed and taken the towns and castles which he unjustly claimed as his own. If I or my soldiers have plundered or done injury to the houses or ministers of religion, I repent me of my sin; but it is not of Edward of England I shall ask pardon." Wallace's head 'twas placed on London Bridge,
His left arm on Newcastle Bridge,
His left at Berwick.
His right leg to Perth, which is north of Edinburgh,
And his left leg in Aberdeen.
'tis I hear, an inscription in Aberdeen, supposedly by William's uncle on Wallace's statue:
"I tell you a truth, liberty is the best of all things, my son, never live under any slavish bond."
September 14 FalkirkVII: Falkirk
After securing victory at Stirling, The Guardian of Scotland
Manage to conquer every single stronghold in Scottish lands.
Longshanks, meanwhile, 'twas preocouppied with his war in France.
The battle was actually forced by Longshanks, although his army
Was starved, tired, and weak.
But by strategy, Longshanks decimated the forces of Wallace.
The Scots had the high ground. There were bogs in front, which allowed the English
To slaughter the Schiltron, or pikemen.
Longshanks employed his archmen, and Irish mercenaries,
And decimated the Scots.
Calvary was non-existant for the Scots.
But Longshanks had lacked provisions.
Had the Scots been prepared,
They may have killed the King himself.
Wallace did escape..this is true.
But betrayals, and plans with in plans
From many sides,
Would do him in.
The Battle of Stirling Bridge and The Guardian of ScotlandVI: The Battle of Stirling Bridge and The Guardian of Scotland
The Battle of Sirling Bridge,
Which 'twas rather fierce, surprised the English.
'twas the fall of 1296.
Sir William had harassed the English enough to force Longshanks to act.
He sent the Northern Army to dispatch of Wallace. He counted thot
The nobles would rebel against Wallace. He was wrong.
'tis said thot there was an English general so fat,
Thot the Scots hated him so for his transgressions.
The Scots fought fiercely, decimating the English.
When the Scots came across this general,
He fell off his horse, and his horse lay upon him wounded.
Being of such girth, and the mighty weight of his horse, he was easy prey for the clans,
And it is said
Thot he was skinned alive on the site, and thot there was enough skin
Leathered to make a scalbard for Sir William's broadsword as a trophy.
For the first victory.
For freedom.
Once the battle was fought, Sir William was celebrated,
And awarded the title of Guardian of Scotland.
This meant thot he was allowed to formally lead armies,
Skirmrishes...with the noble's blessings.
But soon, he would be a liability.
As when Longshanks himself , that 'tis a different tale. September 10 'tis Our Wits Thot Make Us MenV: 'tis Our Wits Thot Make Us Men
Me father once told me thot,
'tis our wits that make us men.
He was murdered by principle, I gather, but
He died with courage.
I run now from the English,
Pagans they are
I kill when I can, e'en for food.
Once I 'twas fishin', and'some soldiers were goin' to
Steal me bounty. I offered half, they wanted all.
I conjured a tale thot 'tis bounty 'twas for
and injured Englishman.
I angered the men 'tis seems.
Disarmed the captain with me fishin' pole and
Killed him with his own sword.
I stayed with me family..but was turned away after each discretion,
Killed Englishmen, I did,
Not I'm not welcome,
E'en in me own family.
'tis wits thot make us men,
Use them wisely, an' you shall dream.
Mine 'tis of freedom
For Scotland.
Notes on Scottish IndependanceScottish Independance is beyond the wonderful movie Braveheart. Over the years, i've read books, and visiting websites concerning this subject.
As a historian, I'm trying to convey the actual (tho sketchy) events, as best I can. As one who has walked the Highlands, seen the mist, heard the pipes..this is personal.
I'm writing this piece simply because I love Scotland. My mom's side of the family is Scot. I have a tattoo on my left arm with MAcDougall's crest. I've walked my anscestor's homeland. I love the history.
Hope you enjoy the haggis.
Scott OutlawVI: Outlaw
During such times, Wallace was an outlaw for
Killing a Constable, and a few other Englishmen.
His actions caused him to be nomad, fugative.
There was a time he was rumoured dead
From battle wounds. 'twas false.
Sir Thomas Rymour said:
'tis said with thot prayer, William would be the savior of Scotland.
And when his family comforts him
Thus begins his destiny.
Robert the BruceIII: Robert the Bruce
Hence begins me involvement in this tale.
6th November 1292, me grandfather, Robert Bruce 'The Competitor' was not crowned king.
John Balliol sold his very soul for thot honor.
Longshanks offered Balliol all the castles of Scotland. But they were under English control.
What damns Balliol's soul is, he desecrated the Stone of Scone*,
As 'twas sacred.
Worse, Longshanks stole it in 1396 in order to break our spirits.
It enraged us.
Made me fierce it did.
Bided me time I did...but a lesser noble man
Was fighin' wars thot I should have led,
But he united us..and I took advantage
But I wondered deep inside,
Should I condemn him, or should I follow his stead?
*Author's Note: The Stone of Scone was a rock that the Scots used to crown their kings. It was sacred to them. Edward I in 1296 seized it from the sacred town of Scone, (pronnounced skoon) and took it to London. In 1996, it was finally returned to Scotland, and placed in Edinbugh Castle in Edinburgh. I had my camera taken from me when I viewed it in 1998. September 09 WallaceII: Wallace
I know not of his orgins, but 'tis said,
Thot William Wallace's father was a minor noble
Of Ellerslie, the younger son
Of Malcom.
'tis said thot young William was fluent in Latin, French, an' Gaelic,
And he could read and write quite fluently in all three.
He was tall an' rugged, an able swordsman.
Then, in the Year of Our Lord 1291,
Malcom Wallace was murdered, for
Unlike many nobles during the time of
Longshank's treachery
For refusing to yield to
Edward Longshank's authority in Scotland.
An English Constable of Dundee taunted young William
Of his father's death,
When he failed to gain a response, reached for
William dirk, but instead felt it's blade
Pierce his heart. In response to the killing,
Several of the Constable's men attempted to apprehend
The Scotsman, but they too fell to his blade.
Thus begins the stories of legend;
Which is my tale. Father and Son, Mother and CountryScottish Independence
I. Father and Son, Mother and Country The tale I tell ‘tis of a man who brought us freedom Of a man who lead us from darkness, But first I should describe our predicament. A man of noble birth, one with great ambition Had overtaken the Welsh, an’ proclaimed his weak son The first Prince of Wales.
Longshanks was tall, cold an’ calculating. A master of manipulation an’ warfare ‘tis said, thot His son was weak, indulged in vices… Some acceptable such as drink…the other forbidden.
Forbidden not in the sense of having a lover, As lovers were accepted, even while with wife However, ‘tis said that the son loved boys. Bloody way to ruin the line of kings Thought Longshanks, "‘tis disappointing."
So when the day came thot Edward II would marry, ‘tis said thot the father must sire the heir; However, time for me to describe me mother. Me Homeland. Longshank’s treachery Will be revealed soon.
Our country was in turmoil; no successor to the Throne John Balliol 'twas selected to rule by decree by Edward Longshanks, Clan Bruce was slighted, as I, Robert, 'twas the popular choice. But because of a minor noble, freedom an' love for his country His name became a rallying cry:
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