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Robert the Bruce

A selection of media on the Wars of Independence, concentrating on King Robert the Bruce, the events leading up to Bannockburn and the recognition of Scotland's independence by the Pope and England.

Scotland's Strategy of Guerrilla Warfare

The following piece of literature is ascribed to Robert the Bruce by Walter Bower. It comes from around 1308, when Robert was fighting a guerrilla war with the English and his many enemies in Scotland, living a hidden life in the highlands, sleeping in glens and caves.

Video dramatisation of the verse.

Let Scotland’s warcraft be this: footsoldiers, mountain and marshy ground;
and let her woods, her bow and spear serve for barricades.
Let menace lurk in all her narrow places among her warrior bands,
and let her plains so burn with fire that enemies flee away.
Crying out in the night, let her men be on their guard, and her enemies in confusion will flee form hunger’s sword. Surely it will be so, as we’re guided by Robert, our lord.

John Barbour's 'The Bruce'
Barbour is one of the great Scots Makars (poets). His great achievement in the 14th century was to recount the exploits of King Robert the Bruce. His verses on the Bruce are of epic proportion, as were the book sales, from Medieval times up until today - certainly it is the the most famous book ever written on the subject. The following passage is probably the most quoted and, over the centuries in Scotland, it has become a seminal text when discussing the notion of freedom.

Audio - A! Freedom is a noble thing!

A! Fredome is a noble thing! Fredome mays man to haiff liking; Fredome all solace to man giffis, He levys at ese that frely levys! A noble hart may haiff nane ese,
Na ellys nocht that may him plese, Gyff fredome fail; for fre liking Is yarnyt our all othir thing. Na he that ay has levyt fre May nocht knaw weill the propyrtè,
The angyr, na the wretchyt dome That is couplyt to foule thyrldome. Bot gyff he had assayit it, Than all perquer he suld it wyt; And suld think fredome mar to prise
Than all the gold in warld that is. Thus contrar thingis evirmar Discoweryngis off the tothir ar.

Bannockburn
Video tour of The Battle of Bannockburn.

Bruce's Address to his Troops on the Eve of the Battle
from John Barbour’s Bruce c1380s

But I don’t say this to you
So that you will follow my determination
To fight, for everything is up to you.
For if we think it right that we
Fight, we shall fight; and if you want
Us to leave, to carry out your choice
I shall agree in every way
To do just what you decide.
So speak your mind openly."
Then with one voice they cried aloud
"Good king, without more delay,
Tomorrow as soon as you see the light of day,
Get all ready for battle
For fear of death we shall not fail,
Nor shall any effort be refused
Till we have made our country free!

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