Who now should be king? The burning question,
Thirteen lads harkened to the suggestion,
Eleven no-hopers left only a brace,
Balliol or Bruce, each presented his case;
Bishops chose Balliol, Earls picked the other,
It really came down to who'd been their mother.
To stop civil strife they asked, Ed (one) to choose,1
John Balliol was picked and Bruce was to lose2
But Edward the first thought this gave him the right,
To boss the Scots Nation in supporting his fight,
'Gainst Les Français like a feudal top king.
"No way, Ed.", said John, "We'll do no such thing";
Contracted with France---The Auld Alliance,3
"Checkmate!", claims John, "It's not rocket science!"
Ruthless as ever and mad as a hatter,
Ed stormed into Scotland to settle the matter,
Butchered in Berwick, knocked John off his throne!4
Pinched charters and relics---from Scone stole the Stone!
Packed up his bags leaving John de Warenne,5
Top of the heap with more English Men,
Scotland to rule in a feudal like way,
But resistance to this was not far astray.
From both south and north, joined up in a hurry,
Sir William Wallace and Andrew de Moray,
At Stirling's Bridge beat the English five nil,6
Who fled south in haste---left the country to Will7
"Guardian of Scotland" was the title he took,
"Braveheart" sounds sharper for a film or book.
Chastened, Ed gathered a very large force,
Marched north with his men, equipment and horse.
Scots barons and earls resolved not to play,
Deprived Will of horse and stayed home that day8
At Falkirk the Scots lost seven to one,9
William escaped but was now on the run.
Finally caught, to London was taken,10
Hung, drawn and quartered; dreams all forsaken
Of freedom for Scotland---he'd shown the way,
A National Hero; none can gainsay.
Soon next on the stage two champs were let loose,
John the "Red Comyn" and Robert the Bruce,11
Met, argued and fought at nearby Dumfries,
Robbie stabbed Johnny, from life a release12
Clearing the coast for Rob's coronation,
Robert (the first) now led the Scots Nation13
With many foes his reign started badly;
Beaten near Perth and ever so gladly
Sought Highland refuge thus saving his life
Captured near Tain were his daughter and wife,14
Both were imprisoned while Rab hid in caves,
In the hills of blue near the western waves,
All on his lonesome bar an arachnid
Who showed him the way and how he should bid,
Freedom to gain from the "Hammer of Scots",
Then old Edward died which helped Robert lots15
To get full support from his Country's men.
Strongholds in Scotland, around about ten,
Were taken with ease and Rob ruled the roost.
But England's new king his claim so to boost,16
Like father like son, set off for the north;
Met Rob at the burn that flows to the Forth,
One knight attacked Rob with all of his might,
Rob nimbly sidestepped and killed him outright;
Ed's much larger force were up for the kill,
But against all the odds were beaten ten nil!18
Scots independence declared at Arbroath...19
The triumph of Bruce, meant Rome who'd been loath,20
At last recognised that Scots should be free
Of English intent. A twenty grand fee,
Saw son Dave betrothed to Ed's sister Joan21
Soon after, Rob died; Dave (two) got the throne,22
Notes
1 Edward I of England.
2 John Balliol, (r.1292-96), known as "Toom Tabard", "Empty Coat", for his ineffective leadership.
3 1295.
4 Berwick, now an English town, was then an important Scottish port.
5 1296.
6 Battle of Stirling Bridge, 1297.
7 Was Andrew de Moray killed in the battle?
8 Horse = cavalry.
9 Battle of Falkirk, 1298.
10 1305.
11 John Comyn was a leader and subsequently a rival to Bruce, who was the grandson of the Bruce
who had competed for the crown with Baliol.
12 John Comyn killed, 10 February 1306.
13 Robert I, The Bruce, (r.1306-29). Bruce was crowned at Scone on 25 March, 1306.
14 His wife and daughter were captured trying to reach the sactuary of St Duthac's shrine, near Tain.
Bruce's sister, the Dowager Countess of Mar, was alsi captured and his brother Nigel was
summarily executed. The young Countess of Buchan was set in a cage in Berwick for four years
and then impriosned more conventionally.
15 1307.
16 Edward II of England, (r.1307-27).
17 De Bohun, one of the Duke of Gloucester knights, had his head cleaved to the breast bone
from one blow of Bruce's battle axe,
18 Battle of Bannockburn, 1314.
19 Declaration of Arbroath, April 6,1320, in a letter to the Pope these words ring down the ages:
"For as long as one hundred of us shall remain alive we shall never in any wise consent to submit
to the rule of the English, for it is not for glory we fight, for riches, or for honours,
but for freedom alone, which no good man loses but with his life."
20 Pope John XXII.
21 Edward III of England, (r.1327-77).
22 David II, (r.1329-1371).
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