The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-25

--oreT THE BRUCE AND THE
F~prGGLE FOR SCOTTISH INDIE
cTxDEScE. ~ Sir Herbert Maxwell.
- New York. q. p Putnarns Sons.
s.ssi.s Tne Calvert Company.
=. susbor IN his Introduction FRANKLY
1srvlecxes the difficulties under which
ess-.a~say, Ezbors who undertakes 70 com
-. ssxsorx OF Robert I. OF Scotland and
~snnIng % Scottish Independence. II
- even at that period. there were
So CONTEMPORARY chronsclers busy ~
- stuf not only were they al. with
- sxeepsion % the French priest. Fross-
vrgssng from an English point Of
hu. except Sir Thomas dc Is More.
- ~ers monks. compiling their hisfo-
= A, the seclnsion OF some cioister. often
> s~,vr sne seat OF war and always TN
- "a military operations" The mar
.rrrnaca 20 the war correspondents
s,.say. were the "scrfbes.'' who we're
sr~tsrnss Commissioned to accompany
:. Engsish armies when they invaded
s.~<,era and record the course Of events.
- A. their reports OF battle and vsIor-
= Aeeda were always written Ia verse,
cas- hardly N be expected that they
@aad sacrifice their eioqueDce. and the
sm.w,v Of the rhythm, 20 cold. hard facts.
80 sousttEnss these poets became the
<~<sms OF circumstances. a. did Baston
. rarrneIste Frtar. who accompanied Ed
~.rd II and his mighty host when they
~ north 20 crush the Scottish nation
ma TnisckfIy for his patrons. Baston
as snaae A prisoner at Bannockburn. and
.stasned hts ransom by changing his long
~srn which had probably been mostly
~-oosed before the battle. into a cele-
,ufIon OF the Scottish victory.
~ the English chronielers Of the four
..-rfh century. there seem TO have been
: last two which have been OF speca2l
.r.ics IN the study Of the wars between
rnxsand and Scotland. The frst q these
esnmoniy known. though Lord MAX
al contends. enormously so. as the
sfsranIcfa OF Lanercost." He says thar
ri. chronicle was really compiled oy the
v.norfts rriars at Cariisie--a place much
~sre favorable for observation OF the
sstsish war than the priory OF Lsher-
sx,. The other work. though not exact
= ropfemporan@ou=. h deserving or even
~a~, weight. for IL was written By a lay
a. ard a soldier. Sir Thomas Gray-a
:. az that Sir Thomas Gray who served
,sh great distinction In fns Scottish wars
rss.~ ALI the three Edwards. On the
ssottlsh side OF the account the most
| important work dealing with the period
: the weii-known poem entitled. me
sras," By John Barbour. archdeAoon OF
lberdeen. This poem is of deepest inter-
EARLIEST extant specimen Of Scottish YER
4 s.euiar literature" Unfortunately. us
s.sforscaI value Is not SO great. Tor, not
| yshstandinr that the poem was written
| i ly7S less than nifty years after me osA.h
Robert De Brus, he made hoosrt &c
asas the competitor she grandfathes.
ii Robert de Brus, lord Of Annandaie.
| = father. one and the same personality
Fth Robert De BrGs. Earl OF Carriek.
~wued king OF Scots IN 1876 IL has. on
8xh authority been claimed that this IL
Z only n,is.sfaternert Of the poem. ana
a. this Was due designedly. 10 suit Bar
kar's views Of poeticai Justice 90 that
= Rrus who had been untustly dealt WITH
Nrdward Tin being obliged 20 relinauisn
arsght 10 the crown of SeotIand1. should
s.he Bru. who took vengeance fer that
snsfea at Bannockburn. though the
kner was the grandfather OF the nero
cha. battle.
Fertnnately, all the data I'm regard TO
assrt the Bruce. does not rest on such
h.cEre foundation.
ssber, de Brus. or Bruce. Is we know
~ name. was eighth in direct male de-
xtaf from Norman baron who came 70
fastans with William the Conqusror- He
sas known as Robert de Rrsls. Eighth
lad az Annandale and Earl OF Carrtck-'
| r. author says Three things have 10
\ borne In mind IN tracing the course
| n th@ Scottish struggle for independence,
| 80 in analyEIns the conflicting causes
sAlrh Ewayed those who took part In II.
First the comparatively recent CONSOLE
&slsan Of Scotland from four Kingdoms
ete one. and the existence within the
rain Of four distinct races. perhaps near
rseal In number; namely. the ficts,
| ~ Scottish Gael. the Tesror or Anguan-
/ sd the scandinavian. Second, the close
nlsstanshtp between the royal houses or
a
= which the lands of the native chiefs
I'D serfs had passed into the hands OF
herman bzrons. most of whom, besides
tong homage 10 the king % Scots Tor
states held from him. also owed sllegi-
sge 20 the king OF England for lands In
Is dominion not less valuable and ex-
hAslva than their Scottish possessions,
Ak xhlch had generally peen much long
n their families. This double allegf-
ssss viii be found 20 account fer great
eai Of Inconsistency and vacillatlon
srwn by some Of the most puisssnt bar
- Of that age"
@ this hypothesis alone can we account
- the soluble dealing that t0bert de
sus Earl % Carrick. seemed 10 be guilty
4 IL THE summer Of fsA when King Ed
esFa was beSicging Sterling castle. ths
Esyi 81 CarriCk was Receiving the kings
aahks for his services in supplying en-
J sass sor the attack. and doing fealty 20
r Asre for his heritage. and having his
arts reu1itte1- Yet at THE very TIME
- earl was IN conference with William
fsmhsrton bishop % 81. Andrews.
ssrst bond was then made between them
~ - view Of future dangers. they
nagla IN an time coming. assist each 9TH
against Ell persons Whatsoever. that
ssfhsr should undertake any business
Il xTaeuf consulting the other. and that
@sA should warn the other Of any ap-
asarhsns DANGER
tbs agreement with Re Iarahertoa.
Us far-rea ching consequence. stands
y N strong contrast ta the public acts
i sneert So Brus NJ 90 the time 90 wal
rs execution. Th~se acts IN The cold
u 81 ~ eHiciaf records and correspond
~. present an appearance somewhat az
Nssnce e that given than by tradition.
- ss IRE writer saws. 1T Is a humiisa~
- record ana e requires all 81 B~
- subsequent record 20 e~ace TIE ugty
41ls - - ?, begins IN 80 when tia
4 - q Carrlek. - wears ~ axe. sVears
fa9 - Edward I at Earwtcs, In ~
fsnews his vows cf fesltv and raids
lands ~ Douglas. Afterwards Ia
- re snsHrreut Scots but cSpitulates
.F'we fa'v -. giving his dsuSh-
4ariol7 a hostage FER hls loyalty 20
4 - EdwRrT November Of that same
Be receives ~the kings peace"
fFefn rev oe - was guilty ~ = series
slayei ara Sec~Itgni acts toward King
sH7 who sseFus 20 have come under
Eeh - hiS magnetic nature. ane liked
Sastes h'u ~ spite - all. Fer the
- was car ~faCtiv ewareirg him with
- hath sor1ra hle ard substantial.
4 eertsiniv 70 ere in Scotland sfeed
f NTH ere king Shfs rnsv esyr ben
4 80 asif~ from his private ass'rs,
faFt - Ts-fick froSn prs35satssi no
-. Naa always afilernt IN the kings