[the scotsman]

Battle of Bannockburn: What was it all about?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-27900285

‘Oldest surviving’ Bannockburn manuscript restored

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-27921960

Bannockburn anniversary: Scottish freedom ... and not a hint of Mel Gibson

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/bannockburn-anniversary-scottish-freedom—and-not-a-hint-of-mel-gibson-9554354.html

[Diogenesis]

[Vanders9]

Strange. The Scots made much more of a noise for the anniversary of Flodden - and they got well and truly tonked there.

[Texas Fossil]

Scot/Irish Bump.

[Texas Fossil]

I wish Scotland the best, but their current government sucks.

Leftism doesn’t ever work.

[driftless2]

I remember visiting Culloden moor battlefield some years ago and being amused by a small reenactment of the battle by a schoolteacher and his small, eager students. The teacher must have been a natural he was so good at it.

[Fiji Hill]

BANNOCKBURN
(Matt McGinn)

(Sung to the tune of “The Battle of New Orleans”)

In 1314, the twenty-fourth of June,
King Eddie says “We’re ready now to steal the stone of Scone.”
He brought his biggest army but discovered he’d backed a deuce
At Bannockburn he found that he was up against a Bruce.

Refrain: Well, we raised our pikes and the English kept a-coming,
But they werena quite so happy when we gie’d the pikes a blaw.
Struck once more, they began a-running.
Ready, steady Eddie, go, it’s time to shoot the craw.

Well, we had a bowl of porridge and a wee bit pinch of salt.
We had a dram of whisky and it was the finest malt.
We each wore a tammy and we wore the philibegs.
Eddie was in terror when he seen the hairy legs.

Refrain

Now poor King Edward, nearly had a fit
When he seen his cavalry falling doon a pit.
His men looked up from the trap that Bruce had built
And they were shocked to find out what was worn beneath the kilt.

Refrain

He sent for his archers, a group of country folk.
They erred and they purred, what a funny way they spoke.
With those archers Eddie had a go,
But they were as effective as the ones on radio.

Refrain

On the fastest horse that you ever saw,
King Eddie went a-racing o’er the Border and awa.
He was fond of Scotland, but he never did return.
He didna like the welcome that he got at Bannockburn.

Refrain

[Fiji Hill]

The dance "1314" was inspired by the battle. The first half is a slow strathspey. In the last half, the same steps are done as a quick-time reel

1314--Western Washington University Scottish Country Dance Club

[Oratam]

file under: Norman internecine squabbles, AD 1066-1485