THE BOOK OF SCOTTISH PATRIOTISM

HERE’S TAE US, WHA’S LIKE US?

By Crombie Jardine

ISBN 1-905102-29-1
£4.99, PB

Comprehensive and compact, this book contains all the key dates and names that make Scotland so great. Factual, but written in a light-hearted way, this is a guide to Scotland’s bloody and glorious past, highlighting the contribution that inventive Scots have made to the world we know today.

1297
The Battle of Stirling Bridge takes place. Wallace (later to be famously portrayed by Mel Gibson in the film Braveheart and thus made known to many young Scots who’d previously never heard of him) defeats an English army led by the Earl of Surrey. Although vastly outnumbered, Wallace and his men cleverly force the English to cross Stirling Bridge and promptly slaughter them as they do so. Wallace has an overwhelming victory and some 5,000 Englishmen die. Never before has a Scottish army so triumphed over the English. Wallace captures Stirling Castle and Scotland is nearly free.

1298
Wallace is duly knighted and appointed guardian.
Alas, victory is short-lived as there is defeat for the Scots under Wallace at the Battle of Falkirk, where King Edward I’s army uses longbows for the first time. As many as 10,000 Scots die, Wallace’s reputation as a military leader is ruined and he is forced to go into hiding.
Bruce and Comyn are appointed guardians when Wallace leaves the post empty.

1299
Regency is appointed; with The Bruce and his rival Comyn being at the head of it. Bruce keeps up the appearance of loyalty to Edward for several years to come.
The Scots take Stirling Castle.

1302
The Bruce submits to Edward I and marries Elizabeth de Burgh. (Not the lady in red.)

1303
The Scots army (comprising 8,000 men), led by Sir Simon Fraser, Sinclair of Rosslyn and Red Comyn, surprise the English army (made up of a staggering 30,000 men) and defeat them at the Battle of Roslin.
France and England make a peace treaty, not only excluding the Scots but also releasing forces to attack Scotland. Merde!