The Battle of Bannockburn, 23–24 June 1314

JOHN BARBOUR

John Barbour’s epic poem The Brus celebrates Scotland’s resounding victory against Edward II’s army at Bannockburn on Midsummer’s Day under the command of Robert I. This was a defining event in Scottish history, striking a fatal blow to England’s wars of attrition against Scottish independence. John Barbour, who was born in 1320, was Archdeacon of Aberdeen, and composed his work in 1375 from the memories of men who had fought with or known Robert the Bruce. One early verse encapsulates the idealism that lay behind the Scots’ need to defend their country. Its first line has become almost a national slogan.

A! fredome is a noble thing!	Ah! Freedom is a noble thing!
Fredome mayss man to haiff liking,	Freedom gives man pleasure,
Fredome all solace to man giffis:	Freedom gives all solace to man:
He levys at ess that frely levys.	He lives at ease who freely lives.
A noble hart may haiff name ess,	A noble heart may have no comfort,
Na ellys nocht that may him pless,	Nor anything else that will please him,
Gyff fredome failyhe: for fre liking	If freedom fails: for free decision
Is yharnyt our all othir thing.	Is yearned for above any thing.
Na he that ay hass levyt fre	No, he who has always lived free
May nocht knaw weill the propyrte,	May not well know the property,
The anger, na the wretchyt dome	The anger, no the wretched doom
That is couplyt to foul thyrldome.	That is coupled to foul thraldom.

Bot gyff he had assayit it,	But if he had experienced it,
Than all perquer he suld it wyt;	Then he would know it in his soul;
And suld think freedom mar to pryss	And would think freedom more to be prized
Than all the gold in warld that is …	Than all the gold in the world …