In 1827 he published the Tales of a Grandfather, because, as he writes in his diary, the good thought came to him to write stories from the history of Scotland for his grandson, John Hugh Lockhart, whom he calls Hugh Littlejohn. “Children hate books which are written down to their capacity, and love those that are composed more for their elders. I will,” he says, “make, if possible, a book that a child shall understand, yet a man will feel some temptation to peruse should he chance to take it up.”

Discussion. 1. This story relates five episodes in the life of William Wallace: The Basket of Fish; The Green Garment; The Wooden Bridge at Stirling Town; A Wood of Spears; The Trial in Westminster Hall. Relate the episode that seems most vivid to you. 2. Read three speeches that show clearly the character of William Wallace. 3. Would you have joined Wallace if you had been a Scottish nobleman? 4. Why did many of the nobles refuse to join Wallace? 5. Describe the Scottish infantry and archers, and the English cavalry and archers at Falkirk. 6. What is your opinion of Sir John Monteith? 7. Locate on your map: Ayr; Lanark; Clyde River; Stirling; Falkirk; Edinburgh; Northumberland; London. 8. Pronounce the following: usurpation; formidable; stratagem; exploits; undaunted; morass.

Phrases

Robert the Bruce (1305-1313)

Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick, and John Comyn, usually called the Red Comyn, two great and powerful barons, had taken part with Sir William Wallace in the wars against England; but, after the defeat of Falkirk, being fearful of losing their great estates, and considering the freedom of Scotland as beyond the possibility of being recovered, both Bruce and Comyn had not only submitted themselves to Edward, and acknowledged his title as King of Scotland, but even borne arms, along with the English, against such of their countrymen as still continued to [resist the usurper]. But the feelings of Bruce concerning the [baseness of this conduct] are said, by the old tradition of Scotland, to have been awakened by the following incident. In one of the numerous battles, or skirmishes, which took place at the time between the English and their adherents on the one side, and the insurgent, or patriotic, Scots upon the other, Robert the Bruce was present, and assisted the English to gain the victory. After the battle was over, he sat down to dinner among his southern friends and allies, without washing his hands, on which there still remained spots of the blood which he had shed during the action. The English lords, observing this, whispered to each other in mockery, “Look at that Scotsman, who is eating his own blood!” Bruce heard what they said, and began to reflect that the blood upon his hands might be indeed called his own, since it was that of his brave countrymen who were fighting for the independence of Scotland, whilst he was assisting its oppressors, who only laughed at and mocked him for his unnatural conduct. He was so much shocked and disgusted, that he arose from table, and, going into a neighboring chapel, shed many tears, and asking pardon of God for the great crime he had been guilty of, made a solemn vow that he would atone for it, by doing all in his power to deliver Scotland from the [foreign yoke]. Accordingly, he left, it is said, the English army, and never joined it again, but remained watching an opportunity for restoring the freedom of his country.

Now, this Robert the Bruce was a remarkably brave and strong man; there was no man in Scotland that was thought a match for him except Sir William Wallace; and now that Wallace was dead, Bruce was held the best warrior in Scotland. He was very wise and prudent, and an excellent general. He was generous, too, and courteous by nature; but he had some faults, which perhaps belonged as much to the fierce period in which he lived as to his own character. He was rash and passionate, and in his passion, he was sometimes relentless and cruel.