Bannockburn 1314

Stirlin Castle lay in Inglis hauns Beseiged bi Scots, a biggin strang an stoot Edward, the Bruce’s brither, ringed it roon Ettled tae sterve the furreign sodjers oot. The Englishman, King Edward traivelled North. Wi wechty cavalry, Welsh bowmen, infantry Weapons, siege engines, buglers, meat an wines, Wi Knichts an Barons, prood clanjamphrey Aa marched tae Stirlin, takkin the Roman road. The Bruce placed men wi widlan at their back He chuse his grun fu weel. A nerra gap Atween the trees, should ony challenge, brakk He set his pikemen heich on Gillies Hill, Close whaur the the road fords ower the Bannock Burn. Inbye the wids he blockit paths wi boughs, Leavin the Inglis little room tae turn Tae cowp the Inglis shelties should they charge He howked pits, an happit them wi sticks, An syne, he wyted, wi his waa o spears. As stinch a waa as ony vrocht wi bricks Fechtin brukk oot, the Scottish pikemen held The beast o War, sherpened its teeth an cleuks Like ninepins Inglis cavalry wis felled Men crawled tae dee wi fiers, in bluidy neuks The Inglis forces crossed the Bannock Burn Henry De Bohun, a young Inglis knicht Spied a lane horseman on the Scottish front Weirin a croon, the Scots King in plain sicht Forrit De Bohun rade wi deidly lance As Robert raised his battle-aixe alaft Stude in his stirrups, jinked the comin cloor An split the foe-man’s skull-bane fore an aft Thon nicht the English camped, Bruce planned aheid. Ower fu o deep consarns tae brakk breid The hinmaist fecht wad be upon the morn The verra day the Baptist, John, wis born. Bi day-brakk, aa the Scots war in position. King Edward, saw the Scotmen kneel in prayer An leuch, nae kennin they socht Heiven’s blessin Thinkin they prigged for mercy, ooto fear Straicht ooto Revelations, aa in reid Horseman o War breenged oot on fiery steed The Bruce’s pikemen, stinch as porcupine Cowped Inglis shelts at ilkie gory meetin The Scotsmen focht wi steel doon ilkie spine Welsh bowmen skewered their Inglis fiers retreatin. The bonnie Bannock burn wis smored wi deid An ran for mony days wi sodjers’ bluid Edward tuik ship fur hame, a beaten cur Fechtin for freedom gies the weakest, virr An smeddum, tae rise up an takk a staun Strivin fur liberty an native lan.