THE AFTERMATH

Scotland and the north of England were devasted for years after Roslin. Edward of England earned his nickname as the “Hammer of The Scots” by destroying anyone standing against him as “rebels”. We did the same ourselves and “scorched earth” became the order of the day. All over The Borders anything of use to the other side was burnt or knocked down to deny their use by either native or invader. Edwards armies spread all over the country, garrisoned the castles and rebuilt or reinforced their defences, or alternatively , had them destroyed.

Wallace was captured and murdered in London. As a traitor! For defending this country against its auld enemy. The Bruce took over and succeeded where Balliol and Comyn had failed in rousing the people of Scotland and also got the nobility on side. Anyone supporting Bruce had problems with Edwards bully boys. Scots with land in England had to chose which to keep , or loose both! The ordinary people, already hard put to survive in hand to mouth existence, were further troubled by the requirements of whichever group of soldiers made an appearance

Demanding food and shelter. England's hold on Scotland loosened when Edward died as Bruce's strength grew. The English were forced out here and there until the siege of Stirling was lifted on the field of Bannockburn. Bruce went on to reclaim his, and Scotlands territory.

After the Battle of Bannockburn, Bruce went first to Ayrshire where he celebrated and gave thanks at The Mother Lodge of Scotland to his fathers Templar brethren, for their special, timely, intervention at Bannockburn and would have been well aware of Abernethy‘s work at Roslin. Part of the celebration at Kilwinning included the establishing of the Masonic “Royal Order” still in existence today, presently chaired by Robert Scott Tait after years of leadership by Andrew Bruce, Earl of Elgin, who proudly traces his family back to The Bruce.

The Bruce went on a Grand Tour of his country. All the way demanding recognition from those who had stood against Scotland's freedom fight and ensuring they knew who was in control. All the way past Newcastle, towards Hull, but foregoing his lands elsewhere (in England). Two Hundred and Fifty years later, this influence over the “Geordies” was acknowledged by the Spanish Armada who fled from the English Navy until they reached the safety of Scotland at Newcastle!

 

Having started out looking for information on the Battle of Roslin, I have been surprised at two main considerations which indicated Roslin may have been a blueprint for Bannock burn :-

TACTICS - To attack the English before their heavy cavalry could get up speed,

Force them backwards and down the steep sides of the River Esk at Roslin, and the Bannock Burn at Stirling.

TEMPLARS - The arrival of reinforcements, not just the “WEE FOLK”, but highly trained Templars encouraged by their Prior,Abernethy, at Roslin, and and all the others who arrived a bit late at Bannockburn from the Kilmartin/ Dumbarton area.

 

 

That the proof is missing, “disappeared” by Bruce's spin doctors and the ravages of centuries of fighting for freedom, does not mean that these theories are wrong.

The historians will never accept Scottish and Masonic traditional methods of passing on oral history and I recommend any doubter to walk the hills, ask the questions and put the answers into the context of what they are seeing and come to their own conclusions. In modern courts we rightly accept that if there is insufficient evidence, an accused must be treated as innocent. That does not mean the the crime did not take place. Much of the evidence and detail of The Battle of Roslin has gone for whatever reason and the experts will not write about it. To their great shame because of the absence of information or proof, the many many so called experts simply ignore the Battle of Roslin as if it never happened ,or possibly give it a sentence or even a whole paragraph!. So, despite my many ifs and buts, maybes aye, maybes naw, at least it may now be discussed mair often and this humble effort may be of use to others.

Lest we forget those that stood and died for this country, then, and since then for Scotland and Britain, throughout the world.

 

POUR ENCOURAGER LES AUTRES

 

 

 

Steve Chalmers Leith Scotland XIX X MMI P.D.E.P.