PROLOGUE

During the 13 th century, Scotland had been in relatively good shape. Like the Romans , the Normans successful invasion of England petered out at what we now accept as the border. Norman incursions into Scotland were by the more peaceful methods of intermarriage, in addition to the usual English touch of bribery and threats. Probably the most influential Frenchman in the 12 th century, or maybe the Millennium , other than Norman the Conqueror, was his cousin's son, HUGO de PAYENS, founder member and first Grand Master of the TEMPLARS .

After its foundation in Jerusalem in 1118, he travelled to the most important places in the western world for political and financial support - to the Pope in Rome, and Tours , with the backing of the Cistercians great inspirational leader, St. Bernard de Clairvaux, then to his King in Paris, and thence to his father-in-law, Guillaume de Santa Clara at Rosslyn, where his wife Catherine patiently waited his return from the Holy Land.

The story of the Templars and their rivals and co-Christian warriors The Hospitallers of St John has been written ad nauseum. Their Scottish bases were in land granted by the Sinclairs - at Balantrodoch ,now known as Temple, near to Roslin, whilst the Hospitallers were about 15 miles away at Torphichen (between Bathgate and Linlithgow), of which more later.

Scotland had prospered greatly into the 13 th century , trading well with Low Countries , leading to Berwick becoming rich to the concern of our southern neighbours. All had been looking good until the shock of the early death of King Alexander whilst riding from Edinburgh to Dunfermline to join his beautiful young French wife Yolande.

Alexander had reigned well , but suffered greatly at the deaths of various members of his family, which threatened to leave him with no heirs. As was normal with Royalty then, his daughter had been married off to strengthen the bonds with Norway, to King Eric II. When Eric was only 16, she died in childbirth. Their daughter , Margaret, later known as the Maid of Norway, was only 3 years old at her grandfathers death. In an attempt to continue the bloodline, Alexander had then remarried , to the beautiful YOLANDE of DREUX, in France. She preferred to stay at the royal residence in Dunfermline , where she remained when the King was conducting business of state in Edinburgh. On the 19 th March 1286, King Alexander completed his duties in Holyrood and insisted on riding off to his young bride. He completed the dangerous journey to the ferry safely, despite the darkness and the bad weather, only to be thrown from his horse on the Fife side of the Forth, to his mortal injury. His three year old granddaughter was first in line to the throne. Queen Yolande claimed to be pregnant, but failed to produce an heir. With a three year old monarch - and worse- a girl!, Scotlands nobility took control as Guardians of the Realm, but things got even worse. Young Margaret, daughter of King Eric of Norway, was to wed Edward of Englands son. She was spared this fate by her death at the tender age of 7, on the rough sea journey from Norway, and yet again, Scotland was thrown into turmoil.

 

 

Half a dozen claimants attempted to take control. Many of them were of Norman descent and had land in Scotland, England and France. Their commitment

to Scotland was doubtful with their priority only to their family and to self aggrandisement. Norman traditions influenced their acceptance of Edward Longshanks of England's offer to moderate. Balliols greed for the title was no match for Edwards political connivance and expertise, and soon Edward was looking for his pound of flesh. One troubled teenager, who's father had just returned from Templar crusading, obviously very ill, had land in Ayrshire and England. Like others of Norman blood, the DE BRUS and his family was initially forced to accept the fait accompli and Balliol was King , but acknowledged Edwards superiority.

 

The people's hero, our modern BRAVEHEART Sir William Wallace, was born in Elderslie and spent much of hos youth in North Ayrshire visiting the family home of the Crawfords at Crosbie Towers in the parish of West Kilbride. The Crawfords have been given much of the credit for winning the Battle of Largs 1263, which ended the Viking efforts at dominating the Scottish mainland. The 6 th William Sinclair of Rosslyn had led 40,000 soldiers of King Alexander III against King Haakon V of Norway and Alexander had taken notice of Crawfords important local input by forecasting stormy weather and its effect on the Viking galleys poised to attack while awaiting the outcome of negotiations who were sheltering in the Firth of Clyde. Alexander acknowledged Crawfords crucial influence, by granting his family land, now known as Crosbie Towers at West Kilbride. The Wallaces regular visits to relations there are well known and there is even a theory that he was not born in Elderslie but in West Kilbride . Given that his exact date of birth is unknown and the long periods spent there, it is certainly possible . There is no proof of either location of nativity , likewise there is no contradiction available. Given the long periods spent there it is also very probable that the young Wallace from the north, and young Bruce from the south would come together at Ayrshire's various social events and that they became acquainted at an early age!

Returning to the background of this particular event, and to 1296, Edward was furious at Wallaces attempts to free Scotland, and by the reaction and support given to him by the people of Scotland and came up to bully them into submission. He had also expected Balliols son to marry into English “stock” and was angered when he heard of the marriage arrangements with the daughter of The Count of Anjou, one of Edwards great enemies on the continent.

Edwards army made its way north via York, up the east coast. The first Scots town to feel his wrath was put to the torch. The occupants of Berwick, ten thousand people, men, women and children, were hung from their own doorways - an example to England's attitude to its neighbours in those days .Nowadays it would be labelled ethnic cleansing. It worked. Berwick is still part of England. The English then beat a Scots army at Dunbar and took many prisoners from our nobility and then ,as was the custom, released them on receiving their parole and their swearing allegiance to the English crown. Or else. Amongst those so released were Gilbert Hay of Borthwick, Sir Symon Fraser of Neidpath, Sir Edward Ramsay of Dalhousie, and Sir William St Clair of Rosslyn.

 

 

It may be sensible to point out at this stage that throughout our history, spelling has been phonetically with many name evolving from French or Latin to that which we now use : e.g. Le Brus , became BRUCE. The name St Clair has obviously changed into the modern SINCLAIR , whilst the name of Rosslyn refers to the of the Earldom. The spelling ROSLIN has been used to refer to the town, since the 1450's when the then ”Jarl” of Orkney , Earl of Rosslyn, built the now internationally famous chapel and the village nearby was expanded to house the workers who came from all over Europe. With all its Masonic and Templar content , including stone representations of plants only known in America which Columbus supposedly “discovered” nearly 50 years later in 1492 , visitors now come from all over the world, to marvel at the chapel, but are unaware at the great victory which occurred there also. The ruined castle is often admired and is a direct result of the battle. Prior to 1303 it had been in the same location the chapel is now and was demolished and rebuilt a short distance away on the advice of an English survivor on parole awaiting his ransom being handed over.

The story goes on :- Longshanks continued northwards and defeated Wallace at Falkirk apparently due to bribery and corruption of Scotlands Norman nobility, who refused to fight. Bruce's fathers lands in England were threatened - typical of the situation of so many - but he eventually decided that Scotland's independence was worth the personal sacrifice in the hope of gaining our nationhood.

Edward set his favourites in positions of strength occupying strategically important castles and continuing his policy of setting Scot agin Scot. Scotlands disgust at Balliol, called “empty shirt” or TOOM TABARD due to his inability to stand up to Edward, caused his abdication and had left the throne vacant, again with a surfeit of contenders. Longshanks decided on a trial of strength when the opportunity allowed. I.E when his hugely superior (in numbers and equipment) army was ready. He did not wait long for his excuse. If it is true, it was much better than any Hollywood scriptwriter could hope for. Romance and jealousy, with a great victory for the underdog, and a twist in the tail. Maybees Aye Maybees Naw.

From the security of Edinburgh Castle Sir JOHN SEGRAVE “commanded” Scotland onEdwards behalf, whilst his bastard son BOTETORT held the west. Segrave appears to have taken a fancy to the young and beautiful Lady MAGARET RAMSAY of DALHOUSIE, and attempted to win her over. She declined, already being enamoured of a neighbours son, Sir HENRY SINCLAIR of ROSSLYN. Segrave went back hame to rant and rave at this to his King as being an insult to their overlordship of Scotland,possibly giving Edward the very excuse he needed to make an incursion, in force, towards Edinburgh and Stirling, via the castles of the Ramsays at Dalhousie, that of the Sinclairs at Roslin and the near neighbours Gilbert Hay of Borthwick. At the same time, the international situation got a bit messier as Edwards Flanders problems worsened with the French attackers being slaughtered in the “Matinde Bruges” in May 1302. The French had agreed the Auld Alliance in 1296/7 but did not commit themselves any more than verbally. The initial treaty had been due to run out on 20/11/1302, just as Wallace's supporters began to retake the borders.

Despite the time of year, Edward insisted on the invaision, although the later propaganda declared it to be a reconnaissance in force - a force of 30,000 men. This was supposedly intended to make for Kirkintilloch as a test of the Scottish patriots. Or was this a ruse to divert the limited Scots forces away from their true

targets :- DALHOUSIE, ROSLIN and BORTHWICK.