Scots Wha Hae

- Robert The Bruce monument at the Battle of Bannockburn site, Scotland

I saw this news story today - Applause and tears as gay US bishop preaches in Glasgow - about Gene Robinson preaching at St. Mary's Cathedral in Scotland (he was banned from giving Eucharist in England), and it brought something else to mind .... given the odd way my brain works, it may not seem connected, but I liked what popped up, so here it is - a poem by Robert Burns in the form of a speech given by Robert the Bruce before the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, where Scotland maintained its independence from England, with the help (maybe :) of the Papally disenfranchised Knights Templar.

Scots Wha Hae

'Scots, wha hae wi' Wallace bled,
Scots, wham Bruce has aften led,
Welcome tae your gory bed,
Or tae Victorie!

'Now's the day, and now's the hour:
See the front o' battle lour,
See approach proud Edward's power -
Chains and Slaverie!

'Wha will be a traitor knave?
Wha will fill a coward's grave?
Wha sae base as be a slave?
Let him turn and flee!

'Wha, for Scotland's king and law,
Freedom's sword will strongly draw,
Freeman stand, or Freeman fa',
Let him on wi' me!

'By Oppression's woes and pains!
By your sons in servile chains!
We will drain our dearest veins,
But they shall be free!

'Lay the proud usurpers low!
Tyrants fall in every foe!
Liberty's in every blow! -
Let us do or dee!'

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BTW, you can read more about St. Mary's Cathedral at the blog of her Provost .... What’s in Kelvin’s Head