Robert Burns

On August 25, 1787, Burns and a traveling companion stopped in Stirling at the Golden Lion Inn on their way to Inverness. They went to see the ruined state of the former home of Scotland’s kings, which greatly aroused his Jacobite feelings. The next day, Burns took a diamond-tipped pen and scrawled a verse on the window of his room. The poem is called Written by Somebody on the window of an inn at Stirling On seeing the royal palace in ruins.

Robert Burns

Word of the verse, which was immediately attributed to Burns, spread quickly among travelers. Burns was the “rock star” of his day, but this poem was considered scandalous and treasonous by the current monarchy that had come to power after the overthrow of the Stuart kings. Burns was very worried about the rumors. He was being talked about as the author, and he was concerned about being called a traitor. More and more people talked, and consequently, a few months later, in October of 1787, Burns returned to the Golden Lion Inn, accompanied by Dr. James McKittrick Adair. Sometime during this visit, he broke the windowpane with the butt end of his riding switch to eliminate the evidence.

Burns and Adair stayed on for a few days at nearby Harveston House because of bad weather. There they visited Mrs. Katherine Bruce of Clackmannan, a 95 year old woman descended from Robert the Bruce, the revered 14^th century Scottish ruler. Dr. Adair wrote that Katherine Bruce “knighted” Robert Burns with the sword of the Bruce during this visit.

David Ewles 2 July 2009

According to the present day Lord Bruce

the Bruce family maintains today a portrait of Lady Katherine Bruce as well as Robert the Bruce’s sword she used that night. An internationally known Scottish photographer, David Ewles, has kindly provided these two photos, below, taken in early July, 2009. One is of Clackmannan Tower where Robert Burns met and was knighted by Lady Katherine Bruce. The tower, David says, stands high on a hill overlooking the River Forth to the south and the Ochil hills to the north.  The other is of Lady Katherine Bruce herself from a portion of a history board at the entrance to the tower. David says of Clackmannan Tower: “It is a fascinating piece of history and a wonderful place to visit… .”

Many thanks to David and his wife Margaret for sharing this part of their trip to Clackmannan.

See more of David’s award winning photography at www.visiblemeans.co.uk

David Ewles 2 July 2009

Comin’ Thro’ The Rye

Gin a body meet a body
Comin’ thro’ the rye
Gin a body kiss a body
Need a body cry?
Ilka lassie has her laddie
Nane, they say, hae I
Yet a’ the lads they smile at me
When comin’ thro’ the rye.
Gin a body meet a body
Comin’ frae the town
Gin a body kiss a body
Need a body frown?
Ilka lassie has her laddie
Nane, they say, hae I
Yet a’ the lads they smile at me
When comin’ thro’ the rye.
‘Mang the train there is a swain
I dearly lo’e myself
But what his name or whaur his hame
I dinna care to tell Ilka lassie has her laddie
Nane, they say, hae I
Yet a’ the lads they smile at me
When comin’ thro’ the rye.

– by beloved Scottish literary icon, Robert Burns –