Robert the Dark

I am in complete sympathy with Regina Birch (Letters, 29 June). There is another, dark, side to Bannockburn and to Robert the Bruce. Bruce succeeded in a planned murder of the more favoured candidate for the Scottish throne, and had himself crowned instead. This act proved to be less popular than he expected and he was soon defeated at Methven and driven into exile. Having nothing to lose he later returned but again almost came to grief when half of his invasion force was defeated by the Mcdoualls of Galloway. Bruce and his brother Edward then began what was effectively a reign of terror throughout Galloway, Argyll and Buchan to “encourager les autres”.

Contrary to the words of Burns’s stirring poem there were precious few freemen at Bannockburn. As Ms Birch says, the battle site should be a scene of quiet reflection rather than triumphalism.

A MCCORMICK

Kirkland Road Terregles, Dumfries