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Robert Burns

Robert Burns, Scotland’s National poet had many facets to his character, one of them was his pride in his national heritage, and also his love of Scottish history. This is reflected in many of his poems and songs.

After the success of the Kilmarnock edition of his works he went on a tour of Scotland and after visiting Bannockburn he wrote Bruce’s address to his troops before the battle.

This is of course ‘Scots Wha Hae ‘ and was the unofficial National Anthem of Scotland for many years before Flower of Scotland was taken up. Also on this trip to Edinburgh he met the Catholic Bishop John Geddes and was so impressed by him that he wrote ‘Lament to Mary’. This was about Mary Queen of Scots, the last Catholic Monarch of Scotland and her tragic end. Geddes was responsible for the spreading of Burns’ work around the Scottish seminaries in Europe. I

It is now 300 years since the Union of Parliaments we see Burns’ thoughts on its circumstances and affects in his poem ‘Farewell to a’ our Scottish Fame’ sometimes known as a ‘Parcel of Rogues in a Nation’.

This act was so unpopular among the ordinary people of Scotland that a special tartan was introduced called the ‘Caledonian’ and was worn in protest by people who disagreed with the ‘Union’.

Terry Burns 

Farewell to a’ our Scottish fame

 Farewell our ancient glory

Farewell ev’n to the Scottish name

Sae tamed in martial story

Now sank over Solway sands

And Tweed into the ocean

To mark where England’s province stands

Such a parcel of rogues in a Nation.

What force or guile could not subdue

Thro’ many warlike ages

Is wrought now by a cowards few

For hirelings traitor’s wages

The English steel we could disdain

Secure in valour’s station

But English gold has been our bane

Such a parcel of rogues in a Nation

O, would or I had seen the day

That treason thus could sell us

My auld grey head had lien in clay

Wi’ Bruce and loyal Wallace

But pith and power till my last hour

I’ll make this declaration

We were bought and sold for English gold

Such a parcel of rogues in a Nation