#robroy

[EN TL] [Mar 10, Biwa Hayahide Birthday]

Zenno Rob Roy and Air Messiah got Hayahide glasses stands!

It’s taken years to build up to this moment.

Scotland is a country of rich history and tradition. Four little books in Special Collections manage to cover a broad swath of Scottish history. They highlight a theologian, an outlaw, a knight, and a queen who are widely known in Scottish history and lore. These four books are part of Bryce’s Tartan Series, and are bound in tartan silk, adding that extra bit of heritage.

First up is The Story of John Knox. John Knox was a Scottish theologian who led the Protestant Reformation of the Church of Scotland and established the Presbyterian tradition.

The closing words of the book are, “He is the one Scotchman to whom of all others his country and the world owe a debt. His fearless love of truth, his self-sacrificing patriotism, his brave soul and clean conscience will for ever [sic] entitle him to the admiration and respect of all earnest seekers after truth.”

Rob Roy was a type of Scottish Robin Hood—an outlaw turned folk hero. He earned his reputation by participating in the Jacobite Rebellion, which sought to restore the Stuart line as the rightful rulers of England as well as Scotland. William Wordsworth even wrote a poem commemorating him, part of which is inscribed on the title page of this book. It reads, “Thus among the rocks he lived, / Through summer’s heat and winter’s snow; / The eagle, he was lord above, / And Rob was lord below.”

Sir William Wallace became the Guardian of the Kingdom of Scotland because of his leadership in the Wars of Scottish Independence. In the fight for Scotland to separate itself from England, Wallace played an important role when he defeated the English army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge.

The opening words of The Story of Queen Mary are, “The Stuart dynasty was cradled in misfortune and extinguished in disgrace.” These despairing words seem to be true in the case of Mary, Queen of Scots. The young Scottish queen was known for her turbulent life, trouble-filled marriages, and most famously for her unfortunate death. After being ousted from her own throne, she sought protection from Elizabeth I, Queen of England. Many years later, Mary was convicted of participation in a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth in order to put Mary on the throne. The punishment was beheading.

Though there are many sides to each of these stories, and in those other narratives our characters might be portrayed as the villains, to the Scottish these four are heroes. These books celebrate Scottish history, and whatever you might think of the four heroes, at the very least they are stories worth telling.

Rob Roy - Final Duel