It is said that at the Battle of Bannockburn a small army of Scots led by King Robert I (The Bruce) faced overwhelming odds and a far superior English army on a field near Stirling Scotland. Accounts of the actual numbers of soldiers who met in battle vary, depending on who tells the story of this pivotal moment in the history of Scottish Independence. According to the Legend, the turning point of the battle can be attributed to a number of outcast Knights Templar who were taking refuge in Scotland after the demise of the Order. It is said that a small number of Knights and some light cavalry, led by William Sinclair charged over some nearly impassable terrain to surprise and devastate the Archers and Heavy Horsemen of King Edward II’s Army.
To honor these brave Knights, the Legend goes on to say that Robert the Bruce created the Order of St. Andrew of the Thistle also known as the Royal Order of Scotland. The actual number of Templars who were at the Battle of Bannockburn varies by story teller, but the most accepted version says that there were 63 Knights who fought valiantly. There was also the Royal Order of Heredom which was later established to honor the many operative masons who made up a large portion of King Robert I’s army. According to Mackey’s 1898 History of Freemasonry, our tradition links the current Masonic Knights of St. Andrew to these events nearly 700 years ago.
No comments:
Post a Comment