Past Lives: The Wars of Scottish Independence

by Jet556

From 1296 to 1603, there was bitter war between England and Scotland over Scotland's independence. However, as both kingdoms become more weak and unstable Scotland lost the moral ground as the war-loving Scots took as much advantage of England as the conquest-happy English did of Scotland. So the question is for the Scots: is it even about independence anymore?

1. ACT I

Dramatis Personae

The Scottish

The Bruce Robert, Earl of Carrick (Randy's past life)

The Beautiful Isabella (Theresa's past life)

The Invulnerable Hugh (Howard's past life)

The Wily Simon (Stevens' past life)

The English

The First Edward, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports (Niall's past life)

The Treacherous John, Earl of Surrey (Ken's past life)

Setting: Britain, 1449. It has been one hundred and one years since the First war of Scottish Independence ended and ninety-two years since the Second War of Scottish Independence ended. It is now the third War of Scottish Independence, known as the "Anglo-Scottish Wars", with both countries trying to take advantage of the weakness and instability of the others. The days of the Edwards who kept England strong and stable and protected them from the war-loving Scots are past just as the days of the House of Bruce who kept Scotland strong and stable and safe from the conquest-happy English are past.

ACT I

Scene I

An open place.

It seemed there was always war on the isle of Britain. That was fine for the Scots who loved it and so Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick, named after the most famous member of his clan wondered if it was really worth it. His cousin James II of Scotland, descended from a grandson of King Robert, was all to eager for war but he was very popular with the people but he was quite weak.

With Isabella, his dearest friend, Robert sat upon the open place in thought. Thoughts of the English came to him. No longer was the moral high ground with Scots, they were no more moral than the English. Who had taken advantage of the other's weakness and instability this time? It didn't really matter.

The last strong English king had been Edward III, now there had been a worthy opponent! It was the kings who had followed him that had become weak. His grandsons Richard II and Henry IV, the latter's son Henry V and now his son Henry VI were all weak and the Scots were not much better. Robert II, Robert III, James I and now James II… Why were the inhabitants of this isle being plagued by weak kings? The last strong King of Scotland had been David II.

"It's no longer about independence, Isabella." Said Robert. "It will never be about independence again."

Scene II

A camp near Forres.

For Hugh there could have been nothing better than to fight. He did not care at all about who had the moral high ground all he cared about was fighting. As he walked through the camp with Simon, Hugh spoke with him.

"What do I care about morals?" asked Hugh. "We learned to fight so we could kill people! I'm here to kill people and win everlasting glory!"

"Yes, and if you should die it will be up to me to lead us." Stated Simon. "The English of Lord Warden Edward I of the Cinque Ports and Earl John of Surrey coming to fight us."

"Edward and John?" asked Hugh. "Those two? Edward is just a claimant to the title that belongs to 1st Baron James Fiennes Saye and Sele as is John to…"

"Surrey hasn't had a ruler in fifty years." Stated Simon. "And is he not believed to be in love with your sister?"

"My sister?" asked Hugh. "If such a union were to happen I'd kill the child that would come of it! I will not have Scots marrying English and I will have my sword bloodied!"