History and Poetry of the Scottish Border Quotes

“[T]here is every probability that, although the historic scenes of many of the Arthurian exploits can be traced to the kingdom of Strathclyde or Cumbria, and the north of England generally, the poems celebrating them were chiefly framed in Armorica - the place of quiet retreat and refuge for the exiled Britons of our island - and that they thence came back to Britain itself, and also spread over the Courts of France and Germany in Norman-French.”
― John Veitch, History and Poetry of the Scottish Border: Their Main Features and Relations, Volume 1

“The internal evidence in the case of certain of the recognised Scottish romances seems to point to a native origin. The principal figure in these - Sir Gawayn - has both a historical and mythical connection with the Scottish Lowlands, and with Cumberland - the southern part of the Cymric kingdom of Strathclyde. In the earlier course of the story that gradually gathered around him, he fits in with the historical circumstances. He is the son of Loth, King of the Lothians, by Anna, the half-sister of Arthur. Along with his two brothers he assists Arthur in his war against the Saxons. He is made by Arthur Lord of Galloway. He is the friend of the Caledonian Merlin...”
― John Veitch, History and Poetry of the Scottish Border: Their Main Features and Relations, Volume 1

“The oldest [prophecies] have in many cases a quite distinct Arthurian tinge and cast. They are, indeed, exactly what was to be expected from one who lived in the period of the Rhymour, who was a strong patriotic Scot, who survived the death of Alexander, and was shrewd enough to discern the grasping ambition of the English king, and whose memory and imagination were full of the old Arthurian legends of the Lowlands. Such a man could not but see that the traditional oppression of the ancient Britons was about to be repeated on their Saxon successors: he believed and hoped in a final deliverance; and he readily adapted to the circumstances of his own time the floating legends of Cymric sufferings, temporary deliverance, and at least unsubdued hopes.”
― John Veitch, History and Poetry of the Scottish Border: Their Main Features and Relations, Volume 1

“It is said that Edward had very enlightened, advanced, and comprehensive ideas of statesmanship; that he wished to fuse England, Scotland, and Wales into one grand monarchy, with anticipation of a great future for the whole. The extreme exasperation he felt, and the savage cruelty he showed to the patriotic Scots who opposed him, were quite a natural result of the baffling and frustration of his wise conception and benificent designs. In the history of nations, as in that of philosophy, we are very apt to interject into ancient actors and thinkers modern ideas, at which, probably, they would have stood amazed. At the best, this view of the character and motives of Edward is a mere hypothesis. But, supposing him to have held that it was infinitely better for Scotland to submit to his rule, that hardly gave him a right to use violence, brutality, and murder to enforce his views.”
― John Veitch, History and Poetry of the Scottish Border: Their Main Features and Relations, Volume 1