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June 23rd 1314 |
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Bruce's secret protectorAfter the battle of Methven in 1306 in which Bruce and his followers were defeated by an English force under the Earl of Pembroke, he retreated to the hills and remained for a time in Glen Dochart.Here he became acquainted with the traditions of St Fillan and worshipped at his shrine. He was pursued by McDougall of Lorne with a force of 1,000 men. Although heavily outnumbered, Bruce and his followers were able to escape from his enemies with almost no loss of life and it was believed that this miraculous deliverance was due to the protection of St Fillan. It was natural, therefore, that eight years later, before the battle of Bannockburn, Bruce should pray to St Fillan for help and protection. He believed that one of the relics of St Fillan had been brought to his tent for this purpose. This was the left arm of the saint, enclosed in a silver case, and was known as the Mayne. Suddenly, as he was praying, so the story goes, there was a loud crack from the case. A priest went to the alter and opened the case. “This is a miracle,” he cried, “I brought the case here empty lest the Mayne be lost in the confusion of battle. Yet here it is, back in its case for all to see.” Bruce accepted this as an omen of success and was not disappointed next day. As late as 1670 there was mention of a Dewar’s croft at Killin known as Dewar-na-Maynes croft. Whether the Mayne was still at Killin in 1670 is not known. Certainly no one has any knowledge of its whereabouts today. |