"Marjorie, Countess of Carrick (1256-1292) was the daughter and heiress of Neil of Carrick, 2nd Earl of Carrick, and Countess of Carrick in her own right.
Her first husband was Adam de Kilconcath, who died on Crusade in 1270. Then, as the story goes, a handsome young man arrived one day to tell her of her husband's death in the Holy Land.... Marjorie was so taken with (this messenger) that she had him held captive till he agreed to marry her in 1271. He became Earl of Carrick de jure uxoris (in right of his wife)."-Wikipedia
Guess who their first son was?
Robert the Bruce! King of Scotland, the 7th Earl of Annandale, and the nemesis of King Edward II of England, the Hammer of the Scots. The Countess did not live to see the Bruce's victories, but in reading about her and her son, I had a vision of her watching over her him. Encouraging him silently, and I thought, what would she say to him if he could hear her? I feel that our ancestors are all around us, even at this moment. Even distant ones that we do not even know of. This is what I decided she would say to him after his defeat at Dunbar in 1296.
A Mother's Encouragement
Never give up, never give in
If ye want freedom badly
Know the struggle's not but to win
You'll not this day victor be
But the battle does so strengthen
Comes the day by your ain hand
That honor be boldly taken
Though field yet unhallowed will bleed
And the enemy so braw
You my son shall grandly succeed
And liberty ours will be
When common and noble are freed
Your soul shall with eagles soar
Author ye be of freedom's creed
To my ain shall that day belong
And all of your noble effort
Memorialized in fine song
Marked by warrior poets
All will see ye kingly and strong
And ye shall be remembered
When ye like me are dead and gone
