This week
we follow in the footsteps of King Robert I, King of Scots, 695 years ago
and cross the Irish Sea to the Isle of Man. He went with the intent and
outcome of restoring the Isle of Man to Scottish rule after the English had
taken over the island early in the long Wars of Independence. The Isle of
Man first came into Scottish hands when the Norwegians ceded it and the
Hebrides to Scotland in the Treaty of Perth in 1266. Prior to this treaty,
the Isle of Man had been at the centre of Viking rule over the Scottish,
English, Welsh and Irish seaways with its own parliament Tynwald. With the
Treaty of Perth, Mann came under the rule of Alexander III, King of Scots
(1249-1286), known as ‘The Peaceable’. It was a less peaceable face that the
Manx had to face nine years later when Alexander sent a fleet of armed men
to the island. On 8 October 1275 Scottish forcesput down a Manx rebellion in
the Battle of Ronaldsway, the site of the modern Isle of Man Airport. The
Manx had refused peace terms the previous day and before dawn were routed
with more than five hundred slain. Monks at Rushen Abbey recorded in ’The
Chronicles of the Kings of man and the Isles’ that -
‘Ten
times 50, three times 10, and five and two did fall,
O Manx
race beware lest future catastrophe you befall.’
On a
happier note it was during the reign of Alexander that the famous symbol of
the Isle of Man – The Three Legs – which proudly flies on the Manx flag came
into being. You will see the Manx flag flying all over the island, not just
on official buildings, but in ordinary homes. Scots would do well to follow
their example with the Saltire.
From the
days of Robert I the Isle of Man was to continue to pass from Scottish to
English control until the Scots gave up. But our Gaelic speaking cousin have
been able to hold to their own way over the centuries and their 1,000
year-old parliament – Tynwald – still has far more control over Manx
affairs, both at home and abroad, than the devolved matters reluctantly
given by Westminster, to the fledgling Scottish Parliament. Scottish
Minister Linda Fabiani was the first representative from the Scottish
Government, earlier this year (March 2008), to officially visit Tynwald, and
hopefully the Scots will learn much from Manx contacts.
By the time
you read this, the Wright part of The Flag team will be holidaying on the
island and tracing the route Robert I took from Ramsey, first to the island
capital Douglas, where he stayed in the Nunnery, then on to Castletown,
where he took the Castle of Rushen and destroyed it. Visiting Man is very
much akin to journeying up the west of Scotland - bonnie scenery, mountains,
glens and rivers (albeit on a smaller scale) are all a reminder of home.
Little wonder that Mann has long proved to be a popular holiday destination
from Scotland.
Most
visitors to the Isle of Man try their renowned Kippers or scallop delicacies
Queenies, but no visit to Man is complete without having a few slices of
Bonnag – absolutely delicious with a fly-cup!
Plain Bonnag
Ingredients: 8 oz plain flour; 1-2 oz butter; pinch of salt; 1 cup
buttermilk; 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda; 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
Method:
Sift flour and salt into a bowl and rub in butter. Mix together with
buttermilk, bicarbonate of soda and cream of tartar. Gradually add liquid
and mix with a fork to make a soft dough. Turn onto a floured board and
knead the dough until smooth. Shape into a round and place on a greased
baking tray. Mark into sections and brush top with milk. Bake in a moderate
oven for 30 to 40 minutes until well-risen and golden brown.
