The Bruce; or, the history of Robert I, King of Scotland. Written in Scottish verse by John Barbour. The first genuine edition, published from a MS. dated 1489; with notes and a glossary by J. Pinkerton

London: printed by H. Hughs for G. Nicol, Bookseller to his Majesty, 1790. First edition, 3 volumes, 8ivo, pp. [3], vi-xxiii, [1], 208; [2], 198; [2], 179, [1], [16] glossary, [6] index, [6] additional notes; handsome engraved vignette title pages by Barlow after Ansell; facsimile of a page of the MS on p. [180] of volume III; original marbled boards, cream paper shelfback, manuscript volume designation number on spine; spines darkened, extremities rubbed; all else very good. Amorian bookplate of Stuart of Torrance. A Scottish national epic and the first major work of Scottish literature, composed in 1376. Barbour (1325? - 1395) was born in Aberdeen and studied at Oxford and also in France. "The background of The Bruce is the political history of the Scottish struggle for independence, from the death of Alexander III (1286) to the death of Douglas and the burial of Bruce's heart (1332). The story emphasizes the chivalry and idealism of the Scottish heroes and exhorts their successors to emulate "thair nobill elderis." But the Battle of Bannockburn (1314) was still within the memory of his contemporaries, and The Bruce remains a harshly realistic story of recent events in the style of the chansons de geste rather than a romance of chivalry. The style of the poem is vigorous, direct, and admirably suited to the matter. Barbour evidently took some trouble to collect firsthand accounts of the Battle of Bannockburn, which is the highlight of the poem. His narrative manner is similar to that of the Scottish border ballads" (Britannica).