Barbour, John (c. 1320-1395)

Scottish poet. His epic 13,000-line poem The Brus (written 1374-75, printed 1571) chronicles the war of Scottish independence and includes a vivid account of Robert Bruce's victory over the English at Bannockburn in 1314. It is among the earliest known works of Scottish poetry.

Barbour was ordained a priest and was promoted by King David II to the archdeaconry of Aberdeen about 1356. In 1357 he gained permission from Edward III of England to study in Oxford for a time. Under Robert II he became one of the auditors of the Exchequer.

The Brus (described by the author as a ‘romance’) is written with great spirit, in octosyllabic verse; the style is clear and simple and the language more ‘modern’ than that of Barbour's contemporaries.