Saint Sebastian is regarded as the Patron Saint of soldiers generally, of infantrymen, of athletes, of archers in particular and of municipal police officers.
The 40 Bowmen and Women of St Sebastian are an Ancient Society thought to have had a hereditary group of Bodyguards dating beyond the time of the ‘Druids’ having of course different names over the centuries.

The historical group Strathleven Artizans started up in 2005/06 to promote King Robert the Bruce living in Renton and as we started to venture outside Renton with our own small group this was a big step for us, meeting and supporting other historical groups with some of our own members joining other societies like the Society of William Wallace.

It became known quite quickly that we were men and women O’Bruce. We had also met lots of other groups and re-enactment societies who didn’t really know who we were and it was decided that we would have to try to find a connection with Bruce.

What we found in our research was that Robert the Bruce took on the Earl of Lennox’s Bodyguard known as:

The Forty Bowmen of St Sebastian:

St Sebastian has been martyred by having arrows fired into his body and survived. King Roberts own men had been through many a battle and survived, especially the great victory at Bannockburn 1314, so the King thought it would be fitting to name his bodyguards after this great example. His Bodyguard’s were so successful that King Robert died in peace in his bed at Renton 1329 – the bodyguard continues with David the 2nd onwards.