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13:01 04/03/04

The Battle of Bannockburn

Bruce moved the Scots army out of the Torwood where they had been preparing for thecoming encounter since May. He had raised about 500 light cavalry and 6,000 footsoldiers armed with long spears, axes, swords and bows. It was a small and ragged army,but experienced from seven years of hard fighting. They moved north to guard the ancientroad to Stirling where, on high groud above the eastern marsh, it passed throughwoodland at the edge of the New Park.

King Edward of England brought his army from Edinburgh to Falkirk on the way to Stirling.He had ordered his followers to meet at Berwick on 10th June. Seven days later hecrossed into Scotland with two to three thousand heavy cavalry in 10 divisions and at least15,000 foot soldiers including his famous Welsh archers. The Scots were outnumbered by3 to 1. By nightfall on 22nd June 1314, only 12 miles separated the two armies.

JUNE 23RD - THE BATTLE COMMENCES

During June 23rd while the English advanced from Falkirk, the Scots waited beside theroad, ready to fight or retreat to the west. They were drawn up in 4 divisions. Bruce heldthe southern edge of the wood nearest the approaching enemy, Edward Bruce was besidehim, James Douglas and Walter Stewart next; and at the north of the line near St Ninianschurch was Sir Thomas Randolph - Earl of Moray. The horsemen under Sir Robert Keithwere ready in reserve.

It was afternoon before the first blow was struck. The English cavalry pressed forwardthrough the Torwood. The leading divisions under the Earls of Gloucester and Herefordcrossed the Bannock Burn and made a frontal attack on the Scots at the entry to the NewPark. Here an English Knight Sir Henry de Bohun rode directly at Bruce who raised hisbattle axe and drove it through his assailant's helmet and skull. The incident increased theconfidence of the Scots and Bruce and his brother stood firm. The English, confused bythe ditches and spikes placed like a minefield alongside the road, retreated.

Meanwhile another English cavalry force under Sir Robert Clifford and Sir Henry de

Beaumont was advancing towards Stirling along the lower ground to the east of the Scots.They had drawn level with Moray's division and formed a schiltron or sheild ring withspears pointing outwards. After fierce fighting, Moary's men overcame the English. Thesetwo victories of infantry over armoured Knights had their effect on the morale of botharmies at the close of the day's fighting.

MORNING - JUNE 24TH

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Morning, June 24th found the two armies in contrasting mood. The English had spent thefew hours of dusk among the marshy pools of the carse, which they called a deep wet evilmarsh. Their leaders were discouraged and divided. Above them in the New Park theScots waited in greater comfort and confidence. Their Council of War was still consideringwhether to fight or retreat when a Scots Knight desserting from the English army brought

word that the English were losing heart. When Bruce asked his leaders if they shouldfight , they all pressed him to attack.

At first light the Scots army heard Mass and a speech from their King. Then in their fourdivisions they advanced to the edge of the woodland. Before daybreak the English cavalryhad reached the 'hard field' where the battle was to be fought, well ahead of the mainbody of infantry.

Early accounts of the battle do not fix the position exactly, but it was probably on thehigher ground, known later as 'dryfield', to the north of the steep gorge of the BannockBurn and between the edge of the carse and the New Park.The Scottish foot advanced in echelon with Edward Bruce's division leading on the rfight,Moray's in the centre and the newly Knighted Sir James Douglas and Sir Walter Stewarton the left. Bruce's division stayed in reserve. The first main attack was launched againstEdward Bruce by cavalry under the Earl of Gloucester. The Scots formed schiltrom andthe charge made little impression on the dense edge of spears. English casualties wereheavy, and Gloucester was among the first of the many who died that day.

CRISIS - JUNE 24TH

While Edward Bruce was holding Gloucester's Knights, Moray and Douglas moved theirdivisions into line on his left so that the Scots presented a solid mass of spearmen. In thisformation they advanced until they engaged the whole 9 divisions of the English cavalryalready much confused by the stempede of wounded and riderless horses from the firstcharge. With great effect the Scots attacked horses rather than riders, and their own linemanaged to stand firm.

Now came the moment of crisis. The English archers, feared by the Scots for the havoc

they had caused at Falkirk in 1298, were called forward to break up the schiltrons as theyhad done before. But most of them had been stationed at the rear, and in the narrowspace could not move quickly into position. Bruce had time to bring up Sir Robert Keithand his small body of light cavalry.

They charged so fiercely that the archers broke and fled. The English had failed to exploitthe skill of their famus bowmen.

Meanwhile Bruce and his division were watching the course of the battle. When he sawthe archers in flight he brought his men rushing against the enemy, adding weight to theright of the Scots line. Gradually the Scots began to push them backwards. At this

moment to the surprise of the enemy, a great mob of untrained 'small folk' - yeomen,

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servants and labourers, who had been guarding baggage and supplies, burst out fromCoxet Hill and dashed towards the battle.

VICTORY - JUNE 24TH

The hard pressed English thought that they were seeing furth Scottish reserves and theirleaders knew that the day was lost. King Edward must not risk death or capture and hewas persuaded to withdraw with 500 Knights. He rode along the edge of the carsetowards Stirling. The Governor of the castle advised the party that to enter the castlewould be to invite capture. Edward turned back through the King's Park and, crossing tothe west of the Scottish army, reached the Torwood and the ultimate safety of a boat atDunbar.

When the royal standard was seen leaving the field it proved the signal to the English fordisintegration and general retreat quickly turned into rout. The army fled towards the Forthand the steep gorge of the Bannock burn where countless men and horse were trampledand drowned. The day was won. A number escaped along King Edward's route to Stirling,where they surrendered. The Earl of Hereford fled with a party to Bothwell castle but thegovernor, until then an English supporter, handed them over to King Robert.

Although it would be many years before Bruce's victory bore its full fruit, the name ofBannockburn stands high in the battle role of freedom and was a turning point inScotland's fight to retain her independence.

PEACE WITH ENGLAND

Peace with England was not concluded until 14 years after Bannockburn. By 1318, whenhis men recaptured Berwick, Bruce had regained his whole Kingdom; but Edward refusedto recognise his position as King of Scots or to renounce the claim to the feudal

overlordship of Scotland made by his father in 1290. Without agreement on thesefundamental points the Scots would not consider a peace treaty. Bruce and his leaders,Douglas and Moray, carried raids deep into the enemy's northern counties, butineffectively, as the real wealth of England lay beyond their reach. Edward unsuccessfullybeseiged Berwick, and in 1322 he marched through Lothian to the Forth. This was his lastexpedition into Scotland, for troubles in his own Kingdom thereafter kept him occupied asthome. A truce failed to produce the recognition demanded by Bruce.

In 1327 Edward II was deposed, and, on the day of his young son's coronation, the Scotsmade a raid across the border. After one brief campaign, Edward III and his advisors sentenvoys north to discuss peace terms. In parliament at York in 1328 Edward conceded

Scotland's freedom from "subjection, servitude, claim or demand" and declared Robert

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Bruce "by God's grace illustrious King of Scots". A peace treaty was signed at Edinburghand ratified at Northampton.