Bruce moved the
Scots army out of the Torwood where they had been
preparing for the coming encounter since May. He had
raised about 500 light cavalry and 6,000 foot soldiers
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 ancient
road to Stirling where, on high groud above the eastern
marsh, it passed through woodland 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 he crossed into Scotland with two to three thousand
heavy cavalry in 10 divisions and at least 15,000 foot
soldiers including his famous Welsh archers. The
Scots were outnumbered by 3 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 the road, ready to fight or
retreat to the west. They were drawn up in 4
divisions. Bruce held the southern edge of the
wood nearest the approaching enemy, Edward Bruce
was beside him, James Douglas and Walter Stewart
next; and at the north of the line near St
Ninians church was Sir Thomas Randolph - Earl of
Moray. The horsemen under Sir Robert Keith were
ready in reserve.
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It was afternoon before
the first blow was struck. The English cavalry
pressed forward through the Torwood. The leading
divisions under the Earls of Gloucester and
Hereford crossed the Bannock Burn and made a
frontal attack on the Scots at the entry to the
New Park. Here an English Knight Sir Henry de
Bohun rode directly at Bruce who raised his
battle axe and drove it through his assailant's
helmet and skull. The incident increased the
confidence of the Scots and Bruce and his brother
stood firm. The English, confused by the 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 with spears pointing
outwards. After fierce fighting, Moary's men
overcame the English. These two victories of
infantry over armoured Knights had their effect
on the morale of both armies at the close of the
day's fighting.
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MORNING - JUNE
24TH
Morning, June 24th found the two armies in
contrasting mood. The English had spent the few
hours of dusk among the marshy pools of the
carse, which they called a deep wet evil marsh.
Their leaders were discouraged and divided. Above
them in the New Park the Scots waited in greater
comfort and confidence. Their Council of War was
still considering whether 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
should fight , they all pressed him to attack.At first light the Scots army
heard Mass and a speech from their King. Then in
their four divisions they advanced to the edge of
the woodland. Before daybreak the English cavalry
had reached the 'hard field' where the battle was
to be fought, well ahead of the main body of
infantry.
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Early accounts of the
battle do not fix the position exactly, but it
was probably on the higher ground, known later as
'dryfield', to the north of the steep gorge of
the Bannock Burn 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 Stewart on the left.
Bruce's division stayed in reserve. The first
main attack was launched against Edward Bruce by
cavalry under the Earl of Gloucester. The Scots
formed schiltrom and the charge made little
impression on the dense edge of spears. English
casualties were heavy, and Gloucester was among
the first of the many who died that day. |
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CRISIS - JUNE
24TH
While Edward Bruce was holding Gloucester's
Knights, Moray and Douglas moved their divisions
into line on his left so that the Scots presented
a solid mass of spearmen. In this formation they
advanced until they engaged the whole 9 divisions
of the English cavalry already much confused by
the stempede of wounded and riderless horses from
the first charge. With great effect the Scots
attacked horses rather than riders, and their own
line managed 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 they had
done before. But most of them had been stationed
at the rear, and in the narrow space could not
move quickly into position. Bruce had time to
bring up Sir Robert Keith and his small body of
light cavalry. |
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They charged so
fiercely that the archers broke and fled. The
English had failed to exploit the skill of their
famus bowmen.
Meanwhile Bruce and his division were watching
the course of the battle. When he saw the archers
in flight he brought his men rushing against the
enemy, adding weight to the right 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, servants and labourers, who had been
guarding baggage and supplies, burst out from
Coxet Hill and dashed towards the battle.
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VICTORY - JUNE
24TH
The hard pressed English thought that they were
seeing furth Scottish reserves and their leaders
knew that the day was lost. King Edward must not
risk death or capture and he was persuaded to
withdraw with 500 Knights. He rode along the edge
of the carse towards Stirling. The Governor of
the castle advised the party that to enter the
castle would be to invite capture. Edward turned
back through the King's Park and, crossing to the
west of the Scottish army, reached the Torwood
and the ultimate safety of a boat at Dunbar.
When the royal standard was seen leaving the
field it proved the signal to the English for
disintegration and general retreat quickly turned
into rout. The army fled towards the Forth and
the steep gorge of the Bannock burn where
countless men and horse were trampled and
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 the governor, 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 of
Bannockburn stands high in the battle role of
freedom and was a turning point in Scotland's
fight to retain her independence.
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PEACE
WITH ENGLAND
Peace with England was not concluded until 14
years after Bannockburn. By 1318, when his men
recaptured Berwick, Bruce had regained his whole
Kingdom; but Edward refused to 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 these
fundamental 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, but ineffectively, as the real
wealth of England lay beyond their reach. Edward
unsuccessfully beseiged Berwick, and in 1322 he
marched through Lothian to the Forth. This was
his last expedition into Scotland, for troubles
in his own Kingdom thereafter kept him occupied
ast home. 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 Scots made a raid
across the border. After one brief campaign,
Edward III and his advisors sent envoys 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 Bruce "by
God's grace illustrious King of Scots". A
peace treaty was signed at Edinburgh and ratified
at Northampton.
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This
page updated on 16th January,2000.
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