Page 75 - All About History - Issue 16-14

Braveheart’s battle

BRAVEHEART’S

BATTLE

William Wallace’s Scottish rebellion against the English

and their repressive king Edward I had its finest hour in a

bloody battle on the outskirts of Stirling

Written by David Crookes

illiam Wallace strode confidently Wallace that the English army was heading to army. The English thought them to be of lesser
among his troops. Thousands of Scotland on the order of English King Edward class, disorganised and weak, but they had one
men were lined up on high ground I, Wallace called off the siege and led his men thing in spades: righteous anger. Handled well,
close to the Augustinian monastery south to meet their oldest and fiercest enemy. Wallace believed they could win any battle
W of Cambuskenneth Abbey near The English didn’t have the element of and, as an experienced guerrilla campaigner, he
Stirling. They stood still, looking down at the surprise, but they looked impressive enough. hadn’t come to face the English unprepared.
English army that had gathered not a mile away, Wallace watched them as they gathered south But who was William Wallace and how did
studying them carefully. Every so often there of the river, noting the many English banners he come to jointly command an army against
would be a rousing cheer and a defiant chant. fluttering in the breeze. The knights were sitting the English? Some of our knowledge of the man
Wallace would give them sparks of energy, on the backs of large warhorses in their full comes from the writings of a storyteller called
explain what he expected of them and get them regalia. His own troops were mostly infantry Blind Harry. He tells of a landowner’s son who
excited. This would be their moment of glory, armed with long spears and they looked was educated, able to read and write in Latin
he told them. This was a chance to help bring decidedly less professional. On paper, the English and French and who was training to become
Scotland back into the hands of the Scots. were the stronger side. Led by John de Warenne, a priest. Around the end of the 14th century,
It was just before dawn on 11 September 1297. Earl of Surrey, and Hugh de Cressingham, the Walter Bower described Wallace as, “a tall man
Despite a slight breeze and a morning chill, English treasurer of Scotland, they were well with the body of a giant, cheerful in appearance
things were about to warm up considerably. versed in battle, a fighting machine that had with agreeable features, broad-shouldered and
Only a few days earlier the Scottish force had recently crushed the Welsh in battle. big-boned […] pleasing in appearance but with
been laying siege to Dundee Castle, which the The Scots were far less experienced, raised on a wild look, broad in the hips, with strong arms
English held thanks to their victory at Dunbar the basis of Scottish service and effectively men and legs, a most spirited fighting-man, with all © Sara Biddle
the previous year. However, when news reached from the horseless classes forming a common his limbs very strong and firm.”

75