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Town of Falkirk -- 1/500


Campfield
(Site of the Battle of Falkirk)
A.D. 1298
"Instantly on Edwards arrival in England he assembled a numerous Army
amounting according to the common accounts, to above eighty thousand foot
besides a fine body of Cavalry, most of them veteran troops newly brought over from France. He marched
northward at their head. The Scots were, meanwile, making vigorous preparations for defence. An army
of thirty thousand, collected by Wallace and other chiefs, rendezvoused near Falkirk,waiting for the enemy.
After being encamped for about a month at Kirkliston, two miles south of Queensferry: the scarcity of
provisions had become so great in Edward's army that he had thoughts of returning to Edinburgh, but
receiving intelligence that the Scottish army had taken post within six leagues of his Camp he resolved
to attempt a decisive strike. Setting out, accordingly, from Kirkliston at three in the afternoon, they arrived
at Linlithgow that evening. The army including the King, lay all night on the bare ground. He mounted
at daybreak, and led the army through the town. They had no sooner passed the town of Linlithgow than
they descried, on the hills of Muiravenside several bodies of armed men whom they took for the Scottish Army. They
marched up in battle array to attack them. Upon their arrival, it was found that the Scots had retired, having
been only the outposts, and scouting parties, who upon the approach of the enemy had fallen back
to the main body at Falkirk. Reaching the summit of the hills, the whole English army halted, till the Bishop of
Durham had said Mass. It was the 22nd of July, and St. Magdalen's day. They now observed the Scottish army
two miles off, forming in the order of Battle upon a gentle eminence near Falkirk. When Mass was ended, the King
proposed that the army should take some refreshment. The troops however would listen to no delay,
but insisted on being led to action. The English advanced to the charge in three great bodies. The first
was led by the Earl Marshal, and the Earls of Hereford & Lincoln; the second by the Bishop of Durham, with whom
Sir Ralph Basset de Drayton was joined command; and the third which was probably intended as a corps de
reserve, was commanded by Edward in person. The Scottish army also stood in three divisions, commanded
by as many leaders. The first line of the English, led on by the Earl Marshal, and the Earls of Hereford
and Lincoln, advanced with great ardour, but not having reconnoitred the ground, were some-
what retarded by the morass in front of the Scotts. Turning a little to the left, however, they found firm
ground, along which they charged. The Bishop of Durham, who with Sir Ralph Basset commanded the
second line, perceiving the morass, turned to the right and set a compass, but more nearly inspecting
the warlike posture of the Scotts, he proposed to stop until the third division commanded by the
King had advanced. Delay however did not suit Basset's ardour who insisted that the troops
should instantly charge; They advanced accordingly, and charged the left wing of the Scots
almost at the moment Bigod had charged the right.
The Scots made so brave a resistance, that the English Cavalry who were now chiefly employed
could not for some time, make any impression upon their ranks. The division commanded
by Stewart was surrounded and, after a gallant defence, mostly cut to pieces, together
with their leader who was mortally wounded. Wallace for some time, stood his ground
against the whole power of the enemy with amazing intrepidity till Robert Bruce, who with
a body of Cavalry, had taken a circuit round a hill was ready to fall upon his rear.
This obliged him to begin a retreat, which he accomplished with great valour and
military skill to the Carron. He crossed the river in view of the victorious army
at a ford near Arthurs Oven.
Nimmo's History of Stirlingshire.