Ordnance gazetteer of Scotland > Volume 1

BANNOCKBUEN
enemy to pass. A rose has this day fallen from your
chaplet ! " Randolph, feeling the reproof severely, in-
stantly pursued them with 500 foot ; and coming up
with them in the plain, where the modern village of
Newhouse stands, commenced a sharp action in sight of
both armies, and of the castle. Clifford's squadron
wheeling round, and placing their spears in rest, charged
the Scots at full speed ; but Randolph, having formed
his infantry into a square with their spears protended
on every side, and resting on the ground, successfully
repelled the first fierce onset, and successive charges
equally desperate. Much valour was displayed on both
sides ; and it was for some time doubtful who should
obtain the victory. Bruce, attended by several of his
officers, beheld this rencounter from a rising ground
supposed to be the round hill immediately W of St
Ninians, now called Cockshot Hill. Douglas, perceiv-
ing the jeopardy of his brave friend, asked leave to
hasten with a reinforcement to his support. This the
king at first refused ; but, upon his afterwards consent-
ing, Douglas put his soldiers in motion. Perceiving,
however, on the way, that Randolph was on the point
of victory, he stopped short, that they who had long
fought so hard might enjoy undivided glory. The
English were entirely defeated with great slaughter.
Among the slain was William d'Eyncourt, a knight and
commander of great renown, who had fallen in the be-
ginning of the action. The loss of the Scots was very
inconsiderable ; some asserted that it amounted only to
a single yeoman. Randolph and his company, covered
with dust and glory, returned to the camp, amidst accla-
mations of joy. To perpetuate the memory of the vic-
tory, two large stones were erected in the field — where
they are still to be seen — at the N end of the village of
Newhouse, about a quarter of a mile from the S port of
Stirling. Another incident happened in the same day,
which contributed greatly to inspirit the Scots forces.
King Robert, according to Barbour, was ill mounted,
carrying a battle-axe, and, on his bassinet-helmet, wear-
ing, for distinction, a crown. Thus externally distin-
guished, he was riding upon a little palfry, in front of
his foremost line, regulating their order ; when an
English knight, who was ranked among the bravest in
Edward's army, Sir Henry de Bohun, came galloping
furiously up to him, to engage him in single combat,
expecting by this act of chivalry to end the contest and
gain immortal fame. But the enterprising champion,
having missed his blow, was instantly struck dead by
the king, who, raising himself in his stirrups as his
assailant passed, with one blow of his battle-axe cleft
his head in two, shivering the handle of his own weapon
with the violence of the blow. The incident is thus re-
corded by Barbour, the best edition of whose Brits is by
Cosmo Innes (Spalding Club, 1S57) : —
' "And quhen Glosyster and Herfurd war
With thair bataill, approachand ner,
Befor thaim all thar com rydand,
With helni on heid, and sper in hand
Schyr Henry the Boune, the worthi,
That wes a wycht knycht, and a hardy;
And to the Erie off Herfurd cusyne ;
Armyt in armys gud and fyne ;
Come on a sted, a bow schote ner,
Befor all othyr that thar wer :
And knew the King, for that he saw
Him swa rang his men on raw ;
And by the croune, that wes set
Alsua apon his bassynet.
And towart him he went in hy.
And [quhen] the King sua apertly
Saw him cum, forouth all his feris,
In hy till him the hors he steris.
And quhen Schyr Henry saw the King
Cum on, for owtyn abaysing,
Till him he raid in full gret hy.
He thoucht that he suid weill lychtly
Wyn him, and haf him at his will.
Sen he him horsyt saw sa ill.
Sprent thai samyn in till a ling
Schyr Henry myssit the noble king,
And he, that iu his sterapys stud,
With the ax that wes hard and gud,
With sa gret mayne raucht him a dynt,
That nothyr hat na helm mycht stynt
The hewy dusche that he him gave.
That ner the heid till the harnys clave.
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BANNOCKBURN
The hand ax schaft fruschit in twa;
And he doune to the erd gan ga
All flatlynys, for him faillyt mycht.
This was the fryst strak off the fycht."
The Scottish chiefs blamed Bruce for thus risking the
army's safety in his own, and Bruce had no answer to
make, though, according to some histories, he flippantly
evaded further censure by affecting to be chiefly con-
cerned for the loss of his trusty battle-axe ; but the
doughty achievement raised his adherents' spirits as
much as it depressed their adversaries.
' The day was now far spent, and as Edward did not
seem inclined to press a general engagement, but had
drawn off to the low grounds to the right and rear of his
original position, the Scots army passed the night in
arms upon the field. Next morning, being Monday, the
24th of June, all was early in motion on both sides. Reli-
gious sentiments in the Scots were mingled with military
ardour. Solemn mass was said by Maurice, abbot of
Inchaffray ; who also administered the sacrament to the
king and the great officers about him, while inferior
priests did the same to the rest of the army. Then,
after a sober repast, they formed in order of battle, in a
tract of ground, now known as Nether Touchadam,
which lies along the declivity of a gently rising hill,
about a mile due S of Stirling Castle. This situation
had been previously chosen on account of its advan-
tages. Upon the right, they had a range of steep rocks,
whither the baggage-men had retired, and which, from
this circumstance, has been called Gillies' or Servants'
Hill. In their front were the steep banks of the rivulet
of Bannock. Upon the left lay a morass, now called
Milton Bog, from its vicinity to the small village of that
name. Much of this bog is still undrained ; and part of
it is now a mill-pond. As it was then the middle of
summer, it was almost quite dry ; but Robert had re-
course to a stratagem, to prevent any attack from that
quarter. He had, some time before, ordered numbers of
pits to be dug in the morass and the fields on the left,
and covered with green turf supported by stakes, so as
to exhibit the appearance of firm ground. These pits
were a foot in breadth, and from 2 to 3 feet deep, and
placed so close together as to resemble the cells in a
honeycomb. It does not appear, however, that the
English attempted to charge over this dangerous ground
during the conflict, the great struggle being made consi-
derably to the right of this ground. He also made
calthorps be scattered there ; some of which have been
found in the memory of people yet alive. By these
means, added to the natural strength of the ground, the
Scottish army stood as within an intrenchment. Bar-
bour, who wrote about 50 years later, mentions a park
with trees, through which the English had to pass be-
fore they could attack the Scots ; and says, that Robert
chose this situation, that, besides other advantages, the
trees might prove an impediment to the enemy's
cavalry. The improvements of agriculture, and other
accidents, have, in the lapse of five centuries, much
altered the face of this as well as other parts of the
country ; vestiges, however, of the park still remain, and
numerous stumps of trees are seen all around the field
where the battle was fought. A farm-house, situated
almost in the middle, goes by the name of the Park;
and a mill built upon the S bank of the rivulet, nearly
opposite to where the centre of Robert's army stood, is
known by the name of Park Mill. The Scottish army
was drawn up in four divisions, and their front extended
near a mile in length. The right wing, which was upon
the highest ground, and was strengthened by a body of
cavalry under Keith, Marschal of Scotland, was com-
manded by Edward Bruce, the king's brother. The left
was posted on the low grounds, near the morass, under
the direction of Walter, Lord-High-Steward, and Sir
James Douglas, both of whom had that morning been
knighted by their sovereign. Bruce himself took the
command of the reserve, which was drawn up immedi-
ately behind the centre. Along with him was a body of
500 cavalry well armed and mounted ; all the rest of the
Scottish army were on foot. The enemy were fast ap-