+Source.+--_Walter of Hemingburgh's Chronicle_, vol. ii., pp. 177-181.
(English Historical Society Publications.)
Soon after, when severe famine was attacking the camp,[99] and the King
had decided to return to Edinburgh in order to get provisions by way of
the North Sea, and then advance against the Scots from another
direction, two Earls--the Earl Patrick and the Earl of Angus--came at
dawn on the day preceding the Festival of Mary Magdalene to the Bishop
of Durham, and took him with them to the King. They introduced into the
King's presence a young spy, who said, "Hail, O King"; and the King
replied, "Hail to thee"; then the spy continued: "My lord King, the army
of the Scots, your foes, is only six short leagues away from you, near
Falkirk, in the Forest of Selkirk. Hearing that you are preparing to
return to Edinburgh, they have decided to fall on your camp this
evening, or at least to attack and despoil your outposts." "There is
indeed a God," said the King, "who has hitherto delivered me from all
danger; it will not be necessary for them to follow me, for I shall
proceed against them even this day." Immediately he gave orders for all
to arm, but did not announce whither he intended to go. Clad in full
armour, he mounted his horse in front of the army and exhorted them all
to take up their arms; then he spoke in person to the sellers of wares,
enjoining them to pack their bundles and follow him without fear.
Finally, when all was ready, about the third hour, the King left
Kirkliston, and directed his march towards the place which goes by the
name of Falkirk. And all wondered that he had changed his intentions,
and caused the army to advance slowly and dispersedly without any haste.
When they had come to a moor nigh to Linlithgow, they spent the night
there, resting on the ground, with their shields for pillows and their
weapons for couches. The horses, which had tasted nothing but hard iron,
were picketed each near his master; after they had halted for some time,
and the night was about half-way over, it happened that the King's
war-horse, which was guarded somewhat carelessly by a small boy, in
stamping its foot, struck the sleeping King. So soon as the news spread
that the King was hurt, someone raised the cries of "treachery" and "the
enemy are upon us." Whereupon they got themselves ready and were eager
for battle. But when the true version of the incident became known, that
the King was but slightly hurt, they felt pity for him, and the
excitement vanished. Then the King rose immediately, and they set out
and passed through the town of Linlithgow at the dawn of the day. When
they raised their eyes and looked at the hill opposite, they saw on its
crest a number of spearmen. Believing them to be the army of the Scots,
they hastened to ascend the slopes of the hill in battle array, but when
they reached the top, found none. On this spot a tent was pitched, and
the King and the Bishop heard the Mass of the Magdalene (the Magdalene
being the saint of the day). While the celebration was taking place, and
it was light enough for them to see one another, our men saw the Scots
at a distance arranging their lines and preparing for battle. They had
drawn up all their men in four circular bodies on the hard ground of a
slope near Falkirk. These circles were composed of spearmen, with their
spears pointing upwards; they were joined one to another, and stood with
their faces turned towards the circumference of the circles. Between the
circles were spaces, occupied by archers; in the extreme rear were the
cavalry. When, on the conclusion of Mass, the King was informed of what
could be seen, he hesitated, and proposed that they should pitch their
tents until horses and men had broken their fast, for they had not
partaken of food from the third hour of the previous day. But his men
answered: "It is not safe here, O King, for between the two armies there
is only a small stream." "And what of that?" asked the King. "Let us
advance in the name of the Lord," replied they, "for the field is ours
and the victory is ours." "So let it be," said the King, "in the name of
the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
Immediately the leaders of the front rank--the Earl Marshal, the Earl of
Hereford, and the Earl of Lincoln--advanced straight towards the enemy,
not knowing that there was a morass in the intervening ground. When they
saw it, they made a detour round it on the west side, and so were
delayed in their arrival; but the second rank, that of the Bishop of
Durham, composed of thirty-six chosen veterans, knowing that the morass
was in their way, struck out to the east to avoid it. As they hastened
at full speed in order to be the first to engage, the Bishop commanded
them to await the approach of the King's third line. Ralph Basset, of
Drayton, a valiant soldier, answered him: "It is not your part, my lord
Bishop, to give us our fighting orders at this moment when you ought to
be engaged in celebrating Mass. Go, if you wish to celebrate Mass, for
this day we shall all act as befits soldiers." They hastened on, and
soon after engaged the first circle of the Scots; then the aforesaid
Earls came up from the other side with the first rank. As soon as our
men approached, the Scots cavalry fled without striking a blow, a few
only remaining to give orders to the foot-soldiers, who were drawn up in
circles called "schiltrons." Among them was the brother of the Seneschal
of Scotland, who, when he was directing the bowmen of the Forest of
Selkirk, fell by chance from his horse, and was slain among the bowmen,
who surrounded him and died with him. They were men of comely build and
commanding stature. When the bowmen were thus cut down, our men
proceeded to attack the Scots spearmen, who, as we have said, were
stationed in circles, with sloping spears, after the manner of a
closely-planted wood. And while our horsemen could not advance for the
number of spears, those of the enemy on the outside struck at and
pierced several with their spears. But our foot-soldiers shot at them
with arrows, and then, securing a quantity of round stones, of which
there was abundance near, stoned them. So, when many had been slain and
the others confounded, the remainder of the outer ring were thrown back
on the others, and our horsemen broke in and swept the field.
There fell of the Scots on that day, besides an unknown number who were
drowned and about twenty horsemen, 50,000 foot-soldiers. The army of the
Scots, according to the report given by prisoners, numbered about 1,000
horsemen, and about 300,000 foot-soldiers. But the Lord preserved our
men, and no man of note fell in the whole battle save only the Master of
the Knights of the Temple, who was caught in a morass and slain while he
pursued the fugitives.
[99] The English army was at this time encamped at Kirkliston, in
Linlithgowshire, about eight miles west of Edinburgh.