William Wallace-The Brave
Heart
Part Six-The Decline
Edward approached Falkirk
with over 80,000 men made up of mostly Welsh and Irish who had little loyalty
to Edward and were more interested in his gold and the prospect of plunder.This
massive force had made use of the latest technology.Siege engines,artillery,bridging
devices and more however they lacked something every army needs.Edward's
military advisors misjudged how much food they should take and the English
army had to depend on supply ships for this.
One day a supply ship brought
a full stock of wine and nothing else and Edward seeking to boost morale
had it given to his soldiers.This was a grevious error for on their empty
stomachs the soldiers became drunk beyond belief especially the Welsh.The
Welsh began having fist fights with their English comrades and when a group
of chaplains sought to quell this uprising they paid with their lives.The
English retailiated by killing 80 Welsh soldiers and their desertion seemed
highly probable the army was at a dangerously low morale so Edward withdrew
his forces into Edinburgh giving up his pursuit of the ever evasive Scottish
army led by William.
The Scottish army was playing
a waiting game with the English.William knew that the English could not
stay long and if he kept holding off his attack he could defeat them without
even fighting.But this was not to be so.Scouts from England on July 21st
sent word to Edward that the Scottish army had been found only 18 miles
away and were waiting to attack the English in case they attempted to retreat.Edward
was elated and was quoted as saying...
"God be praised who has delivered me out
of every strait!They shall have no need to follow me,for i go to meet them
and on this very day."
The English struck camp
right then and marched to meet the Scots.
Edward's luck would turn
ill once more.While he lay sleeping his war horse was loosened and the
monarch was trampled under it's hooves.Edward got out of it with only some
broken ribs and in a show of strength got up and mounted the horse and
ordered that they march on through the night which served to upset Wallace's
plans for Wallace was using the Highland way of combat which was to strike
and run and Wallace didn't have the manpower for a head on fight but he
was forced into one near Falkirk where the two armies met.Wallace couldn't
run the open area around Falkirk would make them easy pickings for the
pursuing English.Wallace was forced to fight defensively.
Wallace decided to use his
schiltrom strategy his first row of men sitting or squatting held long
spears to impale cavalry horses upon.The second line was made up of men
standing with swords and behind all this were Scottish archers and cavalry.Wallace
had nothing to do know but hope that his training of his men would work
William gave his men one last command....
"I have brought you into the ring now
dance the best you can!"
...the English stood poised
and ready on the other side of the field no terms were presented and the
fight began as the English knights in their shining armor and bright colored
garments charged fast and hard right into a swampy area the spectacle must
have been hilarious to the Scots and humiliating to the English however
the knights righted themselves up again and went around the marsh and the
confrontation truly began.
The Scottish schiltroms
held fast and firm and it looked as if the Scots would pull off and upset
victory but some of the men in a group commanded by Red John Comyn panicked
and a hole was made in the Scottish defences.The fighting became chaotic
and Edward sent his infantry into the fray.Sir John Stewart who commanded
the archers and was one of William's friends was thrown from his horse
and killed the battle was lost and Wallace gave the order to retreat.The
Scots fled north into a forest and past the river Carron and past Falkirk
itself.The Scottish cavalry was still in good condition but they would
have to find another commander for Wallace gave up his role as the Guardian
of Scotland.
The English marched into
Stirling finding the city and castle burned.Edward promptly made this his
new headquarters.Edward the set out to totally subdue Scotland.Robert the
Bruce led some successful skirmishes against the English but it was all
for naught the only part of Scotland Edward couldn't take was the highlands.Unlike
the last time he invaded Scotland Edward found that the Scots had tasted
true freedom and they like it soon all Scots were up in arms even rivals
for the crown Robert Bruce and John Comyn put aside their diffrences and
concentrated on pushing the English back they became the new Guardians
of Scotland.
Wallace went back to his
role as a soldier and even as a self made diplomat.Wallace the soldier
had all but starved the English forces occupying Stirling and Wallace the
diplomat made an excursion to enlist the aide of France's King Phillip
the Fair in August of 1299.Wallace was popular in France for his deeds
against Edward had made him a hero to the French.King Phillip gave William
letters of safe passage and even had Wallace stop the pirate Thomas de
Longueville.Wallace was also popular with King Haakon the Fifth and Pope
Boniface.Alas despite pressure from other countries and the pope to leave
Scotland alone, Edward still attacked with Sir John de Segrave leading
his forces against Red John Comyn and during this time in a barn in Elcho
Wallace was waiting for his next chance to strike.
Part
Seven-The Price