Background By August Murray had control of the North Wallace had driven English out of Fife and Perthshire Wallace and Murray’s armies joined 22 Aug - Edward departed for France English army marched to Stirling led by Warenne – old soldier, tremendous power Cressingham nicknamed the ‘treacherer’ (treasurer)

Importance of Stirling Powerful castle Key to control Scotland Access to north Stirling

Differences in Armies Starting Position English Scots Army was on high ground known as Abbey Craig - Between the River Forth and the Ochil Hills facing the Stirling Bridge. South side of the River Forth Scran video clip

Differences in Armies Leaders English Scots John de Warenne (Earl of Surrey - English Governor of Scotland) Hugh de Cressingham (Treasurer) Both experienced in leading troops into battle William Wallace Andrew Moray Wallace’s first experience of a standing battle Had only used guerrilla tactics before this

Differences in Armies Armies English Scots 60,000 cavalry and infantry 8000 in reserve Well trained Organised Experienced 40,000 infantry 180 horseman Army mostly from ‘lesser ranks’ in society No experience Little training

Differences in Armies Weapons English Scots Well equipped Skilled, trained longbowmen Homemade 12 feet long spears Axes Knives

Differences in Armies Uniforms English Scots Uniforms Protective clothing Armour Homespun cloth rough hide tunics Few had helmets Few had body armour

Night before the battle Warenne told his army to cross Stirling Bridge the following morning and fight

Morning of the Battle Delay Warenne slept in (Stirling Castle) This caused confusion and delay, Cressingham had already sent 5000 troops across the bridge now they had to be recalled Warenne then insisted on creating several new knights Cressingham was irritated and impatient

Warenne sent two friars to speak to the Scots and give them one last chance to surrender...... Wallace replied ‘Tell your commander that we are not here to make peace, but to do battle to defend ourselves and liberate our Kingdom. Let them come on, and we will prove this in their very beards’

Prior to Battle Sir Richard Lundie a Scot who had joined English warned Cressingham ‘My Lord, if we cross that bridge now, we are dead men. For we can only go over two abreast, and the enemy are already formed up: they can charge down on us whenever they wish. There is a ford not far from here, where 60 men can cross at a time. Give me 500 horsemen, then, and a small body of footsoldiers, and we will attack the Scots from behind: then the rest of the army will be able to cross the bridge in perfect safety’ Cressingham replied ‘It will do us no good, my lord earl, either to go bickering like this or to waste the King’s money in vain manoeuvres. So let us cross right away, and do our duty as we are bound to do.’ Warenne agreed with Cressingham

The Battle begins.... Cressingham took position of honour on the bridge English started to file along the bridge 2 abreast Wallace and Murray on the slopes of Abbey Craig watched and waited

The Battle begins.... Wallace waited till 5000 English had crossed the bridge and were on the narrow causeway Then he sounded the charge

The Battle begins.... On the Causeway There was panic and confusion amongst the English The English knights on the causeway could not manoeuvre Horses were driven off the causeway and into marshland Knights fell off their horses and were stabbed through chinks in their armour and visors

The Bridge The Scots then attacked the bridge head Many English knights tried to turn back Many were killed by their own men in the confusion Some flung themselves overboard and drowned

Cressingham was killed, skinned and his body sent around the country Wallace took enough for a new sword belt Warenne on other side of the bridge fled with his troops

Significance of the Victory ENGLISH Humiliation for Edward I Made Edward I determined to seek revenge SCOTS Showed a smaller army of lower ranks could defeat the larger, heavily armed and trained English army Destroyed the myth that the English could not be defeated Strengthened Scots will to resist Edward I