Edward fled to Stirling Castle where he was refused admittance by Mowbray who
claimed he could no longer hold the castle and would be forced to surrender
him. Fleeing south with 500 cavalry, he was relentlessly pursued by Douglas
and 60 cavalry all the way to Berwick. Lacking the numbers to press home an
attack, they picked off stragglers wherever they could. Coming across Sir Laurende
de Abernethy and his 80 men going to assist the English, he persuaded him to
change sides.
The infantry fled in panic. Those who had crossed the Burn threw away their
weapons and armor before plunging into the water to escape where many were drowned,
trampled or cut down by the vengeful Scots. Of those already on the other side,
most fled to Stirling Castle where they sheltered in the rocks beneath the walls.
Their large numbers had prevented a stronger pursuit of Edward until they were
taken prisoner the following day when Mowbray changed sides and surrendered
the castle. After the surrender, it was torn down by the Scots as a symbol of
hated English oppression
Losses for either side are unknown. Of the English, around 200 knights and nobles
were killed on the field and up to another 500 captured. Losses of the infantry
and archers is unknown but was large, both on the field and in their flight
back to England. The Scottish army and also the local population sought revenge
on the English for their occupation and relentlessly hunted the fugitive bands
of fleeing soldiers. Few are said to have made it to safety. The Scottish losses
are also unknown but are thought to have been relatively light.
Ransoms gained from the captured nobles and the captured English baggage train
were said to have made Scotland rich. Likewise, a number of Scottish prisoners
held in England were released as part of the ransom negotiations. Yet, despite
such a crushing victory, Scotland was not to realize it's independence for another
13 years.
Neither Edward II nor the Pope was to recognize Scottish independence or the
kingship of Robert the Bruce. Raids continued over the border into England and
Edward Bruce led campaigns into Ireland who were also seeking independence from
England where he was eventually killed.
In 1320, The Declaration of Arbroath, a Declaration of Independence, which documented
Scottish grievances against the English and their desire for independence was
signed by numerous Scottish nobles and sent to Pope John XXII. The Pope intervened
in the dispute and encouraged a short lived peace treaty to be signed. Edward
II was later deposed and allegedly killed by his wife Isabella of France and
her lover Roger Mortimer before being succeeded by his young son Edward III
in 1327. Finally, the Treaty of Edinburgh was signed by Edward III in 1328 which
formally sealed Scottish Independence. Edward was to renounce sovereignty over
Scotland and the old borders under Alexander III were recognized. Robert the
Bruce, finally the undisputed king of Scotland, died a year later.
Barron E.M. The Scottish War of Independance: A Critical Study,
Robert Carruthers & Sons, Inverness, 1934
Barrow G.W.S. Robert Bruce & the Community of the Realm of Scotland,
Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 1988
Donaldson G. Scottish Kings, B.T. Batsford Ltd, London, 1967
Gore T. Edward II Aims to Crush Robert the Bruce: The Battle of Bannockburn,
July 23-24 1314, Military Heritage, August 2001
Scott R.M. Robert the Bruce: King of Scots, Hutchinson &
Co. Ltd., Edinburgh, 1982
