In March, a stream of orders was issued to gather and equip an invasion force
which was to gather at Berwick-on-Tweed on June 10. The poor response led to a
second, more specific request for 21640 infantry and archers together with cavalry
to be issued in May. As he headed north to meet the army, a disbelieving Edward
II found that three of his Earls had refused to attend. After issuing a third
summons, this time demanding they attend with alacrity, the army was finally assembled
and moved north on June 17.
Around 2-2,500 cavalry were present. Of these, maybe 500 were extremely heavily
armed knights. Wearing plate mail and carrying lances, they rode heavy armored
horses and were the backbone of his army. Devastating in an ordered charge, they
could also be impetuous and headstrong. The others were lighter armed knights
and retainers, similarly armed but more lightly armored and riding unarmored horses.
The infantry were manly spearmen, numbering around 15,000 and were accompanied
by about 2,000 archers. Armed with the longbow that would later rule the battlefields
of France, when properly employed, they would be able to cut the Scottish infantry
to pieces.
Added to this massive force of over 20,000, were small contingents from Scotland,
Ireland, France, Brittany, Poitou, Guienne, Gascony and even Germany. With many
experienced and able commanders, they moved north followed by a huge baggage train.
The Scots, on the other hand, were only able to field around 5000 for the battle.
The Scottish army was far more reliant on foot soldiers being their traditional
way of fighting. While comparatively lightly armored, often ragged and shoeless,
they were armed with long pikes and the traditional Scottish claymore, a fearsome
two handed sword. When faced by cavalry, they would from a schiltrom, essentially
a solid mass of spears protruding outwards - similar to the later British Square
of the Napolionic Wars. While such a densely packed body of men was vulnerable
to missile attack, it was very effective against cavalry who would be forced to
charge into a forest of deadly spikes. They were veterans of over 20 years fighting,
had extremely high morale and were led by able, charismatic leaders who usually
fought on foot alongside them.
They were organized into four divisions. The first, under the command of Randolph
de Moray, was about 500 strong. From the province of Moray and neighboring districts,
they were landholders and free tenants who had fought with the Bruce from the
beginning.
The second division, numbering around 1000, under Edward Bruce, contained a number
of knights who had accepted Robert's lordship and were also well experienced in
his campaigns.
The Third, nominally under the command of the young Walter Stewart, was really
commanded by the James Douglas, the fearsome "Black Douglas." Like the other divisions,
they were also battle hardened veterans.
The fourth, under Robert himself, formed the reserve, numbering around 2000.
They were augmented by 500 or so cavalry, much more lightly armed than their English
counterparts riding smaller, more nimble horses.
Another group, known as the "small folk," numbered several thousand. Made up of
camp followers and those poorly armed with dirks and clubs, they would be of little
use in pitched battle.
