SAMPLE QUESTION ON BANNOCKBURN
Source A describes the attack of the Scots at the Battle of Bannockburn,
taken from the Scalacronica by Sir Thomas Gray
The Scots resolved to fight, and at sunrise the next morning marched out of
the wood in three divisions of infantry. They directed thei r course boldly
upon the English army, which had been under arms all night with their horses
ready.
The army mounted in great alarm, for they were not accustomed to dismount
and fight on foot. The Scots came in line, in Schiltrons and attacked the
English columns which were jammed together. They could not operate against
the Scots because their horses were impaled against the pikes. The troops in
the English rear fell back upon the ditch of the Bannockburn, tumbling one
over the other.
The English squadrons, being thrown together into the confusion by the thrust
of the pikes upon the horses, began to fly. Those who were appointed to
attend upon the king, seeing the disaster, led him by the rein off the field
towards the castle.
Source B is taken from The Scottish and Welsh Wars by Christopher
Rothero
But Bruce had decided to risk all in one battle, and as the English took up
their fight positions they found the three Scottish divisions advancing towards
them.
Displaying all the hallmarks of bad general s hip, Edward recklessly ordered
the Earl of Gloucester to attack; the Scottish Pikemen stood their ground and
soon Gloucester and much of the best blood of English chivalry were impaled
on the hedge of 12-foot spears…
Bruce’s spearmen advanced steadily, gradually pressing the English army
into the marshy ground where they could not manoeuvre…Sensing imminent
defeat, Edward’s great army broke and fled.
Question: To what extent do Sources A and B agree on the reasons for the
defeat of the English at Bannockburn? (5 marks)
Feature of marking
Mark allocation
Overall comparison
Direct comparisons
Up to 2 marks
Up to 4 marks
WARS OF INDEPENDENCE (H, HISTORY)
© Learning and Teaching Scotland 2009
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SAMPLE QUESTION ON BANNOCKBURN
Sample answer
Overall the sources are about the defeat of the English forces at the Battle of
Bannockburn. Source A believes that the English were out-manoeuvred by the
advancing Scots pikes whereas Source B claims it was poor leadership by the
English king that led to defeat.
In detail, Sir Thomas says that the Scots marched out at sunrise and the
English had been waiting under arms all night for the attack. Christopher
Rothero states that the English took up their fight positions when they
discovered Bruce was ready to fight.
Sir Thomas therefore gives the impression that the English were ready for the
Scots advance having waited all night for it, but Christopher Rothero
disagrees slightly when he tells us that they had to form into a fighting
position when the Scots made their advance. Both sources fail to take account
of the fact that Edward II did not expect Bruce to fight at Bann ockburn, and
that he expected the Scots to slip away in the night.
Sir Thomas claims the Scots attacked the English columns that were jammed
together and could not move – ‘They could not operate against the Scots...’ –
while Rothero states, ‘Edward recklessly ordered the Earl of Gloucester to
attack, the Scottish Pikemen stood their ground...’. Sir Thomas gives us the
impression that the Scots closed quickly with the English, not allowing them
to charge effectively. However, Rothero seems to indicate that the English
cavalry charged but it was ineffective against the schiltron formation.
Both Sir Thomas and Rothero agree that the Scots pikes were very effective
against the English horse. Sir Thomas states, ‘They could not operate against
the Scots because their horses were impaled against the pikes.’ Rothero
agrees when he says ‘the best blood of the English cavalry was impaled on
the hedge of 12-foot spears’. As at the Battle of Falkirk, the English knights
had proven that they could not penetrate the close formation of Scots pikes.
Sir Thomas also says that ‘the troops in the English rear fell back upon the
ditch...tumbling over the other’. Eyewitness accounts do describe the retreat
of the English troops into the ditch. Rothero does tell us that Bruce’s
spearmen advanced gradually, pressing the English army into the marshy
ground where they could not manoeuvre....’, but he fails to mention the
importance of the Bannockburn.
However Rothero does claim that ‘Edward’s great army broke and fled’
whereas Sir Thomas agrees that the English horses began to flee but he
claims that Edward refused to flee and had ‘to be led by the rein off the
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WARS OF INDEPENDENCE (H, HISTORY)
© Learning and Teaching Scotland 2009
SAMPLE QUESTION ON BANNOCKBURN
field’. Overall, both sources agree that the English forces fled, but Sir
Thomas suggests that the king did not flee in panic.
Both sources agree that the Scottish pikes were more than a match for the
English cavalry, but Sir Thomas seems to indicate that the Scots tactics and
the geography were significant factors, whereas Rothero seems to blame
Edward’s leadership and the English cavalry for the defeat.
WARS OF INDEPENDENCE (H, HISTORY)
© Learning and Teaching Scotland 2009
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