3. The Battle of Falkirk and the reasons for its failure.
In Spring 1298, Edward I returned to Scotland with an army. His army was short of supplies as Wallace had used a tactic of “scorched earth” : gathering in cattle and destroying sources of food ahead of Edward’s army. Edward marched his army to Linlithgow where he got news that Wallace’s army was at Falkirk.
Wallace organised his men into schiltroms and placed them well. The first attacks of Edward’s mounted knights failed. Edward then showed his skill as a general: he brought up his archers. The arrows of the longbowmen killed hundreds of Wallace’s men. Edward then sent in his mounted knights again to complete the slaughter. Some sources also suggest that Wallace was betrayed by nobles who left the battlefield and took their mounted knights with them.
Wallace survived and went on the run. He may have continued the fight as an outlaw in the Borders and there is good evidence that he went to France. Finally, in 1304, Wallace was betrayed by Sir John de Menteith, taken to London and Executed.
This BBC website gives lots more information about the life of William Wallace, including clips from the TV series “A History of Scotland.”
Watch this video clip about William Wallace, his victory at Stirling Bridge and his defeat at Falkirk.
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Revision Task C4: Make up a “top trumps” sheet on William Wallace. Include information about his actions before and after Stirling Bridge.
