3. William Wallace and Scottish Resistance

Question 1

WAYS WALLACE AND OTHERS RESISTED

(10)

Answer 1

1. May 1297, Wallace murdered Sherrif of Lanark and evaded authorities by going on the run in Selkirk Forest.
2. Scots refused to pay taxes set by Cressingham, who was the current treasurer of Scotland.
3. Wallace made an attempt on the life of William Ormsby (Edwards justicar in Scone) but this assassination attempt failed.
4. Murray gathered a force, began seizing castles in North (including Inverness and Elgin) - by late 1297, all castles above Dundee had been recovered.
5. Murray and Wallace combined forces in Aug 1297 to seige Dundee and win the city back from English control.
6. MacDougal family resisted MacDonalds, who were sent to control the Western Isles - causing continuous unrest and interfering with English authority.
7. Bruce turned on Edward/allied himself with Scotland again - had expected t be rewarded for his efforts on behalf of England but was instead humiliated.
8. 1297, Bruce and Stewart raised an army in Irvine - met by a small English army and forced t surrender.
9. Battle of Stirling Bride, 11th September 1297, Scots assembled force at Stirling Castle, successfully winning it back from English, despite being outnumbered.
10. **English figure in Scotland, such as Judges, saw no support from Scottish clergy **as they peacefully resisted.

Question 2

SUCCESSFUL RESISTANCE AGAINST THE ENGLISH

(9)

Answer 2

1. May 1297, Wallace murdered Sherrif of Lanark and evaded authorities by going on the run in Selkirk Forest.
2. Scots refused to pay taxes set by Cressingham, who was the current treasurer of Scotland.
3. Murray returned home to Inverness after being imprisoned in England and found his home had been seized by English - after 2 attempts he won back Urquhart Castle.
4. Murray gathered a force, began seizing castles in North (including Inverness and Elgin) - by late 1297, all castles above Dundee had been recovered.
   5.Murray and Wallace combined forces in Aug 1297 to seige Dundee and win the city back from English control.
5. MacDougal family resisted MacDonalds, who were sent to control the Western Isles - causing continuous unrest and interfering with English authority.
6. Battle of Stirling Bride, 11th September 1297, Scots assembled force at Stirling Castle, successfully winning it back from English, despite being outnumbered.
7. English figure in Scotland, such as Judges, saw no support from Scottish clergy as they peacefully resisted.
8. After Stirling Bridge, Scottish morale was boosted and they continued to raid areas in the North of England - 715 villages raided in following months.

Question 3

UNSUCCESSFUL RESISTANCE AGAINST ENGLISH

(8)

Answer 3

1. 1297, Bruce and Stewart raised an army in Irvine - met by a small English army and forced to surrender - humiliating.
2. Wallace made an attempt on the life of William Ormsby (Edwards justicar in Scone) but this assassination attempt failed - made Enghlish want to capture him more.
3. Almost all Scots nobles surrendered to Edward when they realised the rebellion had no hope/Balliol wasn’t coming back - ended resistances.
4. When English attempted to capture Wallace and have him tried/executed, he fled but was betrayed and handed over to English then killed.
5. Scots were easily defeated at Battle of Falkirk because they lacked Murray’s military knowledge and were surpised.
6. Wallace resigned as Guardian after humiliating defeat at Falkirk - resistance lost a prominent leader.
7. Still factionalism in Scotland between certain groups, so when rumours of Balliols return began in the 1300s Bruce swapped to English side again - weakened Scots.
8. King of France signed a treaty with England excluding Scotland - lost major support from France.

Question 4

RESISTANCE OF WILLIAM WALLACE

(7)

Answer 4

1. May 1297, Wallace murdered Sherrif of Lanark and evaded authorities by going on the run in Selkirk Forest.
2. Wallace made an attempt on the life of William Ormsby (Edwards justicar in Scone) but this assassination attempt failed.
3. Began a resistance movement in 1297 and was joined by other outlaws, notably William Douglas, James Stewarts brother in law.
4. Wallace successfully took many English strongholds in Perth and Fife.
5. Murray and Wallace combined forces in Aug 1297 to seige Dundee and win the city back from English control.
6. Wallace was supported by many prominent figures such as Bishop Wishart, William Douglas and Bruce.
7. Wallace was an important part of the victory at Stirling Bridge in September 1297.

Question 5

RESISTANCE OF ANDREW MURRAY

(7)

Answer 5

1. Murray was trained as a knight and fought for Scots at the Battle of Dunbar - was captured by English and later escaped.
2. Returned to his home in Inverness and found it held by English forces, so gathered a force to win back Urquhart Castle, but failed.
3. Second attack on Urquhart was more successful, and he defeated the English forces.
4. Earl of Buchan was tasked with attempting to capture Murray after his resistance began, but Murray managed to evade him.
5. Murray gathered a force, began seizing castles in North (including Inverness and Elgin) - by late 1297, all castles above Dundee had been recovered.
6. Murray and Wallace combined forces in Aug 1297 to seige Dundee and win the city back from English control.
7. Murray was an important part of the victory at Stirling Bridge in Septmebr 1297.

Question 6

REASONS FOR VICTORY AT STIRLING BRIDGE

(8)

Answer 6

1. English army assembled/disassembled (DeWarrenne woke up and wanted to create knights before battle) - Scots knew English formations/could prepare.
2. Scots had a good position as they were uohill on Abbey Craig and came down to attack at just the right time.
3. English vanguard crossed the river and were trapped by river’s meander so couldn’t flee.
4. Richard Lundie (former Scottish knight) warned deWarenne and Cressingham to travel upstream and avoid being trapped by the meander, but was ignored.
5. Scot fought using schiltron formation, effectively cutting through the English.
6. English were outnumbered on North Bank as only 1/3 of their army crossed the bridge.
7. Scots cut off the bridge that the English intially crossed, further trapping them.
8. English army made up of significant number of cavalry - drowned when trying to cross the river to flee due to heavy armour.

Question 7

EFFECTS OF VICTORY AT STIRLING BRIDGE

(8)

Answer 7

1. Wallace and Murray established as Guardians due to their efforts fighting for independence - Murrqay died a few weeks later from infected wounds.
2. Scottish morale was boosted and they continued to raid areas in the North of England - 715 villages raided in following months.
3. Seeing the horrific defeat the English garrison at Dundee quickly surrendered
4. Remaining garrison at Stirling also surrendered in exchange for thier lives as their morale had been broken.
5. Stewart and Lennox - on English side during battle - decided to attack the English baggage train and take any items that would help the Scottish cause.
6. Seeing the defeat, deWarrenne fled from Stirling Castle - abandoning the army he was in charge of and not stopping until he reached Berwick.
7. Afterwards, Scots gained much wealth and weaponry that had been left on the battlefied by the English.
8. Oct 1287, Wallace and Murray sent a letter to merchants in Lubeck, saying that they had gained their independence from English/were able to resume trade.

Question 8

REASONS FOR DEFEAT AT BATTLE OF FALKIRK

(8)

Answer 8

1. Edward was very determined as he had tried many times to subjugate Scotland at this point - wanted stop to resistance once and for all.
2. Many in Comyn army were forced into joining so were not fully dedicated/not fighting their best.
3. Edward had 2200 cavalry and many infantry that had recent experience in Wales, so would preform better.
4. Edward joined fighting himself - boosted English morale as they were fighting alongside their King/excellent tactician.
5. English army woke up very early after an incident at their campsite, so decided to set off earlier and surprised the Scots.
6. Scotland’s first major battle after Murray’s death - he was very militarily experienced so they were lacking his help.
7. Scots massively outnumbered by English army - immediately at a disadvantage,
8. Battle took place on a hill with soft boggy land between the two armies - maneauvering was difficult.

Question 9

CONTINUING SCOTTISH RESISTANCE AFTER THE BATTLE OF FALKIRK

(8)

Answer 9

1. 1300/02, rumours of Balliol returning to Scotland as he had been released into French custody - thought he would come with an army to help.
2. Scots continued to raid Northern England well into 14th century as their confidence had been boosted.
3. Wallace still an active part, travelling across Europe to gather support for Scotland and Balliol.
4. Scots refused to humour any English invasions in 1301/02, instead staying in the North until the English returned home for winter.
5. Battle of Roslin 1303 - English force wiped out by Scots, in particular the Comyn army, during a night raid.
6. 1299, Stirling Castle back in Scottish hands after they starved the English into submission.
7. Scots successfully lobbied Pope VII into taking their side against Edward in 1299.
8. June 1304, Bruce made a secret pact with two other Bishops, saying they would continue to fight and had an alliance with each other ‘against all men’.

Question 10

WAYS ENGLISH CRUSHED SCOTTISH RESISTANCE AFTER FALKIRK

(8)

Answer 10

1. 1300, Bruce gave up his Guardianship and switched sides to join Edward - didn’t want Balliol to return as King.
2. 1300, Edward invaded Scotland, capturing Caerlaverock Castle and defeated a small Scottish army at the River Cree.
3. Edward reinforced his garrisons and Castles in Scotland for more defence - added defensive peel in Linlithgow.
4. 1303/04, Edward invaded Scotland and went far North above the Forth- directly into heart of Comyn lands and left powerful garrisons behind.
5. Edward brough seige engines to Stilring Castle and forced the Scots to surrender/hand it back to English.
6. King of France shifted his support to the English and signed a treaty with them that didnt include Scots.
7. Almost all Scots nobles surrendered to Edward when they realised the rebellion had no hope/Balliol wasn’t coming back.
8. Wallace was not allowed to surrender - forced to go into hiding until eventually caught by English and killed.