General Notes

Battle of Bannockburn 1314  June 24,   (Midsummer Day, the Feast of St.
Johnthe Baptist (patron of the Templars)  Dawn broke at 3:45 AM)
Bannockburn is located 35 miles north of Edinburgh, 2 miles sough of
Sterling on A-872, Scotland.  The Stirling Castle again became the center
of the Battle of Bannockburn.  The long term objective was for the Scots
to gain independence from the English.  Robert the Bruce was the
commander.
Bannockburn was not a a site ofKing Robert's choosing.  Robert's
brother, Edward Bruce, had agreed with SirPhilip Mowbray, a Scot in
Command of English occupying Stirling that a yeartruce would be had and
the English would either reinforce the garrison or itwould be
surrendered to the Scots.  Edward Bruce made this agreement after
besieging Stirling from Lent to midsummer.  This agreement forced Robert
to the one thing he had sought throughout the log campaign to avoid, a
test of strength.  The battle like the site was forced upon Bruce.
Like William Wallace at Falkirk the Bruce carefully placed himself in a
position to restrict theEnglish cavalry.  Scots were outnumbered 3 or 4
to 1.  Scottish moral, however, was high.  Thomas Randolph the best of
Bruce's lieutenants had taken Edinburgh in March of 1314.  Bruce had one
great advantage Wallace lacked at Falkirk, a force of some 500 light
cavalry and the Knights Templar.  Sir Robert Keith commanded the light
cavalry whilst the Knights Templar were led by Sir William Sinclair. SIR
HENRY SINCLAIR (1275-1329), 8th Baron of Rosslyn, had previously been
sent  covertly by Bruce to contact a group of Templars in Portugal.  They
agreed to help train Bruce's men and help fight the English in exchange
for land and refuge.
On June 23rd, 1314, shortly before the battle began, the King, mounted on
a highland pony rode in inspection of his battle line.  One young and
ambitious Englishman, Henry de Bohun, charged the King.Robert, the
greatest Knight in spite of his age, held firm.  At the last moment, the
Bruce moved his horse to the right turning the thrusting lance away with
his targe.  The King rose in his saddle and with a blow so forceful that
it split his axe handle, despatched de Bohun.  Bruce's only recorded
remarkwas, "You've ruined my good axe."
The feat electrified the Scots Army!  The English despite repeated
attacks were unable to break the "Little People".  The English bowmen,
who numbered over 5000 wer4e crushed by the combined Sinclair/Keith
assault.  The horsemen remained orderly in the face of the onslaughtof
English heavy Horse.  This iron resolve held for almost two days and
drove the English from the field.
The usual battle strategy was to use the foot troops and archers to
soften up the tight ranks of the enemy that a cavalrycouldn't easily
penetrate.  Then when they were scattered enough, the cavalry was brought
in.   Thus near the end of the battle, Bruce ordered, his secret weapon,
the Knights Templar led by Sir Henry St. Clair, into the battle,
consequently, they won against over whelming odds of the better trained
and armored English Army.  He fought impressively and his leadership was
rewardedby granting him more land by King Robert the Bruce.  Sir Henry
later was a signer of the truce, and sought to achieve a permanent peace
between Robert theBruce and King Edward II.

Battle of Bannockburn 1314  June 24,   (Midsummer Day, the Feast of St.
Johnthe Baptist (patron of the Templars)  Dawn broke at 3:45 AM)
Bannockburn is located 35 miles north of Edinburgh, 2 miles sough of
Sterling on A-872, Scotland.  The Stirling Castle again became the center
of the Battle of Bannockburn.  The long term objective was for the Scots
to gain independence from the English.  Robert the Bruce was the
commander.
Bannockburn was not a a site ofKing Robert's choosing.  Robert's
brother, Edward Bruce, had agreed with SirPhilip Mowbray, a Scot in
Command of English occupying Stirling that a yeartruce would be