Scots Army invades North England

1. Scots Army invades North England 11 March 1296 Scottish leaders gathered feudal army near Selkirk Scots army was led by Sir John Comyn Selkirk Carlisle Scots army invaded north of England and attacked Carlisle

2. Scots Army invades North England • Carlisle castle was commanded by Robert Bruce (stayed loyal to Edward) • Carlisle was too strong to capture • The Scots withdrew but continued to carry out brutal raids on north of England • Sir John Comyn invaded England with an army of Scots, burning houses, slaughtering men and driving off cattle • English Chronicler

3. Edward’s response Edward marched his army to Berwick Scotland’s chief port and wool trade centre Berwick

4. Attack on Berwick Berwick was preparing for an attack • Wooden wall built around the town • Soldiers sent from Fife to defend the town • Women and children were moved out

5. Attack on Berwick When Edward arrived he gave the town 3 days to surrender The Scots replied with insults • 30 March he subjected the town to 3 days of destruction and killing • Soldiers charged across wall • Ships sailed into the harbour to attack from sea • Edward ordered no life should be spared

6. Town was burned to the ground Edward’s men killed without mercy 20,000 were killed Bodies were hung on spikes on town walls Attack on Berwick • Houses were looted Berwick now became the headquarters of Edward’s administration

7. The Scots revenge • Scottish army burned towns in north of England • In Northumberland they burning towns, villages, and churches • However, Edward was not going to be distracted from his attack on Scotland…..

8. Source A gives a description of the attack on Berwick. It come from the Lanercost Chronicle, which was English. King Edward tried to persuade the head men of Berwick to surrender and promised not to harm them or their possessions. They laughed at him and gave no reply. They kept him waiting for three days. When King Edward came to them on the fourth day, they increased their insults. Some of them climbed onto the roof tops where they bared their buttocks and shouted insults at the king. Because of their stubbornness, the troops were brought into action. The pride of these traitors was humbled and, almost without use of force, the city was occupied.

9. Source B is from Freedom’s Sword by Peter Traquair (1998). It describes the attack on Berwick in 1296. In four brutal days bodies ‘fell like human leaves’, until the dead lining the streets became a hazard and had to be thrown into wells or the sea since there was nobody left to bury them. It was only with the pleading of the clergy that the carnage came to an end. An English source gives an incredible 15000 killed.