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On 24th February
8,000 Scots defeated a superior English army of 30,000in three
separate engagements. The Scots were encouraged by
the sight of a Saltire erected by Monks at the highest
point is the Pentlands.
This battle is not as well remembered as
Bannockburn, but deserves
as prominent a place in Scottish History. It is
perhaps because Comyn was present, and Bruce was not,
and because the casus belli was the love of a
lady, and not the fate of a nation.
Sir John Seagrave, Edward I's Governor of Edinburgh
Castle, for this was at the height of his domination of
Scotland, was enamoured of Margaret Ramsay of Dalhousie.
When he learned of her betrothal to the young Henry
St Clair of
Roslin, he brought an army of 30,000 into Scotland.
He divided the force into three equal parts, one to
attack
Dalhousie Castle, the Ramsays' seat, another to
attack
Lochorwart (later Borthwick) Castle, home of the
Hays, and the third he led himself to Roslin.
The Scots, surprised, managed to raise a force of just
8,000. Sir
William Wallace, the Guardian of Scotland was still
recovering from his defeat at Falkirk, and gave the
command to Sir Simon Fraser.
The Scots were guided into
Roslin Glen by the
Cistercian Prior of Balantradoch on the night of, and
split their forces in two, one part hiding in the wood
behind the Seagrave's force, and the main body circled
behind the English camp, and fell on them at dawn.
Those who were not killed instantly fled into the wood
and into the ambush prepared by the Scots.
Roslin Glen
The second body, which had been attacking Dalhousie then
arrived. The Scots had formed up on the high
ground, and though the English put in a quick attack,
they lost momentum and were driven back and into the
gorge at Roslin.
The
Pentland Hills from Roslin
The Scots were now exhausted, but Prior Abernethy had
planned for this moment. He and his monks had
built a huge St Andrew's Cross, at the highest point in
the Pentlands, clearly visible from Roslin, as the third
English force arrived from Borthwick. Some say the cross
was made on the orders of Sir William Wallace.
This "sign" inspired the Scots, and they again took the
high ground above the approach route of the English
force, and charged into them, again achieving total
surprise, and many were driven into the gorge.
It is thought that only 10% of Seagrave's army survived.
He and other knights were captured and ransomed.
It was a basic lesson in tactics. The Scots had
drawn the English onto the ground of their chosing and
used their knowledge of the ground to great advantage.
The English appeared to use no form of reconnaissance
and had no apparent intelligence on their opponents.
Memories of the battle can be found in the Roslin
area: Hewin, Killburn, Stinking Rigg, Shinbanes Field
and Glencorse, orginally Glencross.
1. Grey wis the
dawnin' ower Rosewell,
When the Englishmen were roosin,
Gay wis Sir Simon Fraser's yell,
"Castail Dhuni" echoed eight thoosan',
2. Ten thoosan' English, eight thoosan' Scot,
The prior's prayers were spoken,
Ane fiery charge such terror wrought,
That the English lines were broken.
3. But ballad writers stay your pen...
This was no sporting battle,
Sir Simon chased after the fleeing men,
And cut them down like cattle.
4. The Fraser, the Colmun and St. Clair,
Wer'na men tae slaughter,
But they faced twenty thoosan' English mair,
So they derna gie them quarter.
Chorus:
An Farmers tae this verra day,
When they're at the ploo-in',
Still find shinbanes in the clay,
At a place they ca' "The Hewin."
5. Ten thoosan' cam' fae Rosewell Dyke,
Wi' General Randolf leadin',
Again the spears o'ercame the pike,
But mony gude Scots lay bleedin'.
6. Sudden an army cam' up on the fight,
And the Scots were like to flee,
Prior Abernethy begged them tae fight,
But no man heard his plea.
7. Look ower, look ower, on yonder hill,"
Quo' Sir Simon lood and clear,
They blick't and saw the lift gae ill,
Then saw a cross appear.
8. 'Tis gude St. Andrew," cried ae man,
And doon they gaed tae pray,
"Gae to," they heard the gude Sir Simon,
"Gae to, we'll win the day."
Chorus
9. They ca'd the cross hill "Abernethy,"
Where they layed the Prior's banes,
But soon they renamed it "Carnethy,"
Fae a' the pilgrim's stanes.
10. We mind the twa Frasers, o' Colmyn tae,
And o' the true St. Clair,
First tae the fecht, the Graham gay,
Dark Douglas tae wis there.
11. But wha made the cross fae the blasted tree,
That gied the Scots such solace?
Ma freens, ye surely needna ask me,
It was Sir William Wallace
Chorus
Battle of Roslin
Memorial
The Memorial was erected by the Roslin Historical
Society in 1994.
Further references:
The Battle of Roslin - Edinburgh Libraries.
The Battle of Rosslyn, 1303
Overview of Roslin Battlefield
Roslin, Midlothian [Streetmap.co.uk]
Links
Clan Cumming Society of the United States
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