Bowmen of England by Featherstone Donald

Author:Featherstone, Donald [Featherstone, Donald]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781844685998
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Published: 2011-12-13T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Neville’s Cross – 1346

Following his defeat at Crécy and the melting-away of his army, Philip of France found himself sorely pressed by the invading army of Edward III. He sought to relieve this pressure by urgently entreating David II, King of Scotland, to invade England in the hope of drawing Edward back to defend his realm. David succumbed to the lure and, in October 1346, he marched his army over the border and into England, being assured that Edward and his chief commanders were absent so that ‘… here are none to oppose our progress save churchmen and base artisans’. He crossed the Tyne at Ryton, above the town of Newcastle, and advanced into Durham to encamp, on the 16th of October, at Beaurepair (Bear Park), about two miles north-west of the city of Durham.

Within the city itself, the utmost consternation prevailed; it appeared to be at the mercy of the invaders. But things were not as bad as they appeared and the Scots were to be opposed by a force that was collecting with all speed and considerable zeal. This army, well armed and numbering about 16,000 men-at-arms, archers and infantry, was led by the northern barons – Ralph, Baron Neville of Raby; Henry, Baron Percy of Alnwick; Musgrove, Scrope, Hastings and the ubiquitous Edward Baliol.

The English force advanced slowly and cautiously eastwards; near the village of Ferry Hill they met and scattered a raiding party of about 500 men under Sir William Douglas. The latter, flying from the field and leaving more than 200 of his force dead, arrived breathless at Beaurepair to warn David that the English had formed an army and were advancing to meet him. Still moving slowly by the Red Hills on the west of the city of Durham, the English were coming up to the ground on which the forthcoming battle was destined to be fought. The battlefield lay west and west by north of the cathedral; it was a level ridge, since cut up into fields and partly built over; northwards there was a sharp slope forming a kind of trough into which a spur juts out – hereabouts the ground was covered thickly by Shaw Wood. In the trough and woody recesses was a little pear-shaped hillock known as the Maiden’s Bower, on the top of which the clergy from the city clustered to pray around the holy relic of St. Cuthbert.

David formed the Scots army into three divisions. The first was led by the high Steward of Scotland, the second by the Earl of Moray and Sir William Douglas of Liddesdale (then named ‘The Flower of Chivalry’), and the third division, consisting of select troops and a party of French auxiliaries, was led by the King in person.

The English were disposed so that Lord Percy led the vanguard which, in the battle, became the right wing and was opposed to the Scots left wing under the High Steward. The main body was commanded by Lord Neville and, as centre, in the battle joined issue with the Scottish main body and centre under King David.

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