Battle of the Standard aka Northallerton

Flowers of History by Roger of Wendover 1138. 22nd August 1138. Of the pitched battle between the Scots and English.

The Scots hearing the shout, like women, raised their usual war-cry of Alban! Alban! which was, however, soon drowned in the dreadful rush of the engaging armies. A body of the men of Lothian, who had obtained from the king (age 54) the honour of striking the first blow, with numbers of missiles and with their long lances, bore down impetuously upon the mailed English knights, but fell upon them like as upon a wall, for they remained immovable. The English archers, then mingling with the cavalry, poured their arrows like a cloud upon the Scots, pierced all who were not protected by their armour, whilst the whole English line and the glory of the Normans, crowding around the standard, remained firm and unshaken. The commander of the men of Lothian fell slain by an arrow, and his men all took to flight. For the most high God was offended with them: therefore their valour was broken like a spider's web in the battle. The main body of the Scots, which was fighting in another part of the field, seeing their comrades routed, lost courage and retreated also. But the king's troops, who were of different clans, began first to flinch individually, and afterwards to recoil in a body, though the king still stood firm: but his friends compelled him to mount his horse and fly, whilst his brave son (age 24), heeding not the flight of the rest, but solely bent on acquiring glory, charged the lines of the enemy with headlong valour, though his men could do no execution on knights that were sheathed in mail; but at last they were forced to take flight, not, without much bloodshed, and were ignominiously driven off the field in all directions. It was reported that eleven thousand of the Scots were slain, besides those who were found mortally wounded in the corn-fields and woods: our army happily triumphed with very little loss of life, and all the knights, the brother of Gilbert de Lacy was the only one slain. This battle was fought in the month of August, by the people who lived in the country beyond the Humber. The same year, in the month of October, the count of Anjou compelled the inhabitants of Orismes to surrender, and laid siege to Bayeux and Falaise.

John of Worcester. Irruption of the Scots, and Battle of the Standard

[22nd August 1138] During these events, David, king of Scotland, made a third irruption from the borders of his kingdom, with large bands both of horse and foot, and began to set on fire farms, towns, and castles, on the confines of Northumbria, and lay waste nearly all the country. But as he threatened at last to pursue his inroad as far as York and the Humber, Thurstan, archbishop of York, had a conference with the Yorkshiremen, and prevailed on them all, with one consent, to take the oath of fealty to king Stephen, and resist the king of Scots. David, however, was still more incensed at this, and rejecting all advice to the contrary, and reaching the river Tees on the octave of the Assumption of St. Mary [22nd August], which happened on a Monday, he determined to surprise our troops, there being a thick fog in the morning of that day. Hoping, in consequence, to come upon us unawares, he left many vills untouched, and would not suffer his men to set fire to any place, as they usually did. Meanwhile, our troops being warned by a squire, though somewhat late so that they were nearly taken by surprise, armed themselves, and drew up in order of battle with the utmost despatch, sending out archers in front, by whom the Scots were severely galled.

Then the king’s barons marched with the knights, having all dismounted and stationed themselves in the first rank, and thus fought hand-in-hand with the enemy. The conflict was ended, and victory secured at the very first onset, for the Scots gave way, and either fell or fled in the greatest alarm. Our men, however, being on foot, and having caused all their horses to be led to some distance, were unable to continue the pursuit long, otherwise they would have taken or put to the sword the king himself, with his son, and all his immediate attendants. Of his army, nearly ten thousand men fell in different places, and as many as fifty persons of rank were made prisoners. The vanquished king himself escaped by flight, overwhelmed with terror and shame. His chancellor, William Comyn, was taken by the bishop of Durham; but being set at liberty, he gave thanks to God, heartily hoping he should never again fall into such a scrape. The king’s son reached Carlisle on foot, attended by a single knight; and his father escaped with some difficulty through the woods and thickets to Roxburgh.

He had led an innumerable army consisting of French, as well as English, Scots, Galwegians, and the people of all the isles which owed him allegiance, but nineteen only out of two hundred of his mailed knights carried back their armour; for every one left nearly all that he had to become the spoil of the enemy, so that an immense booty, both of horses, arms, and clothing, and many other things, was taken from his army. Eustace Fitz-John, who had joined his expedition, met with a similar fate, having been wounded, and barely escaping with life 1to his castle. Among the valiant men who, in Christ’s name, .fought on behalf of king Stephen, were the earl of Albemarle, Bernard de Baliol, and many others, but the earl was distinguished for his bravery in the battle.

On his return, the king of Scots, in order to encourage his adherents and console himself, laid siege with all his force, and various engines and machines, to the castle of Wark, or Carron, belonging to Walter d’ Epec, from which he had been driven by the earl of Mellent; but the garrison making a stout and desperate resistance, he had no success, for they made frequent sallies, and either cut in pieces or burnt his engines, besides killing many of his soldiers; wherefore, at last, he despaired of being able to take it.

. 22nd August 1138. Irruption of the Scots, and Battle of the Standard.

During these events, David (age 54), king of Scotland, made a third irruption from the borders of his kingdom, with large bands both of horse and foot, and began to set on fire farms, towns, and castles, on the confines of Northumbria, and lay waste nearly all the country. But as he threatened at last to pursue his inroad as far as York and the Humber, Ralph, archbishop of Canterbury, archbishop of York, had a conference with the Yorkshiremen, and prevailed on them all, with one consent, to take the oath of fealty to king Stephen, and resist the king of Scots. David, however, was still more incensed at this, and rejecting all advice to the contrary, and reaching the river Tees on the octave of the Assumption of St. Mary [22nd August], which happened on a Monday, he determined to surprise our troops, there being a thick fog in the morning of that day. Hoping, in consequence, to come upon us unawares, he left many vills untouched, and would not suffer his men to set fire to any place, as they usually did. Meanwhile, our troops being warned by a squire, though somewhat late so that they were nearly taken by surprise, armed themselves, and drew up in order of battle with the utmost despatch, sending out archers in front, by whom the Scots were severely galled. Then the king's barons marched with the knights, having all dismounted and stationed themselves in the first rank, and thus fought hand-in-hand with the enemy. The conflict was ended, and victory secured at the very first onset, for the Scots gave way, and either fell or fled in the greatest alarm. Our men, however, being on foot, and having caused all their horses to be led to some distance, were unable to continue the pursuit long, otherwise they would have taken or put to the sword the king himself, with his son (age 24), and all his immediate attendants. Of his army, nearly ten thousand men fell in different places, and as many as fifty persons of rank were made prisoners. The vanquished king himself escaped by flight, overwhelmed with terror and shame. His chancellor, William Comyn, was taken by the bishop of Durham; but being set at liberty, he gave thanks to God, heartily hoping he should never again fall into such a scrape. The king's son reached Carlisle on foot, attended by a single knight; and his father escaped with some difficulty through the woods and thickets to Roxburgh. He had led an innumerable army consisting of French, as well as English, Scots, Galwegians, and the people of all the isles which owed him allegiance, but nineteen only out of two hundred of his mailed knights carried back their armour; for every one left nearly all that he had to become the spoil of the enemy, so that an immense booty, both of horses, arms, and clothing, and many other things, was taken from his army. Eustace Fitz-John (age 50), who had joined his expedition, met with a similar fate, having been wounded, and barely escaping with life to his castle. Among the valiant men who, in Christ's name, fought on behalf of king Stephen, were the earl of Albemarle (age 37), Bernard de Baliol, and many others, but the earl was distinguished for his bravery in the battle.¹

Note 1. A more detailed account of this famous "Battle of the Standard" will be found in Henry of Huntingdon's History, pp. 267, &c. [.Antiq. Lib.], and in Roger of Wendover, ibid, p. 489. Cf. also William of Newbury, Trivet, and Rieval "de Bello Standardi," in Twysden

An Account of the Standard. [22nd August 1138] Then the Galwegians, no longer able to endure the rain of arrows and the swords of the knights, took to flight, though not before their two leaders, Wulgric and Dovenald, had been slain. Meanwhile, the battalion of the men of Lothian, scarcely waiting the first assault, was immediately broken and dissolved. Then the king, leaping down from his horse, and the nobles who were with him, advanced against the enemy. But the Scots, struck with terror at the flight of the others, began to flee on every side from the royal battle-line, so that, in a short time, with the rest fallen, scarcely a few remained around the king. The English army pressed forward against them, and would surely have either slain the king himself with all his followers, or taken them captive, had not the knights, while the king utterly refused flight, compelled him, lifted upon a horse, to withdraw. Then those who had fled, seeing the royal standard, easily recognized, fashioned in the likeness of a dragon, returning, and knowing thereby that the king had not fallen but was coming back, rallied to him, and formed a dreadful wedge against their pursuers. Meanwhile that ornament of youth, glory of knights, delight of old men—the king’s son—looking back, saw himself left with but a few in the midst of the enemy. Turning to one of his companions and smiling, he said: “We have done what we could; and indeed, so far as in us lies, we have won the victory.”

Tunc Galwenses imbiem sagittarum, gladios militum ultra non ferentes, fugam ineunt, occisis prius duobus eorum ducibus Wulgrico et Duuenaldo. Porro Laodensium cuneus, primum vix impetum expectans, statim dissolutus est. Tunc rex equo dissiliens, et proceres qui cum eo erant, adversus hostes processerunt. Sed Scotti ob ceterorum fugam pavidi ex omni parte regalis aciei fugere cœperunt, ita ut in brevi lapsis ceteris vix pauci circa regem persisterent. Procedit contra eos Auglorum exercitus, ipsum certe regem cum omnibus suis vel occisurus vel capturus, nisi milites regem, fugam omnimodis abjurantem, VI sublatuni equo regredi compulissent. Tunc hi qui fugerant, videntes regale vexillum, quod ad similitudinem draconis fiuuratum facile agnoscebatur, reverti, scientes regem non cecidisse sed redire, ad ipsum reversi terribilem insequentibus cuneum creaverunt. Interea ille adolescentum decus, militum gloria, senum deliciae, Alius regis, respiciens retro, vidit se cum paucis in mediis relictum hostibus, vertensque se ad unum de sociis et subridens : "Fecimus," inquit, "quod potuimus," et certe quantum in nobis est vicimus.

Chronicle of Henry of Huntingdon Book 8. 22nd August 1138. While the king was thus engaged in the south, David of Scotland (age 54) led an immense army into the north of England, against which the northern nobles, at the exhortation and under the command of Thurstan, archbishop of York (age 68), made a resolute stand. The royal standard was planted at Alverton¹, and as the archbishop was prevented by illness from being present at the battle, he commissioned Balph, bishop of Durham², to fill his place, who, standing on an eminence in the centre of the army, roused their courage with words to this effect:

Brave nobles of England, Normans by birth; for it is well that on the eve of battle you should call to mind who you are, and from whom you are sprung: no one ever withstood you with success. Gallant France fell beneath your arms; fertile England you subdued; rich Apulia flourished again under your auspices; Jerusalem, renowned in story, and the noble Antioch, both submitted to you. Now, however, Scotland which was your own rightly, has tataken you at disadvantage, her rashness more fitting a skirmish than a battle. Her people have neither military skill, nor order in fighting, nor self command. There is, therefore, no reason for fear, whatever there may be for indignation, at finding those whom we have hitherto sought and conquered in their own country, madly reversing the order, making an irruption into ours. But that which I, a bishop, and by divine permission, standing here as the representative of our archbishop, tell you, is this: that those who in this land have violated the temples of the Lord, polluted his altars, slain his priests, and spared neither children nor women with child, shall on this same soil receive condign punishment for their crimes. This most just fulfilment of his will God shall this day accomphsh by our hands. Rouse yourselves, then, gallant soldiers, and bear down on an accrursed enemy with the courage of your race, and in the presence of God. Let not their impetuosity shake you, since the many tokens of our valour do not deter them. They do not cover themselves with armour³ in war; you are in the constant practice of arms in times of peace, that you may be at no loss in the chances of the day of battle. Your head is covered with the helmet, your breast with a coat of mail, your legs with greaves, and your whole body with the shield. Where can file enemy strike you when he finds you sheathed in steel? "What have we to fear in attacking the naked, bodies of men who know not the use of armour? Is it their numbers? It is not so much the multitude of a host, as the valour of a few, which is decisive. Numbers, without discipline, are an hindrance to success in the attack, and to retreat in defeat. Your⁴ ancestors were often victorious when they were but a few against many. What, then, does the renown of your fathers, your practice of arms, your military discipline avail, unless they make you, few though you are in numbers, invincible against the enemy's hosts? But I close my discourse, as I perceive them rushing on, and I am delighted to see that they are advancing in disorder. Now, then, if any of you who this day are called to avenge the atrocities committed in the houses of God, against the priests of the Lord, and his little flock, should fall in the battle, I, in the name of your archbishop, absolve them from all spot of sin, in the name of the Father, whose creatures the foe hath foully and horribly slain, and of the Son, whose altars they have defiled, and of the Holy Ghost, from whose grace they have desperately fallen."

Note 1. Allerton. This famous Battle of the Standard is also fully described by Roger of Wendover. See also William of Newbury and Trivet; but the MS. of the "Gesta Stepfani" after relating the irruption into Northumberland, becomes imperfect just in this place.

Note 2. Both the MSS. which I have consulted concur with Savile's printed text in the reading of "Orcadum;" but as Roger of Wendorer calls Ralph Bishop of Durham, and he was evidently a suffragan of the Archbishop of York, I have adopted that reading. Perhaps the bishop of Durham had jurisdiction in the Orkneys? [Note. Possibly Bishop Radulf Novell, Bishop of Orkney?]

Note 3. "Nesciunt annare se;" and just afterwards the historian calls them "nudos et inermes!" Not that they went to battle unarmed, as the passage has been rendered, but the rank and file of the Scots used no defensive armour, and perhaps, like their posterity, they only wore the kilt.

Note 4. Arundel MS., "our."

The Chronicle of John Prior of Hexham. All of them, advancing near Northallerton, in a certain field of the fee of Saint Cuthbert, set up the standard, that is, a ship’s mast, hanging upon it the banner of Saint Peter, and of Saint John of Beverley, and of Saint Wilfrid of Ripon, and placing the body of the Lord upon it, so that He would be their standard-bearer and leader of the battle. Therefore Archbishop Thurstan sent with them Ralph Nowell, his suffragan bishop, and men of discipline, who would receive confessions, and instruct them about the hope of future life through satisfaction. The archbishop himself, having been more wisely restrained by the princes from setting out to the battle, persisted with prayers and entreaties, in great affliction and contrition of heart, with his clerics, until it was announced to him what great grace of deliverance God had granted to his people.

So, on the octave of the Assumption of Saint Mary, on the eleventh day before the Kalends of September [22nd August 1138], on a Monday, the whole army gathered around the Standard, lest anyone presume to flee, with the horses having been removed to a distance; and all, with one accord, resolved either to die or to conquer for their country. The princes who were foremost in honor and dignity were these: William, Earl of Albemarle; Walter de Gant; Robert de Brus; Roger de Mowbray; Walter Espec; William de Percy; Bernard de Balliol; Richard de Courcy; William Fossard; Robert de Stuteville; Ilbert de Lacy. This Ilbert, and his father Robert de Lacy, King Henry had driven from the kingdom of England. After the king’s death, William Trussebut, who by the king’s gift had held the honor, namely of Pontefract, was killed by a certain knight, Pagan, on account of that honor; and this Ilbert then possessed the honor by right of inheritance. Also present with their forces were William Peverel of Nottinghamshire, Robert de Ferrers of Derbyshire, and Geoffrey Halsalin.

The king of Scotland also advanced, with his legions, arrayed for battle, the Scots being placed in the front line, claiming that place for themselves by native right, as though they were one. They advanced naked and almost unarmed against the ranks of mailed men, and therefore against those who were invulnerable. Around the king stood the cavalry, equipped with military arms. The king judged it worthy of faith to conquer or to die for the oath which he had sworn to the heirs of King Henry, and with him the whole realm of England.

Thus the Scots and the Picts scarcely held out from the first hour of the battle until the third, seeing themselves pierced and riddled with arrows, overwhelmed and crushed. All of them fled from the field, throwing away their baggage. In disgrace of this event that place was called Baggamor. Immediately the resolve of the remaining army was disturbed and weakened. Therefore the elders, hastening, compelled the king to recall the horses and to withdraw with his ordered battle line, lest he too with his men should fall into ruin. The army of York also did not pursue those retreating, but each hastened to return to his own home. Many of the Scots, wandering and ignorant of the places, were slaughtered wherever they were found. Even the very battle-lines of the Scots and Picts, when on their retreat they encountered one another, contending with unhappy hostility, choked each other to death. The king therefore, having returned into his kingdom, summoned the Scots and Picts to him, and fined them a great sum of money, receiving hostages and oaths from them, that in every conflict and danger they would faithfully stand with him and for him. The king of England also, rejoicing in these successes of his, made William of Albemarle earl in Yorkshire, and Robert de Ferrers earl in Derbyshire.

Qui omnes procedentes secus Alvertun, in campo quodam de feudo Sancti Cuthberti standart, id est malum navis, erexerunt, vexillum Sancti Petri et Sancti Johannis de Beverlaco, et Sancti Wulfridi Ripum in eo suspendentes, et corpus Domini superinponentes, ut esset signifer et dux prælii eorum. Misit ergo cum eis archiepiscopus Turstinus Radulphum Nouellum, episcopum suffraganeum suum, et viros disciplinatos, qui ad pœnitentiam susciperent, et de spe futuræ vitæ per satisfactionem instruerent. Ipse archiepiscopus a principibus ab hac profectione ad pugnam consultius revocatus, orationibus et obsecrationibus in afflictione magna et contritione cordis instabat cum suis clericis, donec renuntiatum ei fuit, quantam ereptionis gratiam populo suo præstitit Deus.

Igitur, in octavis Assumptionis Sanctæ Mariæ, undecimo kalendas Septembris, feria secunda, universus exercitus circa standard convenit, ne quis de fuga præsumeret equis procul amotis; omnes autem mori aut vincere pro patria unanimiter decernentes. Fuerunt autem principes hii in honoribus et dignitatibus præminentes, Willelmus de Albamarla comes, Walterus de Gant, Rodbertus de Brus, Rogerus de Mulbrai, Walterus Espec, Willelmus de Perci, Bernardus de Baillel', Ricardus de Curceio, Willelmus Fossard, Robertus de Stuthavilla, Ilbertus de Lesceio. Hunc ipsum et patrem ipsius, Rodbertum de Lesceio, Henricus rex ejicit e regno Angliæ. Mortuo rege, Willelmum Transversum, qui ex datione regis honori scilicet Pontifracto præsedit, miles quidam Paganus, de honore illo, occidit, et iste Ilbertus honorem jure patrimonii possedit. Affuit etiam cum suis copiis de Nothingaham-scira Willelmus Peverel, et Rodbertus de Ferers de Derbi-scira, et Galfridus Halsalin.

Accessit etiam rex Scottiæ, cum suis legionibus, stipatus in prælium, Scottis in prima acie dispositis, id sibi ex nativa dignitate reclamantes quasi unus. Nudi ipsi et pæne inermes progressi adversus cuneos loricatos et iccirco invulnerabiles. Circa regem steterunt equestres ordines militaribus armis instructi. Fide dignum rex arbitratus est vincere vel mori pro sacramento quod juravit hæredibus Henrici regis, et universitas Angliæ cum eo.

Scotti itaque et Picti vix a prima hora initi conflictus usque ad tertiam perstiterunt, videntes se confodi et consui sagittis, et obrui, et opprimi. Qui omnes a campo dilapsi sunt, sarcinas suas a se rejicientes. In ignominiam hujus rei vocatus est locus ille Baggamor. Continuo constantia residui exercitus proturbata et infirmata est. Propterea seniores festinantes compulerunt regem equos reposcere, et cum sua conserta acie discedere, ne et ipse cum suis cederet in ruinam. Exercitus quoque Eboraci non est persecutus recedentes, sed unusquisque ad propria regredi festinavit. Plurimi vero Scottorum, ignari locorum aberrantes, ubicunque reperti sunt jugulati sunt. Ipsæ etiam acies Scottorum et Pictorum, ubi adinvicem in reditu concurrerunt, infelici hostilitate concertantes, sese suffocaverunt. Rex igitur, in regnum suum receptus, convocatos ad se Scottos et Pictos multa massa pecuniarum mulctavit, acceptis obsidibus et sacramentis ab eis, quod in omni conflictu et periculo fideliter cum eo et pro eo persisterent. Rex etiam Angliæ, lætatus super his successibus suis, Willelmum de Albamarla comitem in Eboracisciria fecit, et Rodbertum de Ferers comitem in Derbi scira.¹

Note 1. After this passage there comes in the MS. the account of the comet of 1133, which I have transferred to that year. After that, there follows the poem of Serlo on the battle of the Standard, which is printed by Twysden (coll. 331-2), and the account of the same conflict by Aelred of Rievaux which occurs in the same collection (col. 333, etc.). At the end of Aelred's work is this colophon, - "Explicit descriptio Atheldredi abbatis. Incipit descriptio prædicti Prioris Haugustaldensis ecclesiæ." i.e. "Here ends the description of Abbot Æthelred. Here begins the description of the aforesaid Prior of the church of Hexham."

The chronicle of Prior John is then continued, after having been thus strangely cut in two. The transcriber seems to have been more of an utilitarian than a person of taste. The poem of Serlo and the work of Aelred relate to the year 1138, and, therefore, he ruthlessly disjointed the Prior's chronicle, and, without any regard to appearance, inserted what the other two had written in the intervening space, among the occurrences of 1138.