On 27 Apr 1296 Battle of Dunbar was fought between John Warenne 6th Earl of Surrey (age 65) and King John I of Scotland (age 47), his son in law. John Strathbogie 9th Earl Atholl (age 30) and John Comyn 3rd Earl Buchan were captured. The English routed the disorganised Scots in a single charge. Few died; many were captured.

Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough Voume 2. [11 Sep 1297]. After a long time, when the earl finally awoke from his sleep and all were armed in the field, he knighted new men there, some of whom fell the same day. Meanwhile, our infantry crossed over again, but returned once more because the Steward of Scotland and the Earl of Lennox arrived with only a few men, not with the sixty armed horsemen as had been agreed. Our men believed them to be bearers of good news, but they excused themselves both for the previous failure and for their inability to pacify their own people, saying they could neither seize their horses nor their weapons from them.

Cumque post magnam horam surrexisset a somno, essentque omnes in campo armati, fecit ibidem novos milites, quorum quidam eadem die corruerunt. Interimque transierunt pedestres nostri, et iterato reversi sunt eo quod senescallus Scotiæ et comes de Levenax veniebant cum paucis quidem et non cum LX armatis ut convenerant, credebantque nostri ipsos fore bajulos boni nuncii, sed excusaverunt se et in facto prædicto et quod gentem propriam justificare non possent, dicentes se non posse ab eis eripere nec equos nec arma.

Scalacronica. 11 Sep 1297. And the following winter, the said William Wallace burnt all Northumberland. The Earl of Warenne (age 66), who was Keeper of Scotland for the King of England, being in the south¹, turned towards Scotland; where at the bridge of Stirling he was defeated by William Wallace, who, being at hand in order of battle², allowed so many of the English as he pleased to cross over the said bridge, and, at the right moment³, attacked them, caused the bridge to be broken, where many of the English perished, with Hugh de Cressingham, the King's Treasurer; and it was said that the Scots caused him to be flayed, and in token of hatred made girths of his skin. The Earl of Warenne took flight to Berwick. William Wallace, to whom the Scots adhered, immediately after this discomfiture, followed⁴ the said Earl of Warenne in great force, and skirting Berwick, arrived on Hutton Moor in order of battle; but perceiving the English arrayed to oppose him, he came no nearer to Berwick, but retired and bivouacked in Duns Park⁵.

Note 1. Warenne, or Surrey, which was his principal title, had been recalled on 18th August for service with King Edward on the Continent, and Sir Brian Fitz Alan was appointed Keeper of Scotland in his place. But Sir Brian having raised a difficulty about his salary (£1128 8s.), the Prince of Wales wrote on 7th Sept., 1298, requiring Surrey to remain at his post. (See Stevenson's Documents illustrative of the History of Scotland, ii. 230.)

Note 2. En batailA soun point. i.e., in force or in order of battle; used in both senses.

Note 3. A soun point. i.e.

Note 4. Suyst, misprinted fuyst in Maitland Club Ed.

Note 5. Not Duns Park on Whitadder, but in a place which then bore that name a little to the north of Berwick.

John of Fordun's Chronicle of the Scottish Nation Book 4 Chapter 99. 11 Sep 1297. Battle of Stirling Bridge

In the year 1297, the fame of William Wallace was spread all abroad, and, at length, reached the ears of the king of England; for the loss brought upon his people was crying out. As the king, however, was intent upon many troublesome matters elsewhere, he sent his treasurer, named Hugh of Clissingham, with a large force to repress this William's boldness, and to bring the kingdom of Scotland under his sway. When, therefore, he heard of this man's arrival, the aforesaid William, then busy besieging the English who were in Dundee Castle, straightway intrusted the care and charge of the siege of the castle to the burgesses of that town, on pain of loss of life and limb, and, with his army, marched on, with all haste, towards Strivelyn (Stirling), to meet this Hugh. A battle was then fought, on the 11th of September, near Strivelyn (Stirling), at the bridge over the Forth. Hugh of Clissingham was killed, and all his army put to flight: some of them were slain with the sword, others taken, others drowned in the waters. But, through God, they were all overcome; and the aforesaid William gained a happy victory, with no little praise. Of the nobles, on his side, the noble Andrew of Moray alone, the father of Andrew, fell wounded.

Lanercost Chronicle. 11 Sep 1297. When this had been done and the greater part of the army had been dismissed, the Steward brought them to the bridge of Stirling, where on the other side of the water the army of Scotland was posted. They [the Scots] allowed as many of the English to cross the bridge as they could hope to overcome, and then, having blocked the bridge¹, they slaughtered all who had crossed over, among whom perished the Treasurer of England, Hugh de Cressingham, of whose skin William Wallace caused a broad strip to be taken from the head to the heel, to make therewith a baldrick for his sword¹. The Earl of Warenne escaped with difficulty and with a small following, so hotly did the enemy pursue them. After this the Scots entered Berwick and put to death the few English that they found therein; for the town was then without walls, and might be taken as easily by English or Scots coming in force. The castle of the town, however, was not surrendered on this occasion.

Note 1. Ponte obturato i.e. with the bridge blocked.

Note 2. Other writers say the skin was cut up into horse-girths.

On 11 Sep 1297 the combined forces of Andrew Moray and William Wallace defeated the forces of John Warenne 6th Earl of Surrey (age 66) near Stirling Bridge, Stirling during the Battle of Stirling Bridge. After around half the English had crossed the narrow bridge the Scots attacked subjecting the English to a significant defeat.

In 1298 Simon Montagu 1st Baron Montagu (age 48) attended Edward I 43rd Parliament at York [Map].