The gravestone of Sir John Stewart, a Scottish knight who fought bravely for

The gravestone of Sir John Stewart, a Scottish knight who fought bravely for Sir William Wallace at the battle of Falkirk on this day in history, in AD 1298. He died in a brutal last stand alongside the Scottish archers who were cut down to a man by the English cavalry.

Walter of Guisborough's account of the battle is the most detailed, and it is contemporary:

"Then at once, the earls who commanded the vanguard led their men forward in line, for they did not realise at first that a peaty bog lay between them and the enemy: but when they saw this, they directed their men round the west of it, and so were a little delayed. Meanwhile, the second division, under Bishop Bek of Durham and thirty six chosen knights, swung round the bog to the east, making as much speed as possible so as to be first into battle . . . they pressed on and attacked the first Scottish schiltrom [circular formation of spearmen], while the earls charged with the vanguard on the other side of the field. The Scots cavalry fled without striking a blow the moment our men appeared, though a few of their lords remained to command the spearmen . . . [while Sir John Stewart] dismounted from his horse and stood in the midst of his people until both he and they – men of noble form and great stature – were all cut down."

Once the Scottish cavalry had fled and the Scottish archers had been cut down, the English slingers and archers rained down hell on the Scottish spearmen, before the English cavalry and infantry charged in to finish them off.

. . .