Battle of Neville's Cross
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Neville's Cross took place to the west of Durham
, England on 17 October 1346.
with France
. In order to divert his enemy Philip VI of France
appealed to David II of Scotland
to attack the English from the north in order to create a second front for the English. Despite Philip VI's especially desperate pleas in June 1346 (when the English were amassing troops in southern England), David II of Scotland
waited until October, when he felt few English troops would be left to defend lucrative Northern English cities. Waiting until he believed most English troops were fighting France and with winter approaching David II of Scotland
invaded England.
On 7 October, the Scots invaded England with approximately 12,000 men. They were expecting to find northern England relatively undefended because Edward III was by then conducting a major campaign in France. (Philip VI went so far as to characterize northern England as a "defenceless void".) Unfortunately, David II's strategic
and tactical
abilities were not up to the task of making good use of the Scots' element of surprise. Perhaps, though, they did not feel the need for haste. After taking Liddesdale
(and bypassing Carlisle after being paid protection money), the Scots moved on toward their ultimate goal of Durham and Yorkshire
after more than a week's march. Along the way, they sacked and murdered the priory of Hexham
and burned the territory around their line of march. They arrived at Durham on 16 October and camped at Beaurepaire
, where the Scots were offered £1,000 (£ as of ) in protection money to be paid on 18 October.
Without the Scots' knowledge, however, the English had already arrayed troops for just such an invasion. Once the Scots invaded, an army was quickly mobilized in Richmond
under the supervision of William Zouche
, the Archbishop of York
. It was not, however, a large army and what men were available were split into two separate groups: 3,000–4,000 men from Cumberland
, Northumberland
and Lancashire
, with another 3,000 Yorkshiremen en route. Given the demands of the Siege of Calais, no further men could be summoned for the defense of Northern England. Worse still, on 14 October (while the Scots were sacking Hexham), the Archbishop decided not to wait for the Yorkshiremen and made haste toward Barnard Castle
.
stumbled upon them in the morning mist during a raid south of Durham. The two rearward divisions of the English army drove the Scots off with heavy Scottish casualties.
Upon hearing Douglas's report, David II led the Scottish army to high ground at Neville's Cross (site of an old Anglo-Saxon stone cross), where he prepared his army for battle. Both the Scots and English arranged themselves in three battalions. Though the Scots were in what is considered a rather poor position (with various obstacles between them and the English position), they remembered well their defeats in the Battle of Dupplin Moor
and the Battle of Halidon Hill
and thus took a defensive stance, waiting for the English to attack. However, the English also took a defensive stance, knowing they had the superior position and likely knowing that time was on their side. A stalemate resulted that lasted until the afternoon, when the English sent longbowmen forward to harass the Scottish lines. The archers succeeded in forcing the Scots to attack, but their initial hesitation in going on the offensive appears in hindsight to have been the correct decision. The Scots' poor position resulted in their formations falling apart as they advanced, allowing the English to deal easily with the Scottish attack. When it became clear that the battle was going in favour of the English, Robert Stewart
, the future King of the Scots, and the Earl of March deserted the Scottish Army, abandoning David II's battalion to face the enemy alone. Late in the afternoon, the king's own battalion attempted to retreat, but was unsuccessful and David II was captured (though not without difficulty), while the rest of the Scottish army was pursued for more than twenty miles.
Several Scottish nobles were killed, including:
Scottish chroniclers Andrew of Wyntoun
and Walter Bower
both wrote that 1,000 Scots were killed in the battle, while the Chronicle of Lanercost said that “few English were killed”.
, David’s reflection was spotted in the water by a detachment of English soldiers that was out searching for him. David was then captured by John Copeland, the leader of the detachment. Later, King Edward III ordered Copeland to bring the Scots king to Calais and hand him over. Edward then rewarded Copeland with a knighthood and a handsome annuity. King David was brought back to England and imprisoned at Odiham Castle (King John's Castle)
in Hampshire
from 1346 to 1357. After eleven years, he was released in return for a ransom of 100,000 marks (approximately £15 million in 2006).
The Battle of Neville’s Cross derives its name from a stone cross that Lord Neville paid to have erected on the battlefield to commemorate this remarkable victory. The fate of the unfortunate David II of Scotland is immortalised in Shakespeare’s play Henry V
. In Act 1 Scene 3, Henry says to the Archbishop of Canterbury:
For you shall read that my great-grandfather /
Never went with his forces into France /
But that the Scot on his unfurnish’d kingdom/
Came pouring, like the tide into a breach, /
With ample and brim fullness of his force; /
Galling the gleaned land with hot essays, /
Girding with grievous siege castles and towns; /
That England, being empty of defence, /
Hath shook and trembled at the ill neighbourhood.
But the Archbishop replies:
She hath been then more fear’d than harm’d my liege; /
For hear her but exampled by herself: /
When all her chivalry hath been in France, /
And she a mourning widow of her nobles, /
She hath herself not only well defended, /
But taken, and impounded as a stray, /
The king of Scots; whom she did send to France, /
To fill King Edward’s fame with prisoner kings…
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
, England on 17 October 1346.
Background
In 1346, England was embroiled in the Hundred Years' WarHundred Years' War
The Hundred Years' War was a series of separate wars waged from 1337 to 1453 by the House of Valois and the House of Plantagenet, also known as the House of Anjou, for the French throne, which had become vacant upon the extinction of the senior Capetian line of French kings...
with France
France in the Middle Ages
France in the Middle Ages covers an area roughly corresponding to modern day France, from the death of Louis the Pious in 840 to the middle of the 15th century...
. In order to divert his enemy Philip VI of France
Philip VI of France
Philip VI , known as the Fortunate and of Valois, was the King of France from 1328 to his death. He was also Count of Anjou, Maine, and Valois from 1325 to 1328...
appealed to David II of Scotland
David II of Scotland
David II was King of Scots from 7 June 1329 until his death.-Early life:...
to attack the English from the north in order to create a second front for the English. Despite Philip VI's especially desperate pleas in June 1346 (when the English were amassing troops in southern England), David II of Scotland
David II of Scotland
David II was King of Scots from 7 June 1329 until his death.-Early life:...
waited until October, when he felt few English troops would be left to defend lucrative Northern English cities. Waiting until he believed most English troops were fighting France and with winter approaching David II of Scotland
David II of Scotland
David II was King of Scots from 7 June 1329 until his death.-Early life:...
invaded England.
On 7 October, the Scots invaded England with approximately 12,000 men. They were expecting to find northern England relatively undefended because Edward III was by then conducting a major campaign in France. (Philip VI went so far as to characterize northern England as a "defenceless void".) Unfortunately, David II's strategic
Military strategy
Military strategy is a set of ideas implemented by military organizations to pursue desired strategic goals. Derived from the Greek strategos, strategy when it appeared in use during the 18th century, was seen in its narrow sense as the "art of the general", 'the art of arrangement' of troops...
and tactical
Military tactics
Military tactics, the science and art of organizing an army or an air force, are the techniques for using weapons or military units in combination for engaging and defeating an enemy in battle. Changes in philosophy and technology over time have been reflected in changes to military tactics. In...
abilities were not up to the task of making good use of the Scots' element of surprise. Perhaps, though, they did not feel the need for haste. After taking Liddesdale
Liddesdale
Liddesdale, the valley of the Liddel Water, in the County of Roxburgh, southern Scotland, extends in a south-westerly direction from the vicinity of Peel Fell to the River Esk, a distance of...
(and bypassing Carlisle after being paid protection money), the Scots moved on toward their ultimate goal of Durham and Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
after more than a week's march. Along the way, they sacked and murdered the priory of Hexham
Hexham
Hexham is a market town and civil parish in Northumberland, England, located south of the River Tyne, and was the administrative centre for the Tynedale district from 1974 to 2009. The three major towns in Tynedale were Hexham, Prudhoe and Haltwhistle, although in terms of population, Prudhoe was...
and burned the territory around their line of march. They arrived at Durham on 16 October and camped at Beaurepaire
Bearpark
Bearpark is a village and civil parish in County Durham in England. It is situated two and a half miles west of Durham, and a short distance to the north of Ushaw Moor....
, where the Scots were offered £1,000 (£ as of ) in protection money to be paid on 18 October.
Without the Scots' knowledge, however, the English had already arrayed troops for just such an invasion. Once the Scots invaded, an army was quickly mobilized in Richmond
Richmond, North Yorkshire
Richmond is a market town and civil parish on the River Swale in North Yorkshire, England and is the administrative centre of the district of Richmondshire. It is situated on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and serves as the Park's main tourist centre...
under the supervision of William Zouche
William Zouche
William Zouche or William de la Zouche, was a medieval Archbishop of York.Zouche was a younger son of William, Lord Zouche of Haringworth, in Northamptonshire. He was appointed Archdeacon of Barnstaple in 1329. On 12 July 1330, he was collated Archdeacon of Exeter...
, the Archbishop of York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
. It was not, however, a large army and what men were available were split into two separate groups: 3,000–4,000 men from Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
, Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
and Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, with another 3,000 Yorkshiremen en route. Given the demands of the Siege of Calais, no further men could be summoned for the defense of Northern England. Worse still, on 14 October (while the Scots were sacking Hexham), the Archbishop decided not to wait for the Yorkshiremen and made haste toward Barnard Castle
Barnard Castle
Barnard Castle is an historical town in Teesdale, County Durham, England. It is named after the castle around which it grew up. It sits on the north side of the River Tees, opposite Startforth, south southwest of Newcastle upon Tyne, south southwest of Sunderland, west of Middlesbrough and ...
.
The battle
The Scots only discovered the presence of the English army on the morning of 17 October. Troops under command of William DouglasWilliam Douglas, Lord of Liddesdale
Sir William Douglas, Lord of Liddesdale was also known as the Knight of Liddesdale and the Flower of Chivalry. He was a Scottish nobleman and soldier active during the Second War of Scottish Independence.-Family:...
stumbled upon them in the morning mist during a raid south of Durham. The two rearward divisions of the English army drove the Scots off with heavy Scottish casualties.
Upon hearing Douglas's report, David II led the Scottish army to high ground at Neville's Cross (site of an old Anglo-Saxon stone cross), where he prepared his army for battle. Both the Scots and English arranged themselves in three battalions. Though the Scots were in what is considered a rather poor position (with various obstacles between them and the English position), they remembered well their defeats in the Battle of Dupplin Moor
Battle of Dupplin Moor
The Battle of Dupplin Moor was fought between supporters of the infant David II, the son of Robert the Bruce, and rebels supporting the Balliol claim in 1332. It was a significant battle of the Second War of Scottish Independence.-Background:...
and the Battle of Halidon Hill
Battle of Halidon Hill
The Battle of Halidon Hill was fought during the Second War of Scottish Independence. Scottish forces under Sir Archibald Douglas were heavily defeated on unfavourable terrain while trying to relieve Berwick-upon-Tweed.-The Disinherited:...
and thus took a defensive stance, waiting for the English to attack. However, the English also took a defensive stance, knowing they had the superior position and likely knowing that time was on their side. A stalemate resulted that lasted until the afternoon, when the English sent longbowmen forward to harass the Scottish lines. The archers succeeded in forcing the Scots to attack, but their initial hesitation in going on the offensive appears in hindsight to have been the correct decision. The Scots' poor position resulted in their formations falling apart as they advanced, allowing the English to deal easily with the Scottish attack. When it became clear that the battle was going in favour of the English, Robert Stewart
Robert II of Scotland
Robert II became King of Scots in 1371 as the first monarch of the House of Stewart. He was the son of Walter Stewart, hereditary High Steward of Scotland and of Marjorie Bruce, daughter of Robert I and of his first wife Isabella of Mar...
, the future King of the Scots, and the Earl of March deserted the Scottish Army, abandoning David II's battalion to face the enemy alone. Late in the afternoon, the king's own battalion attempted to retreat, but was unsuccessful and David II was captured (though not without difficulty), while the rest of the Scottish army was pursued for more than twenty miles.
Several Scottish nobles were killed, including:
- John Randolph, 3rd Earl of MorayJohn Randolph, 3rd Earl of MorayJohn Randolph, 3rd Earl of Moray was an important figure in the reign of David II of Scotland, and was for a time joint Regent of Scotland.-Family:...
- Niall Bruce of Carrick, an illegitimate son of Robert the BruceRobert I of ScotlandRobert I , popularly known as Robert the Bruce , was King of Scots from March 25, 1306, until his death in 1329.His paternal ancestors were of Scoto-Norman heritage , and...
. - Lord David de la HayDavid de la HayLord David de la Haye was Lord High Constable of Scotland.His predecessor as Constable was Gilbert Hay, his grandfather.David was killed at the Battle of Neville's Cross.-External links:* on Hay family...
, The Constable - Maurice de Moravia, Earl of StrathearnMaurice de Moravia, Earl of StrathearnMaurice de Moravia, Earl of Strathearn was a Scottish soldier.He was the oldest of the sons of Sir John de Moravia of Drumsagard , and appears in sources for the first time in October 1334, as the Sheriff of Lanark. By this point he had become a powerful military leader, being styled by Walter...
- Lord Robert KeithRobert Keith (d. 1346)Sir Robert Keith was a Scottish nobleman and Marischal of Scotland.He was a grandson of the Robert Keith who commanded the Scottish cavalry at the Battle of Bannockburn....
, The Great MarischalEarl MarischalThe title of Earl Marischal was created in the peerage of Scotland for William Keith, the Great Marischal of Scotland.The office of "Marischal of Scotland" had been held heritably by the senior member of the Keith family since Hervey de Keith, who held the office of Marischal under Malcolm IV and...
of Scotland - Lord Thomas CharterisThomas CharterisSir Thomas Charteris styled "of Amisfield", was a Scottish nobleman. He supported the Bruce family and was appointed ambassador to England. In 1342 he was appointed Lord Chancellor of Scotland by Dvaid II. He was killed in 1346 at the Battle of Neville's Cross....
, The Chancellor - Lord Robert de Peebles, The Chamberlain
Scottish chroniclers Andrew of Wyntoun
Andrew of Wyntoun
Andrew Wyntoun, known as Andrew of Wyntoun was a Scottish poet, a canon and prior of Loch Leven on St Serf's Inch and later, a canon of St...
and Walter Bower
Walter Bower
Walter Bower , Scottish chronicler, was born about 1385 at Haddington, East Lothian.He was abbot of Inchcolm Abbey from 1418, was one of the commissioners for the collection of the ransom of James I, King of Scots, in 1423 and 1424, and in 1433 one of the embassy to Paris on the business of the...
both wrote that 1,000 Scots were killed in the battle, while the Chronicle of Lanercost said that “few English were killed”.
The aftermath
David II initially managed to escape. However, legend has it that, while he was hiding under a bridge over the nearby River BrowneyRiver Browney
The River Browney is a river in County Durham, England, and the largest tributary of the River Wear.According to Durham County Council Internet GIS, the River Browney rises from a spring in Park Head Plantation, on the eastern slope of Skaylock Hill, roughly a mile south east of Waskerley...
, David’s reflection was spotted in the water by a detachment of English soldiers that was out searching for him. David was then captured by John Copeland, the leader of the detachment. Later, King Edward III ordered Copeland to bring the Scots king to Calais and hand him over. Edward then rewarded Copeland with a knighthood and a handsome annuity. King David was brought back to England and imprisoned at Odiham Castle (King John's Castle)
Odiham Castle
Odiham Castle is a ruined castle situated near Odiham in Hampshire, United Kingdom. It is one of only three fortresses built by King John during his reign....
in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
from 1346 to 1357. After eleven years, he was released in return for a ransom of 100,000 marks (approximately £15 million in 2006).
The Battle of Neville’s Cross derives its name from a stone cross that Lord Neville paid to have erected on the battlefield to commemorate this remarkable victory. The fate of the unfortunate David II of Scotland is immortalised in Shakespeare’s play Henry V
Henry V (play)
Henry V is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to be written in approximately 1599. Its full titles are The Cronicle History of Henry the Fifth and The Life of Henry the Fifth...
. In Act 1 Scene 3, Henry says to the Archbishop of Canterbury:
For you shall read that my great-grandfather /
Never went with his forces into France /
But that the Scot on his unfurnish’d kingdom/
Came pouring, like the tide into a breach, /
With ample and brim fullness of his force; /
Galling the gleaned land with hot essays, /
Girding with grievous siege castles and towns; /
That England, being empty of defence, /
Hath shook and trembled at the ill neighbourhood.
But the Archbishop replies:
She hath been then more fear’d than harm’d my liege; /
For hear her but exampled by herself: /
When all her chivalry hath been in France, /
And she a mourning widow of her nobles, /
She hath herself not only well defended, /
But taken, and impounded as a stray, /
The king of Scots; whom she did send to France, /
To fill King Edward’s fame with prisoner kings…
Sources and further reading
- Sadler, John Border Fury: England and Scotland at War 1296–1568, Harlow 2006, ISBN 1-4508-4022-6
- Sumption, Jonathan, The Hundred Years' War, Vol. 1: Trial by Battle, London 1990, ISBN 0-8122-1655-5
- Cornwell, Bernard, Vagabond, HarperCollins 2003; ISBN 0-06-053268-8. (Contains a dramatization of the battle.)
- Battle of Neville's Cross by historian R.M. Gunn
- Battle of Neville's Cross from the Battlefields Trust website
- English Heritage: Battle of Neville's Cross
- UK Battlefields Resource Centre: Battle of Neville's Cross 17th October 1346