The Battle of Neville's Cross

Sir Ralph Hastings was severely wounded in the battle and died a few days later. Sir Ralph Neville was the hero of the decisive defeat of the Scots in 1345

The Battle of Neville's Cross had its origins in the Hundred Years War between England and France which lasted from 1338 to 1453. On 26 August 1346, an English army commanded jointly by King Edward III (Europe/Plantagenet) and his son, Edward the Black Prince, defeated the French army at the Battle of Crécy. It has been written that, at the end of this battle:

"The flower of the French aristocracy lay dead upon the field."

In desperation, King Philip VI of France appealed to his friend and ally King David II of Scotland to create a diversion by launching an attack on Northern England. In response to this plea - and, perhaps, in the hope of gaining a reputation equal to that of his father, Robert the Bruce (Scot/Bruce) - King David personally led a Scots army of over 12,000 men southwards. His immediate intention was to capture the mighty fortress stronghold of Durham. In reply, a small English army of some 5,000 men under the overall command of the Archbishop of York hurriedly moved northwards from Yorkshire to reinforce Durham and to confront the Scots army.

It is said that, as David approached Durham, he had a dream in which he was warned not to invade St Cuthbert's holy territory. Ignoring this warning, David continued his advance. The night before the battle St Cuthbert appeared to Prior Fossor of Durham. The saint instructed the prior to take the corporax cloth which had been found in his coffin in 1104, attach it to a spear and carry it as a banner to the battlefield. Early the following day, the Prior, in obedience to the saint's wishes and accompanied by a number of his monks, took this sacred relic to a site within a few hundred yards of the two opposing armies. There, he and the monks knelt and prayed while the battle raged around them.

On the morning of 17 October 1346, the Scots army was arrayed in three divisions on a high but narrow ridge just to the west of the City. Tantalizingly close to the east of them, they could see the great prize - Durham's Cathedral and Castle. However, to the south they could also see the English army drawn up in four divisions, three to the front and one held back in reserve. Confident of victory not least because of superiority of numbers, David ordered his soldiers to advance towards the English lines. Almost immediately, the Scots division under Sir William Douglas (Scots/Douglas) on the west flank found that to attack the English division in front of it involved descending into a steep-sided valley and then clambering up the other side. This first misfortune was soon greatly magnified by a second. The English division led by Sir Thomas Rokeby that overlooked the struggling Scots soldiers on the west flank happened to contain a strong force of English archers. At this time, the English longbow, with its great range and the power to pierce armour, was one of the most terrifying weapons to be found on any medieval battlefield. Almost at once, this advancing division - a third of the Scots army - started to disintegrate as wave upon wave of deadly arrows flew down from above. Soon, Douglas's division began a headlong retreat in a state of complete confusion.

On the east flank, by contrast, the Scots division under Lord Robert Stewart (Scots/Stewart Kings), the heir to the Scots throne, was having considerable success. It managed to roll back the division of the English army led by Lords Neville (English/Neville) and Percy (English/Percy) that stood in its way. However, in doing so, it exposed its own flank to the English reserve. Finding itself now under attack on two sides, this Scots division too began to fall back. As the Scots divisions on either flank retreated, the central division commanded by King David himself was left exposed to attack on three sides. It was thus in an increasingly desperate position. In due course, David himself was wounded and his standard bearer killed. At this point, the central division of the Scots army also broke and ran.

King David himself managed to escape. However, legend has it that, while hiding under a bridge over the nearby River Browney, David's reflection was spotted in the water by a detachment of English soldiers which 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 in the Tower of London. After eleven years in the Tower, he was released in return for a ransom of 100,000 marks - worth about L15 million today!