The Capitulation of Irvine was an early armed conflict of the
Wars of Scottish Independence which took place on 7 June 1297. Due to dissension among the Scottish leadership, it resulted in a stand-off.
Prelude
In May 1297,
William Wallace killed William de Heselrig, the English
High Sheriff of Lanark. At the time, it was not an isolated incident, although it is unclear whether this was a spontaneous occurrence or co-ordinated with other risings in Scotland. The story that Wallace was seeking revenge for the killing by Heselrig of his wife, Marion Braidfute of
Lamington
A lamington is an Australian cake made from squares of butter cake or sponge cake coated in an outer layer of chocolate sauce and rolled in desiccated coconut. The thin mixture is absorbed into the outside of the sponge cake and left to set, gi ...
is derived from the poem by
Blind Harry, ''
The Actes and Deidis of the Illustre and Vallyeant Campioun Schir William Wallace''.
Wallace then joined with
William the Hardy, Lord of Douglas, and they carried out the
raid of Scone
After the action at Lanark, William Wallace joined forces with William Douglas the Hardy and led a raid on the city of Scone, Scotland, Scone. He and his men forced William de Ormesby, the English-appointed justiciar, Justice of Scotland, to fle ...
. This was one of several rebellions taking place across Scotland, including those of several Scottish nobles and
Andrew Moray in the north.
Irvine
John de Warenne, 6th Earl of Surrey and Edward's warden in Scotland, sent his grandson,
Henry de Percy, 1st Baron Percy with an army of 40,000 foot and 300 horse to deal with the insurrection.
[Wright, Thomas. ''The History of Scotland'', The London Printing and Publishing Company, London, 1873]
/ref>
On 9 July 1297, the nobles of Scotland gathered on the banks of a loch
''Loch'' () is the Scottish Gaelic, Scots language, Scots and Irish language, Irish word for a lake or sea inlet. It is Cognate, cognate with the Manx language, Manx lough, Cornish language, Cornish logh, and one of the Welsh language, Welsh w ...
between Irvine Irvine may refer to:
Places On Earth Antarctica
*Irvine Glacier
*Mount Irvine (Antarctica)
Australia
*Irvine Island
*Mount Irvine, New South Wales
Canada
*Irvine, Alberta
* Irvine Inlet, Nunavut
United Kingdom
*Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotla ...
and Bourtreehill House
Bourtreehill House (now destroyed) and the enclosed land on which it was built form the original estate of Bourtreehill. The wooded hill-top, a distinctive feature of the estate, is now a landmark that sits at the centre of modern North Bourtreehi ...
. They were prepared to go into battle against the approaching English forces and had made camp at Knadgerhill, on the north side of the loch. When the English arrived, they too camped on the side of the loch but on the opposite banks to the south.
However, dissension amongst the Scots leaders was so great that a knight, Sir Richard Lundie said that there was no safety in a host which was divided against itself, and went over with his men to join Percy. Robert the Bruce, Bishop Robert Wishart of Glasgow, William Douglas and others followed.[Simpson, Anne Turner & Stevenson, Sylvia (1980). Historic Irvine. the archaeological implications of development. Scottish Burgh Survey. Glasgow University. p.2] Wallace was in central Scotland at the time.
Percy negotiated their submission, possibly at Seagate Castle
Seagate Castle is a castle in North Ayrshire, in the town of Irvine, close to the River Irvine, Scotland. The castle was formerly a stronghold, a town house, and later a dower house of the Montgomery Clan. The castle overlooks the oldest street ...
, subduing southern Scotland for a while.
G.W.S. Barrow argues that the intention of the Scots nobles was to prolong negotiations with King Edward I of England, allowing William Wallace to organise his rebellion. Wallace refused to join in the submission and retreated with his followers to the forest of Selkirk. Wallace was particularly indignant with the Bishop of Glasgow, and attacked Wishart's castle and lands.[ Wishart himself was imprisoned for a time, and swore his fealty to Edward anew, only to break it as soon as he was released.
]
Document
The Capitulations of Irvine, is housed in the National Archives, Kew Surrey, England.
See also
*Capture of Berwick (1296)
The Sack of Berwick was the first significant battle of the First War of Scottish Independence in 1296.
Background
Upon the death of Margaret, Maid of Norway, in late September 1290, there arose a number of claimants to the throne of Scotland. ...
References
Sources
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Military history of Scotland
Conflicts in 1297
1297 in Scotland