While the English defeated a Scottish army at the Battle of Falkirk, Edward I, hampered by food shortages, was only able to reach Stirling before heading back to England.

One of his early decisions was to reestablish commercial and diplomatic ties with Europe and win back the overseas trade which Scotland had enjoyed under Alexander III.

The Scots laid waste a swathe of countryside before turning west into Cumberland and pillaging all the way to Cockermouth, before Wallace led his men back into Northumberland and fired 700 villages.

[1][2] In January 1298, Philip IV of France had signed a truce with Edward I, that did not include Scotland, thereby deserting his Scots allies.

The army travelled from Roxburgh by Lauder then Kirkliston, Edward I choosing not to enter the English controlled town of Edinburgh.

[5] While the English army was awaiting supplies, Anthony Bek, Bishop of Durham, led his own large contingent of 140 knights and 1,000 foot soldiers, raised from the Palatinate of Durham, preceded by the banner of St. Cuthbert,[6] attacked the castles of Dirleton, Hailes and Tantallon.

[7] At the main English camp Edward I was injured by his war horse which trampled him, causing three broken ribs.

The Scottish cavalry fled the battlefield and in the ensuing rout, many Scots were killed at the Battle of Falkirk, although it is impossible to give a precise number.

[9] Although Edward I failed to subdue Scotland completely before returning to England, Wallace's military reputation was ruined.