Bannockburn

a Scottish village three miles southeast of Stirling on a rivulet of the name. The name is derived evidently from bannock, a Scottish cake of unleavened oat or barley meal, baked on a hot griddle, and from burn, the Scottish name for a small stream. The battlefield of Bannockburn is one of the most celebrated in Scottish history. It was here that Robert the Bruce defeated the English forces under Edward II of England, June 24, 1314. Bruce is thought to have had about 30,000 men and Edward about 100,000. Bruce disposed his small army most skillfully, and rendered the English cavalry useless by digging a large number of pits, in the bottom of which sharpened stakes were driven. These pits were so concealed by brush and grass that the English horse was afraid to venture among them. Among the traditions of the battle is one to the effect that, just before charging the English lines, the handful of Scotch soldiers pulled off their blue bonnets and knelt in prayer. The English monarch thought that they were making submission to him, but was soon undeceived. At the critical moment a horde of camp followers appeared on an elevation behind the Scottish forces, and struck terror into the English, who thought that large reinforcements for the Scots were coming. The rout of the English was complete. The battle secured the independence of Scotland. At present the village has about 2,000 inhabitants with prosperous manufactures of carpets, tartans, and woolen cloth. As the train rolls in, the railroad porter calls out, "Bannockburn!" in the most prosaic manner imaginable. Instead of hearing the clash of arms, the tourist hears the clack of flying shuttles. See Bruce; Stirling; Scotland