After the battle

The aftermath of Falkirk. After the rout of the Scottish army, Sir William Wallace escaped the field and probably took refuge in the Torwood, north-west of Falkirk. He presumably got away on the back of a horse, just like John Comyn: ever since his murder in 1306, the Red Comyn has suffered from a bad press in Scotland, and even today stands accused of betraying Wallace on the battlefield. In reality there was little he and his small band of men-at-arms could do against four massive batailles of English cavalry, and there was no sense in hanging around to be slaughtered.

The English were jubilant, their military prestige restored after the humiliation of Stirling Bridge. A popular rhyme was composed in northern England to celebrate Edward’s victory, recorded in the Chronicle of Lanercost:

Berwick, Dunbar and Falkirk too
Show all that traitor Scots can do.
England exult! Your Prince is peerless.
Where he leads us, follow fearless.

Edward himself was probably under no illusions. The king had broken Wallace’s reputation and his army, but that didn’t restore his previous hegemony over Scotland. His infantry, who were deserting in droves and suffered heavy casualties at Falkirk, were now surplus to requirements. Edward packed off the brawling, starving rabble to Carlisle and remained in Scotland with his cavalry, to try and re-establish control of Galloway and victual his castles.