Hastings, assembled their forces in numbers sufficient to show that,
though the conqueror of Crecy, with his victorious army, was absent
in France, there were Englishmen enough left at home to protect the
frontiers of his kingdom from violation. The Archbishops of Canterbury
and York, the prelates of Durham, Carlisle, and Lincoln, sent their
retainers, and attended the rendezvous in person, to add religious
enthusiasm to the patriotic zeal of the barons. Ten thousand soldiers,
who had been sent over to Calais to reinforce Edward III.'s army, were
countermanded in this exigency, and added to the northern army.[7]"

The battle, which was fought October 17, 1346, lasted only three hours,
but was uncommonly destructive. The English archers, who were in front,
were at first thrown into confusion, and driven back; but being
reinforced by a body of horse, repulsed their opponents, and the
engagement soon became general. The Scottish army was entirely defeated,
and the king himself made prisoner; though previous to the fight he is
said to have regarded the English with contempt, and as a raw and
undisciplined host, by no means competent to resist the power of his
more hardy veterans.

"Amid repeated charges, and the most dispiriting slaughter by the
continuous discharge of the English arrows, David showed that he had the
courage, though not the talents, of his father (Robert Bruce). He was
twice severely wounded with arrows, but continued to encourage to the
last the few of his peers and officers who were still fighting around
him."[8] He scorned to ask quarter, and was taken alive with difficulty.
Rymer says, "The Scotch king, though he had two spears hanging in his
body, his leg desperately wounded, and being disarmed, his sword having
been beaten out of his hand, disdained captivity, and provoked the
English by opprobrious language to kill him. When John Copeland, who was