Battle of Myton

Part of First War of Scottish Independence

Date	20 September 1319
Location	Myton-on-Swale, Yorkshire, England 54°05′44″N 1°20′27″W / 54.0956°N 1.3409°W / 54.0956; -1.3409Coordinates: 54°05′44″N 1°20′27″W / 54.0956°N 1.3409°W / 54.0956; -1.3409
Result	Scottish victory

Belligerents

Kingdom of Scotland

Kingdom of England

Commanders and leaders

Sir James Douglas

Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray

William Melton

Strength

10-15000 (probably less than the English)

10-20,000

Casualties and losses

unknown, but comparatively light

1,000-5,000 killed

The Battle of Myton, nicknamed the Chapter of Myton or The White Battle because of the number of clergy involved, was a major engagement in the First Scottish War of Independence, fought in Yorkshire on 20 September 1319.

In April 1318, Berwick-upon-Tweed, the last Scottish-claimed stronghold still in the hands of the English, was captured by Sir James Douglas and Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray, two of King Robert Bruce's most able commanders. Ever since his defeat at Bannockburn in 1314, Edward II had been preoccupied by an ongoing political struggle with his senior barons, headed by Thomas, Earl of Lancaster. Repeated Scottish raids deep into the north of England had effectively been ignored: but the loss of Berwick was something different. Once the most important port in Scotland, it had been in English hands since 1296; during which time its defences had been greatly strengthened. News of its capture had a sobering effect on Edward and his magnates. Aymer de Valence, Earl of Pembroke, managed to arrange a temporary reconciliation between the king and Lancaster. In a spirit of artificial harmony, they came north together with a sizeable army in the summer of 1319. Queen Isabella accompanied the king as far as York, where she took up residence.

Vigorous assaults were made on Berwick by land and sea, but Walter, the High Stewart of Scotland, ably assisted by John Crabb, a military engineer, conducted an effective defence, beating back all attacks. However, he could not be expected to hold out indefinitely. King Robert had no intention of risking a direct attack on the powerful English army which, in the words of John Barbour, 'might well turn to folly'. Instead, Douglas and Moray were ordered on yet another large-scale diversionary raid into Yorkshire, intended to draw off the besiegers. They came with a large force of mounted infantry, known as hobelars.

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