Just finished Peter Traquair's Freedom's Sword: Scotland's Wars of Independence. A very well written book, exciting and interesting with plenty of battles, behind the scenes scullduggery and back stabbing. The book covers Wallace's rebellion, with Robert the Bruce's campaigns taking up the majority of the 300 pages.

Some interesting tidbits: England's population of about 4 million vrs. Scotland's 1 million did not really mean much in terms of personnel as, "[T]his was primarily a contest between the English barony combined with the population of the north of England...and Scotland." England could raise large armies, but only for a short time. War in Scotland was tied to capturing towns and castles, as large armies could only have limited, achievable objectives. The Scottish armies tried to evade battle with the superior English heavy cavalry and archer combination. Stirling Bridge and Bannockburn were exceptions to the rule of Scottish defeats when open battle was fought.

Especially well written is the section on Edward III's first campaign against Scotland in 1327 at the Weardale. The weather problems, supply situation, Scottish maneuvers, and hit and run raids brought the young king to tears as he had to retire back into England with nothing to show for his first military effort. This was also the last campaign in which a feudal English army appeared.

The continually feuding and jealous nobility of both England and Scotland changed sides with abandon. Wooed and seduced by land inducements, monetary subsidies or marriage alliances, the nobles made it virtually impossible for Scotland to gain any lengthy period of stable freedom from England. Robert the Bruce was no exception to this until he became king.

The 100 Year's War was not caused by France's support and alliance with Scotland against Edward III, but rather the "[F]eudal relationship of the kings of France and the Plantagenet dukes of Aquitaine..." Yet with the 100 Year's War, came the turning point in the Scottish wars as England poured resources and money into the war with France, leaving, for the most part, Scotland alone. An exception to this was Edward Baliol. Convinced of his right to be king over the young David II, he caused untold years of misery and grief as his toadying to Edward III cost him the support of his fellow countrymen and massive destruction and death. Of course, the arrival of the Black Death in England (with mortality rates as high as 50%) deprived Edward of his armed forces, though it hardly hit the nobility.

All in all, this was a great book and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a well written history of this period.