[MR] Wikipedia: Fall of Stirling Castle

[Garth Groff via Atlantia]

Noble Friends,

On this date in 1304, the garrison of Stirling Castle surrendered to 
Edward I, completing what he thought was the conquest of Scotland: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sieges_of_Stirling_Castle . Was he in for 
a surprise!

Recently I wrote a brief story about my real ancestor, John le Nae Peer, 
and the defense of Stirling Castle for the Clan Napier newsletter "Sans 
Tache". I wrote this piece because, as in most proud families, the 
claims of who John was and what he did tend to be quite inflated. There 
are claims that John was second-in-command of the garrison, which is 
untrue. He is usually described as a knight, and though he was likely 
descended from a knight, knighthood was not hereditary in Scotland at 
that time. That he did his duty and survived is not in doubt. The text 
follows below.

Yours Aye,


Lord Mungo Napier, That Proud Scot


The most proudly repeated story from Napier history is John le Nae 
Peer’s part in the 1304 defense of Stirling Castle.

Whether John le Nae Peer of Stirling was the same man who held lands 
near Dumbartonshire in 1280, or the Johan le Naper who signed the 
Ragman’s Roll, is unproven but possible. That a John le Nae Peer, or 
John Napier, was among the survivors at Stirling is verifiable history. 
That he was a knight, as has sometimes been claimed, is also shaky. He 
certainly was a man of property, as we shall see.

By early 1304, Edward I’s English armies had conquered much of Scotland. 
Nearly all the Scottish lords had accepted the King’s peace, except the 
outlawed William Wallace, and a few others who had escaped to France. 
All the important castles had been captured, except Stirling Castle. 
This last stronghold irked Edward greatly, and he decided to make its 
capture an example of his power.

Sir John Oliphant held Stirling Castle for “The Lion”, meaning an 
independent Scotland, with his kinsman Sir William Oliphant of Dupplin 
as second in command. The Stirling garrison numbered some 200 (120 in 
some sources), plus “thirteen maidens and ladies”. There were also a 
number of male “small folk”, likely grooms, cooks, carters and such.

The English already had the castle surrounded by late April when Edward 
personally arrived to begin the siege in earnest. He brought with him 
his queen and her ladies-in-waiting. They occupied a house in Stirling 
town, and an oriel window was installed so the ladies could enjoy the 
show in comfort.

The actual attack began on 22 April. Edward brought at least 13 siege 
weapons that he turned loose on the castle. These included oversized 
crossbows called ballistas, spear-hurling springals, stone-throwing 
catapults, and possibly a siege tower. Most feared of all were the 
trebuchets, engines that flung huge stones against or over the castle 
walls causing terrible damage. The English also employed Greek fire and 
crude gunpowder. During the bombardment many of the garrison and the 
civilians sheltered in caves and cellars beneath the castle. There was 
one weapon the Scots couldn’t avoid—hunger. Eventually their supplies 
ran low, and the garrison was facing starvation.

Edward’s trump card was the “War Wolf”, said to be the largest trebuchet 
ever built. It took months to bring this monster’s parts to Sterling and 
assemble them. The “War Wolf” was finally ready in mid-July. Oliphant 
sent an embassy to Edward, offering to surrender. Edward refused, and 
ordered the Scots back into the castle to “defend themselves as best 
they can.” For the next three days he enjoyed watching his terrible toy 
throw 300-pound stone balls at the fortress, demolishing the gate, and 
by some accounts bringing down part of the curtain wall.

On 20 July (some say 24 July), Edward tired of his sport. The Scots were 
allowed to leave the castle, and were made to beg for mercy on their 
knees. Sir John Oliphant and 26 survivors, all men of property, were 
placed in irons and packed off to prisons in England. Among them was 
John le Nae Peer. He was held at Shrewsbury Castle from 23 August 1304 
until Michaelmas in 1305. John is said to have paid the equivalent of 
three years income from his lands and sworn allegiance to Edward in 
exchange for his freedom.

There may have been as many as 50 additional survivors of the siege. 
Edward was merciful to the non-propertied men, and apparently allowed 
them to go free. A few of their names were recorded at the surrender. He 
took revenge on just one, an Englishman who was hanged for treason.