Person:Thomas Randolph (5)

the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia

Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray (c. 1285 20 July 1332) was a soldier and diplomat in the Wars of Scottish Independence, who later served as regent of Scotland. He was a nephew of Robert the Bruce, who created him as the first earl of Moray. He was known for successfully capturing Edinburgh Castle from the English, and he was one of the signatories of the Declaration of Arbroath.

Thomas Randolph and the War For Scottish Independence

• Archaeological and Historical Collections, Vol. 1, Page 36

Charter by Robert the Bruce King of Scots, to Thomas called Sympil, for his homage and service, of the half of the land which Nicholas de Dispensa, the King’s enemy and rebel, had by royal infeftment, heritably, in the town and tenement of Langnidry, and which the said Nicholas forfeited to his Majesty. To hold to the said Thomas and his heirs, of the Crown, in fee and heritage, with all pertinents, rights and privileges thereto belonging; rendering therefore the half service of one archer in the King’s army. [Circa, 1320.]

Nicholas de Dispensa (nee Nicholas le Dispenser, see Despenser War). A kinsman of Hugh Despenser, 1st Lord Despenser.

• Archer in the King's Army (Battle Service)

23 June 1314 - A skirmish line of Ettrick Archers now lined the New Park, and within it the Sheltron had moved a few yards from the road to better ground. Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray (for Scotland) and some of his men moved forward with the short bow Ettrick Archers, the main body staying by St. Ninians. Edward Bruce (for Scotland) advanced eastward from the road, his brother Robert the Bruce (for Scotland) was facing south across the pot holes and the burn. The people of the nearby villages and much of Scotland had come to see the battle, and Bruce moved them (they also became known as camp followers), to the woods behind Coxet Hill in the heart of the New Park, safely behind the Steward's Sheltron and the Gillies (Highlanders) secret reserve on Coxet Hill, and the main Highland reserve on Gillies Hill. Douglas and Robert II Keith, Marischal of Scotland returned from a reconnoiter of the advancing English army around noon. They had gone south through the Torwood, Douglas leading the way quietly, stealthily through the forest. What they saw startled them. A great column of horse and foot, two miles long and approaching on either side of the old Falkirk road.

Edward II of England has come to battle.

• 24 June 1314 - Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray, commanded the vanguard at Battle of Bannockburn, which was stationed about a mile to the south of Stirling, near the church of St. Ninian, while the King Robert the Bruce commanded the rearguard at the entrance to the New Park.

One of Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray's vanguard tactics that day was to employ a Circular Sheltron. Ettrick Archers in-between them.

On the morrow-an evil, miserable and calamitous day for the English-when both sides had made themselves ready for battle, the English archers were thrown forward before the line, and the Scottish archers engaged them, a few being killed and wounded on either side; but the King of England’s archers quickly put the others to flight.

1. ↑ The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ancestral File (TM) July 1996 (c), data as of 2 January 1996 (2).
2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 'Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray, in Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.
3. ↑ Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray, in Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.