Editing Battle of Dunbar (1296) (section)

==Aftermath==
The battle of Dunbar effectively ended the war of 1296 with an English victory. The remainder of the campaign was little more than a grand mopping-up operation.  [[James Stewart, 5th High Steward of Scotland|James]], the hereditary [[High Steward of Scotland]], surrendered the important fortress at [[Roxburgh Castle|Roxburgh]] without attempting a defence, and others were quick to follow his example.  Only [[Edinburgh Castle]] held out for a week against Edward's siege engines. A Scottish garrison sent out to help King John, who had fled north to [[Forfar]], were told to provide for their own safety. Edward himself, true to his word, advanced into central and northern Scotland in pursuit of King John. [[Stirling Castle]], which guarded the vital passage across the [[River Forth]] was deserted save for a janitor who stayed behind to hand the keys to the English.  John reached [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]] on 21 June, where he received messages from Edward asking for peace.

John Balliol surrendered and submitted himself to a protracted abasement. At [[Old Kincardine Castle, Auchterarder|Kincardine Castle]] on 2 July he confessed to rebellion and prayed for forgiveness. Five days later in the kirkyard of [[Stracathro]] he abandoned the treaty with the French. The final humiliation came at [[Montrose, Angus|Montrose]] on 8 July. Dressed for the occasion John was ceremoniously stripped of the vestments of royalty. [[Antony Bek (bishop of Durham)|Antony Bek]], the [[Bishop of Durham]], ripped the red and gold [[arms of Scotland]] from his surcoat, thus bequeathing to history the nickname ''Toom Tabard'' (empty coat) by which John has been known to generations of Scottish schoolchildren. He and his son [[Edward Balliol|Edward]] were sent south into captivity. Soon after, the English king followed, carrying in his train the [[Stone of Scone]] and other relics of Scottish nationhood.