Page "Battle of Boroughbridge" Paragraph 5

Edward now seized the initiative, and moved northwards.

Lancaster convened one final meeting at Doncaster in November, and also entered into an alliance with Robert I of Scotland to strengthen his hand against the king.

In January 1322 Edward crossed the River Severn, and secured the surrender of several of the marcher lords while Lancaster remained passive.

The earl's most trusted retainer, Robert de Holland, then defected to the king, and as the royal army crossed the River Trent after the Battle of Burton Bridge, Lancaster was forced to flee north.

On 16 March Lancaster and his army had reached Boroughbridge by the River Ure.

There they were cut off by the forces of Sir Andrew Harclay, a veteran from the Scottish wars, who had gathered the levies from the counties of Cumberland and Westmorland.