A Scottish relief force advancing to raise the siege of Dunbar Castle encountered the English army under the Earl of Surrey. The Scottish cavalry, seeing an English force apparently disordered as it crossed a ravine, charged prematurely — and was destroyed when the English troops reformed and counter-attacked. The rout was total. Most of the Scottish nobility was captured. John Balliol surrendered and was stripped of his kingship — the 'Toom Tabard' (empty coat) episode — and Scotland seemed conquered. The battle lasted only a few minutes.
Scottish cavalry routed; most of Scottish nobility captured
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