As ever, I am primarily indebted to my wife, Pat, who has borne the brunt of moaning, whingeing and frustration that is part and parcel of me writing a book, and to my editor at The History press, Jo De Vries, whose patience seemingly knows no bounds. I am also indebted to the various societies who have, from time to time, invited me to give presentations about this remarkable battle. I like to think that the many questions that I have been asked at such events have helped to make me more aware of the wide range of factors that forged the environment and influenced the processes that made things turn out the way they did. Finally, I am indebted to three kings: Edward I, Edward II and Robert I, as well as, of course, the people of fourteenth-century England and Scotland, without whom – as they say – none of this would have been possible.