accounts of sixteenth-century chroniclers such as Adam Abell, Robert Lindsay of Pitscottie, John Lesley, and George Buchanan, claim that James III was assassinated at Milltown, near Bannockburn, soon after the battle. There is no contemporary evidence to support this account, nor the allegation that he fled the battle, nor the tale that his assassin impersonated a priest in order to approach James. Pitscottie provided a story that, on the eve of the battle, his ancestor David Lord Lindsay of the Byres presented James III with a "great grey horse" that would carry him faster than any other horse into or away from the battle. Unfortunately, the horse threw the King during the battle, and James III was either killed in the fall, or was finished off by enemy soldiers. The Duke of Rothesay ascended to the throne, and reigned as King James IV for 25 years. James IV bore intense guilt for the indirect role which he had played in the death of his father. He decided to do penance for his sin, constantly wearing an iron belt around his waist, next to the skin, to which he added weight every year throughout his life. The battlefield is currently under research to be inventoried and protected by Historic Scotland, under the Scottish Historical Environment Policy of 2009. Participants Some of the participants in the Battle of Sauchieburn included: Royalists: Alexander Cunningham, 1st Earl of Glencairn, slain in the battle; Malise Graham, 1st Earl of Menteith; David Lindsay, 1st Duke of Montrose; Lord Erskine; Lord Graham; Lord Maxwell; Sir William Ruthven, 1st Laird of Ruthven; David Lindsay, 2nd Lord Lindsay who, in a later chronicle account, gave James III the horse that threw him; Sir Thomas Sempill of Eliotston, Sheriff of Renfrew, killed in battle; William Douglas of Cavers and his followers. Roger Grierson I of Lag, Fatally wounded The troops were largely from Scotland's northern counties, plus some burgh levies. Rebels: Alexander Home, 2nd Lord Home; Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Angus; Patrick Hepburn, 1st Earl of Bothwell; Lord Gray; Lord (Hugh) Mongomerie, 1st Earl of Elington; The troops were largely from East Lothian, the Merse, Galloway, and the border counties. References External links The History of Stirlingshire, Chapter XI. Battle of Sauchieburn (1488) Stirling Council's Archaeologist Dr Murray Cook gives a brief lecture on the battle 1488 in Europe Battles involving Scotland 15th century in Scotland Conflicts in 1488