The Battle of Pinkie, 1547: The Last Battle Between the Independent Kingdoms of Scotland and England

“If you want a near perfect example of how to examine a battle from a wargamer's viewpoint, this book is it.” -Historical Miniatures Gaming Society

The Battle of Pinkie, fought between the English and the Scots in 1547, was the last great clash between the two as independent nations. It is a well-documented battle with several eyewitness accounts and contemporary illustrations. There is also archaeological evidence of military activities. The manoeuvres of the two armies can be placed in the landscape near Edinburgh, despite considerable developments since the 16th century. Nevertheless, the battle and its significance has not been well understood.

From a military point of view there is much of interest. The commanders were experienced and had already had battlefield successes. There was an awareness on both sides of contemporary best practice and use of up-to-date weapons and equipment. The Scots and the English armies, however, were markedly different in their composition and in the strategy and tactics they employed. There is the added ingredient that the fire from English ships, positioned just off the coast, helped decide the course of events.

Using contemporary records and archaeological evidence, David Caldwell, Victoria Oleksy, and Bess Rhodes reconsider the events of September 1547. They explore the location of the fighting, the varied forces involved, the aims of the commanders, and the close-run nature of the battle. Pinkie resulted in a resounding victory for the English, but that was by no means an inevitable outcome. After Pinkie it briefly seemed as if the future of Britain had been redefined. The reality proved rather different, and the battle has largely slipped from popular consciousness. This book provides a reminder of the uncertainty and high stakes both Scots and English faced in the autumn of 1547.

Table of Contents

List of Figures and Tables
Acknowledgements
Copyright and Abbreviations

1 Introduction
Slaughter near Musselburgh
Modern understandings of Pinkie
Purpose of this book

2 Causes of conflict in 1547
Warning of war
Dynastic ambitions
Religious conflict
Attack on Langholm
Objectives in September 1547

3 The English forces
The commanders
Cavalry
Infantry
Artillery
Naval forces
Logistics and supply

4 Scotland’s military capability
The host
Wappenshaws
The mobilisation
The Scottish commanders
The structure of the army
Scottish battlefield successes

5 Early sources for the battle – a review
Official documentation
Diplomatic reports
English descriptions of the battle
Scottish descriptions of the battle

6 Pinkie Battlefield – Topography and Archaeology
What’s in a name?
Topographical overview
Lordships and lands
Settlements
Communications
Land use
On manoeuvres, September 1547
The Archaeology of the Battle of Pinkie

7 A New interpretation of the battle
The English advance into Scotland
Scottish preparations
Thursday 8 and Friday 9 September
Saturday 10 September

8 Pinkie First and Last
After Pinkie – the English policy
After Pinkie – the Scottish response
Pinkie and military change in Early Modern Britain
Pinkie – future directions

Bibliography
Index