Battle of Pinkie Cleugh

In June 1548 a French army took the town of Haddington [Map] from the English.

On 7th July 1548 a Scottish Parliament held at a nunnery near the town of Haddington [Map] agreed to marry Mary Queen of Scots (age 5) to the Dauphin of France (age 4).

On 9th September 1547 Edward Seymour 1st Duke of Somerset (age 47) camped at Inveresk [Map] the night before the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh.

Holinshed's Chronicle [1525-1582]. [10th September 1547]. The Scots either for feare of the Englishmens departing, or hope of their spoiling, were out of their campe comming toward them, passed the riuer, gathered in araie, and well néere at this church [St Michal's Church, Inveresk [Map]], yer the Englishmen were halfe waie to it, so quite disappointing the Englishmens purpose. Which at the first séemed verie strange in their eies, as altogither beside their expectation, as they that thought they would never haue forsaken their strength, to méet them in the field. But after it was knowne that they did not onelie thus purpose to doo, but also to haue assailed them in their campe, as they laie if they had not béene stirring the timelier, and hauing caused all their tents to be let flat downe to the ground, yer they came out, bicause none should lie lurking behind them in their campe, and as well the nobles as other, leauing their horsses behind them (except such as were appointed to serue on horssebacke) marched on with their souldiors on foot.

Tudor Tracts Chapter 4. Battle of Pinkie Cleugh.

Saturday the 10th of September [1547]¹. This day morning somewhat before eight o'clock, our camp dislodged and our host march straight towards the church of Underesk [Map], as well for intent to have camped nigh the same, as for placing our ordnance, and other considerations afore remembered.

The Scots, I know not whether more for fear of our departing or hope of our spoiling, were out of their camp" coming towards us, passed the river, gathered in array, and well nigh at this Church ere we were half way to it.

They had quite disappointed our purpose" and this, at the first, was so strange in our eyes, that we could not devise what to make of their meaning" and so much the stranger, as it was quite beside our expectation or doubt, that they would ever forsake their strength [strong position], to meet us in field. But we, after, understood that they did not only thus purpose to do" but also to have assailed us in our camp, as we lay, if he had not been stirring the timelier.

And to the intent, at this time, that as well none of their soldiers should lurk behind them in their camps, as also that none of their captains should be able to flee from their enterprise" they had first caused all their tents to be let flat down to the ground ere they came out" and they that had horses (as well nobles as others, a few expected), that were not horsemen, appointed to leave their horses behind them, and march on with their soldiers afoot.

Note 1. This day was long after known in Scotland as "Black Saturday"" and the battle then fought, was the last conflict between the Scotch and the English, as separate nations. E. A.

Wriothesley's Chronicle [1508-1562]. This yeare also the Lord Protectors Grace (age 47) went into Scotlande with an armie riall in the beginning of September, and the 20th daie of September [Note. Mistake for 10th September 1547] he had battell with the Scottes within fower miles of Edenboroughe, where, by the power of God, he had the victorie, and there was slaine of the Scottes fiftene thousande, and tow thousand taken prisoners. The Erle of Huntley (age 33), Chauncelor of the Scottes, was one, the Earl of Cassells slaine [Note. Gilbert Kennedy 3rd Earl Cassilis (age 32) was captured.], and the Lord Fleeming (age 53). And of Englishemen their were not slaine above an hundred persons in all. The Scottes were numbred above fortie thousande, and the Englishmen not above sixteene thousande; and also they tooke there shipps and all their ordinance, with all the spoile of the fielde, and certeyne castells were yelded to him.

Holinshed's Chronicle [1525-1582]. [11th September 1547]. The next daie being sundaie the eleuenth of September, somewhat before noone, the armie remooued, & marching along the Forth side toward Lieth about three of the clocke in the after noone pitched their field, a pricke shot on this side that towne on the southeast halfe, somewhat shadowed from Edenburgh by a hill, but yet the most part of it laie within the full sight and shot of the castell there, and in distance somewhat aboue a quarter of a mile. The lord marshall, and the most part of the horssemen wer [...] bestowed and lodged in the towne of Lieth. The dukes grace, the lord lieutenant, and the rest of the armie in the campe. On tuesdaie the thirteenth of September, the smaller vessels of the English flée [...] burned Kinkorne, and a towne or two standing on the north shore of the Forth against Lieth.

In the after noone the dukes grace rowed vp the Forth a six or seuen miles westward, as it runneth into the land, and tooke in his waie an Iland there called saint Cooms ins, which lieth foure miles beyond Lieth, and a good waie neerer the north shore than the south, yet not within a mile of the néerest. It is but halfe a mile about, and had in it an abbeie, but the moonks were gone: fresh water inough, and store of conies, and is so naturallie strong, that but by one waie it can be entred; the plot whereof the lord protector considering, did quicklie cast to haue it kept, whereby all traffike of merchandize, all commodities else comming by the Forth into their land, and vtterlie the whole vse of the Forth it selfe, with all the hauens upon it, should quite be taken from them.

Wriothesley's Chronicle [1508-1562]. The 20th daie, being Sainct Matthewes Eaven, was a solemne sermon made in Poules [Map] by the Bishopp of Lincolne, with procession, Ponies. kneeling with their copes in the quire, and after that Te Deum song with the organns playinge to give laude to God for the said victorie, my lord major, with his brethren the aldermen, being present, with all the comens in their lyveries, and that night great fiars were made in everie streete with banqueting for joy of the said victorie.

Wriothesley's Chronicle [1508-1562]. And the morrow, being Sainct Matthewes daie [21st September], all the parishe churches within the citie and the suburbes of the same, kept a solempne procession on their knees in English, with Te Deum after for the said victorie.