"Scots Militia Pentland/Covenanter Risings" Topic

So currently researching/painting for Battle of Rullion Green, part of the Covenanter Pentland Risings of 1666. Now most of the units uniform is accounted for. However as it is an action fought by the Scots army of the time, the two militia units have very little information on what kit they actually wore, as it is not listed on the English Army list. Contemporary prints show that they were wearing brimmed hats, rather than Scots Bonnets and the Ballad of Bothwell Brig has them wearing Blue Coats lined with grey. That's all good, but would still be interested in what colour breeches/stockings were worn, or indeed any further uniform differentiation. Any have any further knowledge regarding these units?

Not an answer I'm afraid but I never heard of this before so would be very interested myself.

So having perused through the Army lists/Childs "The Army of Charles II" and Charles Dalton's "The Scots Army 1661-81" I've found no information regarding the blue uniforms reference. Haven't been able to get hold of Stuart Reid's Partizan Press book in any Scots libraries, so not sure whether that has any further information in or not. However talking to Stephen Ede-Borrett, who is very well versed regarding the period, he feels a standardisation of bonnets would not be widespread, even in the Civil War. As for the coats, the price of blue cloth, compared to red or undyed grey cloth, supports the latters predominance among Scots Militia during the Covenanting period. Any further insight from anyone with further research/the Reid book would be much appreciated.

At PDF link you can get a pdf of Dalton's "The Scots Army 1661-1688" (1909). This doesn't really cover the militia; but it does (p.34) have a quotation from the Earl of Lauderdale in 1669 to "the Militia regiment of this shire … all, both musket and pikemen, were in blew coats lined with white, which made a good shew".

Also on the League of Augsburg forums for Bothwell Brig at link – "The Royalist Scots Militia are mentioned as having blue coats with white facings although it would be acceptable to have some in civilian clothing. There is mention of them having broad brimmed hats but it would also be acceptable to have some with bonnets." No source mentioned, so it could perhaps just be drawing on the Lauderdale description.

At link is what appears to be the record of issuing clothing to a militiaman in 1679 "a hat and new blew coat, lined with wyt, according to the act of His Majestee's privie Councill" – 1679 is later than the date you're looking at, obviously, but might still be covered by the same regulations. And earlier, link – "Receipt, 1672, to the town of Inverurie, by Maister John Forbes, sheriff depute, for 50 merks fur transporting Alx. Forfar to Bruntyland and cloathing him with a hat and new blew coat, lined with wyt, according to the act of His Majesty's Privie Counsell".

Also perhaps link from 1678 "5 Oct. 1678.— I allowed to Janet Reid, at the compleiting of her rent, as the half of her burden for the blew coat souldiers when they were heir, £9.00 GBP 11s. 8d."

Does anyone knows if the covenanters would be dressed like they were during the ECW?

Thanks GurKhan, hadn't seen those entries before, v. interesting, at least if anything some supporting evidence for the Bothwell version. Don Sebastian, its unlikely, the last time the Covenant Army takes to the field is 1651 at Worcester. Certainly by 1666 in Lowlands Scotland, the trend for Dutch style fashion e.g.big cuffs/wide skirts to coats is far more prominent, interspersed with a few ECW cut to figure coats for poorer members of society. However as production of such figures, besides Front Rank and Reiver Castings, are at a premium, and as even the likes of WSS magazine used ECW collections for Monmouth rebels, I feel it would be alright to intersperse your existing collections with some select miniatures from the above companies, which is what I'm doing. Hope that help and once again thanks for the input :)

I think that the entries in my previous post may answer another part of your original question, as well. If militiamen were issued with coat and hat only, then presumably breeches, stockings etc would have been the men's own, so not uniform.

Thank you, Pikeman!