"Scottish Pike Blocks 1500-1554" Topic

I have been reading about Flodden, and also picked up the Osprey book on the Scots during Tudor time – Flodden to Pinkie, and the Pike block with the heavily armored forming the front ranks, and at least at Flodden with pavises, seems to have been their primary tactic. But what I can't find is anything further about the make up of the Scottish pike blocks.

Were they all pikes or did they have skirmishers of arquebusiers on the flanks as other nations who used pike blocks had?

Thanks,

Terry

From 'Renaissance Warfare' by George Gush:

Scots forces were still essentially feudal, based on local gentry who appeared with their contingents for the Sheriff's inspection at biannual 'Wappinshaws' (perhaps lured by the free drinks sometimes provided!). The weapons listed as acceptable at Wappinshaws of the 16th Century included spears and pikes, longbows, crossbows, two-handed swords, halberds, Leith axes and Jedwart Staves (the latter two were long, broad-bladed two-handed axes, similar to a halberd without its spike). Hand guns were also to be provided, and by 1535 landed men were ordered to equip themselves with an arquebus-a-croc, but at Pinkie the Scots had few firearms – in fact lack of missile power was a major weakness of their 16th Century armies.

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Scots in 'Renaissance Warfare' by George Gush

Druzhina
16th Century Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

When I ran my Flodden game, I ran on the assumption for the Pike units that behind the armoured front ranks, the Scots were armed with pikes but little if any armour. No arquebusier at Flodden.

The rear ranks werecprotected by quilted jacks with many of these reinforced with metal plates which were on the inside with only the metal studs holding them in place showing though the padding. Metal skull caps were provided and shields hewn out of wood were also used.
The only Scottish missile troops at Flodden were the highlanders on the flanks. Interestingly, arquebuses were sent over by the French but did not arrive in time for the campaign. The Scottish pikes we're trained in the Swiss tactics byvFrench captains sent by the King of France.

Thanks guys. I have the Gush book and have read it many, many times, plus several other books on Flodden proper, but none seem to mention more than pikes in the pike formations, where other European countries seemed to have men armed with pole axes, swords or other non-pike weapons to help protect the flanks.

So I am guessing the Scots had only pikes. Armored in the front ranks and unarmored in the rear ranks as was common.

Terry