Battle of Ancrum Moor
Hereabouts lies the site of the Battle of Ancrum Moor. Fought on 27th February 1545, it was a decisive Scottish victory against the English during the eight-year war called the ‘Rough Wooing’ - a term popularized by Sir Walter Scott.
King Henry VIII
On the birth of Mary Queen of Scots in 1542, King Henry VIII of England agreed to betroth his only son (later Edward VI) from his third wife Jane Seymour to the infant Mary, thereby neutralising his turbulent northern neighbours, adding to his kingdom. This would also undermine Scotland’s ‘Auld Alliance’ with France. Many Scottish Protestant Lords agreed to this, but those adhering to Roman Catholicism did not and, under persuasion from Mary of Guise (Mary’s French mother) and the infamous Cardinal Beaton (Archbishop of St Andrews), the Scots reneged on the agreement.
Henry was enraged and sent an army to devastate southern Scotland in 1544. They looted and burned Edinburgh. The following year another army under Sir Ralph Evers continued to pillage the Borders, including a third and final devastation of Melrose Abbey. They destroyed the family tombs of Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus These attacks caused an unlikely alliance between James Hamilton, Earl of Arran, Regent of Scotland, Archibald Douglas Earl of Angus and Mary of Guise.
Infant Queen Mary
Melrose Abbey
James Hamilton Earl of Arran
Archibald Douglas Earl of Angus
Mary of Guise
A small army of 5,000 men was quickly raised to follow the English army, made up of mainly German and Spanish mercenaries, plus 700 Scots. These included Armstrongs and Turnbulls who wore the red cross above their armour, as they made their way southward.
While the main body of Scots were at Lilliards Edge, a few were at the vantage point of Peniel Heugh (280 years before the Waterloo Monument was built). As this small force made what looked like a retreat, they were randomly pursued by the English, who then encountered the main and more organized, Scottish force. Traditional accounts state that the Scots had the advantage of surprise and the setting sun behind them. The smoke from the guns of both sides blew into English faces. The English scattered in all directions. On seeing the confusion in the English ranks the Scottish Borderers took off their red crosses and joined their countrymen. This battle is one of the few examples where archery and firearms were deployed together.
Around 600 English were slain and 1,000 captured (both English Captains Evars and Latoun killed) vs. very few Scottish losses. The Scots had won the battle, reducing hostilities for a short period, but they lost the war with a defeat at Pinkie Musselburgh in 1547. Henry died that year and as for Mary she was taken to France and betrothed to the Dauphin.
