This book details the armies of what is known as 'the Rough Wooing' – the most active period of Scottish warfare, which saw conflicts against both the English Tudor monarchs, and notable internal struggles between the Stuart kings and their unruly lords in the Highlands. Militarily, this covers an important transition period, from medieval to Renaissance armies, the spread of firearms, the involvement of foreign mercenaries, and revolutionary tactics that included early instances of the classic Highland Clan charge. The author analyses these changes and the colourful costumes, armour and heraldry worn, as well as the major battles of the period. Ultimately, this was a time of great success for the Scots. By the fall of Lauder in 1550, the English had lost every fortress north of the border. Scotland's independence was secure and 50 years later King James VI of Scotland became the first Stuart king of England.
From the 13th century until early in the 17th century the Border Marches of England and Scotland were torn by a vicious and almost continuous cycle of raid, reprisal and blood feud. The Border Reiver was a professional cattle thief, a guerilla soldier skilled at raiding, tracking and ambush and a well organised 'gangster'. Including eight superb full page colour plates by Angus McBride, as well as numerous other illustrations, this text by Keith Durham explores the colourful history of these remarkable people.
The Reformation in England further distanced the Irish, as the majority of Irishmen adhered stubbornly to their Catholicism. Eventually, in Elizabeth's reign, both sides resorted to the use of force on a large scale in a series of bloody wars and rebellions that were to culminate in the Earl of Tyrone's 'Great Rebellion' of 1595-1603. This text by Ian Heath looks at the history, organisation and tactics of the armies of the Irish Wars 1485-1603, armies which included such troops as the fearsome Irish Galloglasses, who bore a deadly axe six feet long with a blade one foot broad!