Rough Wooing

Seeking to unite the crowns of England and Scotland, King Henry XVIII of England has offered Prince Edward’s hand in marriage to the Scottish Princess Mary. Many in the Scottish court oppose this so Henry has declared war to help them see sense. He sends an army to ravage the country and bring the Scots to heel. Sir Ralph Eure has been tasked by King Henry to lay waste to the borderlands.

Sir Ralph leads the English army in column along a causeway surrounded by boggy ground. He is supported by Sir Brian Layton’s borderers, continental mercenaries and some Scottish highlanders — the latter being known as disorderly men given to unpremeditated casual violence.

Local farmer Big Tam decides not to wait to see if the highlanders' reputation is simply English propaganda. He heads for the hills, taking his cattle with him. This proves to be a wise move.

Encountering a hamlet, Sir Ralph’s highlanders immediately begin to loot, pillage and burn. This holds up the march of the English army but they do not concern themselves too much. The pillaging is well within the King’s orders.

While the highlanders ravage the hamlet the English begin to spread out as a Scottish army has been sighted. Meanwhile the English border reivers take the opportunity to round up a flock of sheep before returning to the battle line.

The Scots, commanded by the Earls of Angus and Arran seem a relatively small force but they are on firm ground and their pikes look formidable.

As the English attempt to form a battle line they are disordered by the boggy ground on either side of the road.

Struggling through the bog, the English take heavy casualties from the Scottish artillery.

Then Sir Walter Scott leads a large force of Scottish border reivers against their outnumbered English counterparts. Taking fire from the English mercenary arquebusiers, Sir Walter is severely wounded and for a moment it seems as if he will be captured. The English reivers take heart. Led in person by Sir Ralf Eure they change valiantly forward. English victory is nigh. What could possibly go wrong?

St Andrew, however, is looking over the Scots while St George seems to be taking a leave of absence. When the dice are rolled the Scots send the English packing.

Sir Ralph goes to rally his border foot who have suffered heavy casualties from the Scottish guns. Then Sir Walter’s reivers turn from their pursuit to hit the English foot in the rear. The English borderers lay down their weapons to surrender and Sir Ralph is killed in the ensuing confusion.

The Scots have won a resounding victory. Although the main body of English never came into contact, they now have no option other than to retire from the field.

The game, based on Ancrum Moor (1545) was played using my Tree of Battles rules. Although designed for 1300-1500 the rules worked well for this mid 16th C game with a few minor amendments to take into account improved firearms.