Battle of Linlithgow Bridge 1526

[d_Guy]

I was very taken by John Cooper's book, "The Heart and The Rose" and the possibilities of scenario building with his suggested wargame.
The Earl of Lennox ("The Rose") leads 10,000 men to rescue the young Edward V from the clutches of his step-father, the Earl of Angus (The Heart). Lennox is met by his uncle, the Earl of Arran, with 2000 men that deny his crossing of the River Avon (one of seven rivers so named in Britain) near the village of Linlithgow Bridge, 4 Sept, 1526.

Lennox prepares to cross the Manuel Nunnery ford and is already under fire from one of Arran's well place guns:


The opening moves are here:
https://inredcoatragsattired.com/2019/06/18/battle-of-linlithgow-bridgeopening-moves/
Being unable to sit but for short periods, this will take days (most likely) to play out.

[Westmarcher]

Nice looking game there, Bill, and developing into an interesting battle.   

Although, I must confess, I was slightly confused at first with the references to 'Essex' until I realised you'd probably been overdosing on the painkillers when you posted your report ....  

[d_Guy]

Good heavens!!   Lennox! Reading about Essex in Ireland and writing about Lennox - more old age than pain killers but they were likely in the mix.
Thanks! And have credited you on the blog post after I correct ten or so occurances.

[paulr]

 

[Techno]

Lovely stuff, Bill ! 

Cheers - Phil

[Leman]

Good game, good game. The brits will recognise that as a Brucie, Bill.

[mmcv]

Great report, looking forward to more to come!

[Norm]

Thanks Bill, interesting situation.

[Westmarcher]

Good heavens!!   Lennox! Reading about Essex in Ireland and writing about Lennox - more old age than pain killers but they were likely in the mix.
Thanks! And have credited you on the blog post after I correct ten or so occurances.

No worries, Bill. I'm very prone to this kind of thing, myself, these days (and crediting me wasn't necessary btw, but which, on reflection, is no surprise coming from yourself because you are such a gentleman). I thought it might also have been all the recent talk about Essex on the "Argh I HATE that manufacturers bases..." topic. Although I must say, I am kind of disappointed that you've updated it now because I was so looking forward to the next part of the report when Essex pulls off his mask ,"Mission Impossible" style, and everyone says, "Ah! It was Lennox all along!"   

Thanks for highlighting such an interesting battle that usually only merits a sentence, if at all, in the few books I have of that era of Scottish history. Looking forward to the conclusion.

[Steve J]

Very nice Bill .

[d_Guy]

Thanks all! Apologies for posting a slow motion game.
@Leman - I couldn't find it in my handy British slang dictionary (a necessity for understanding this forum http://www.peevish.co.uk/slang/index.htm ) so provisional thanks! 

@Westie - it is a little known battle, doesn't even have a header slug in Cassell's Battlefields of Britain and Ireland. Even Melrose gets at least that. Linlithgow Bridge had as many as fourteen thousand men engaged with some substantial fighting and for this period, some very interesting tactical problems.

I am less a gentleman than an habitue' of giving credit. Most here know that I am (among other things) retired clergy. We are trained to always credit sources in sermons - I will confess it is a rule most often honored in the breach. 

[fsn]

I was in Linlithgow last weekend.

They seemed largely unaware of it.

[d_Guy]

I know you were with your daughter but did you have any opportunity to go down along the River?

Britain has too much history! Here we sign everything along with the obligatory gift shop with postcards, tee-shirts and rubber tomahawks.

[fsn]

We did meander along the loch, and poked our noses into the palace.

[Leman]

Bill, there was a light entertainer called Bruce Forsyth who compered a gameshow back in the 70s called The Generation Game. It involved fathers and daughters, mothers and sons etc competing against each other in some very silly activities, after which Brucie would often say Good game, good game. This would then be followed up by the scores on the doors - well, there were only three TV channels here in those days. Anyway, a very unusual battle to cover from one of my favourite wargaming periods - very refreshing and informative.

[d_Guy]

Thanks Andy (and for the explanation of slang as well - we also had only three tv channels in the late 1950s). Really enjoying this period!
After a survey of the Italian Wars I am really beginning to see the attraction. I have discovered that I need a substantial amount of horse to do Pinkie Cleugh including Spanish mounted arquebusiers (which thanks to Dave I already have).

Have also discovered that in the reign of Elizabeth, Landsknechts were imported on at least one occasion to help put down a popular rebellion. If I could find some use of genitors (my new favorite horse) particularly versus border horse, everything would be Jake.

[Leman]

Being Spanish they were unlikely to help out Elizabeth. Bought some at Phalanx and they are absolutely ideal for the whole of the C16th.

[d_Guy]

There are some thin (or down right fictional) possibilities (but a lot of work to get genitors on the board!). Maybe during Mary's ruthless suppression of the Protestant rebellion, or Phillip's advisors fail to dissuade him from invading England in the early 1570s, or maybe stick some in with the Spanish army at Kinsale.

In 1988 we saw the 500th anniversary exhibition of the Armada at Greenwich. Have always thought it would be great to do a game where the Spanish actually landed ground forces (don't know if genitors would be included). I am sure this has been done somewhere - anyone have any references?

Thanks for the comments on the small pike groups!

[mmcv]

Have always thought it would be great to do a game where the Spanish actually landed ground forces

I was actually thinking the same a little while back. I thought it might make quite an interesting campaign style game with scenarios around reinforcements from the mainland (e.g. more Spanish, Dutch, mercenaries, etc) and the Celtic fringe declaring for different sides with some sort of randomness. I have notes in one of my many potential project documents around this but have never taken it further than that (and likely won't for a long time) but would be interesting to see someone else doing it.

Lots of potentially fun battles with the hodgepodge British forces and mercenaries against the professional Spanish tercios.

[d_Guy]

Finally able to continue my slowmo Battle of Linlithgow Bridge.
In a brilliantly executed stroke (requiring a near impossible four sequential activations), the Earl of Glencairn (Lennox's van commander), used his special operations forces light pikes and halberdiers to clear the Avon bridge and his heavy pikes are now pouring across the river:

As impressive as the forced bridge crossing is, farther upstream Lennox continues to fail activation after activation at the Manuel Nunnery ford. He has gotten his scouting horse across but they are receiving effective fire from Arran's well-placed gun:

At the end of turn 7, the Earl of Angus has arrived to aid Arran and has caught Glencairn's heavy pikes not yet completely formed up!
But no matter, Glencairn's lads are seriously kicking Douglas backsides:


The battle is far from decided but with the Earl of Cassilis's reserve preparing to cross the bridge, Lennox has a distinct chance, particularly if he can finally manage to bring pressure against Arran's left. The game through turn seven (with more pics) is described in more detail here:
https://inredcoatragsattired.com/2019/07/07/linlithgow-bridge-the-middle-game/