east-lothian-1924/05-035

Transcription

HISTORICAL MONUMENTS (SCOTLAND) COMMISSION.

mentioned. The former was kept open by a strong fort at Lauder, while for the
latter a fort was raised at Dunglass. But should the surrounding country come
into hostile hands, Haddington might be isolated and victualling and relief become
a matter for an army. ¹
On the arrival of the French and their mercenaries, about the middle of
June, under the command of André Montalembert, Sieur d'Essé, an attack was
directed upon the town, where Sir James Wilforth or Wilford had been
appointed commander. On both sides there was a motley array of troops.
In Haddington were English, Spaniards, Germans (Allmaynes) and Italians.
On the Scottish side were French, German and Swiss " landsknechts," Italians
and Spaniards. The bulk of both forces, indeed, was composed of these
mercenary troops, representing military specialisation. The first operations of the
Franco-Scottish force were directed towards breaching the fortifications for assault,
and batteries were assembled round the town, the French and Italians operating
from Clerkington and Lethington, the Germans entrenching along the water side
beyond the bridge, the Scots, " in no great strength," at the nunnery and the
Highland contingent on the hill to the north. On the east guns were brought up
from Dunbar. By July 2 the town was " enclosed round about." By bombardment
and sapping the French mastered the ' bulwark ' or bastion at the south-west
corner, silenced its guns and were expected to assault but did not. Within a week
or so an English column, having tricked d'Essé out of the road from Linton by
the treachery of a Scot, managed to throw 200 men with powder and shot into the
town. ² The Haddington garrison went on with their earthen fortifications, and by
the 22nd it could be said the town was five times stronger than when the French
came. Projects of direct attack were now set aside in favour of a blockade against
relief and supplies. ³ The Lothian lairds, who had hitherto maintained the victualling
of the place, were now shifting side and were straightly commanded under the
penalties of treason to prevent English communication with Haddington through
their respective lands. ⁴ By August 23 the Earl of Shrewsbury had brought a re-
lieving army of over 12,000 foot besides horse as far as Spittal Hill, near Longniddry,
but finally had to retreat for want of supplies. However Haddington was
now claimed to be " out of peril." Dunbar was burnt again and the fort
at Dunglass (No. 125) begun. After Shrewsbury's relief the formal siege was
abandoned, though a surprise night attack or " camisado " from Edinburgh in
the dawn of October 9 very nearly brought the French into the place. ⁵
In the same month a new enemy appeared within the gates, the garrison being
sorely weakened and reduced by sickness, mostly plague, so that by November 1,
not a thousand men were fit to man the walls ; while there was lack of
everything, and the few horsemen were worn out under the labour of convoying
from beyond Dunbar two or three carts of supplies daily, in which they were
liable to attack by flying columns of Scots. Early in 1549 the French were moving
towards Haddington in considerable numbers and were fortifying the line of the
Esk. ⁶ In June, fresh troops arrived from France with a new commander, De

1 Beaugué's Historie de la guerre d'Ecosse p. 23.
2 Beaugué p. 32 ; Buchanan's History xv. § lix.
3 Beaugué p. 53.
4 Ham. Papers ii. p. 617.
5 Beaugué xxv-vi ; Teulet Papiers d'Etat i. p. 200.
6 Ham Papers ii. Nos. 548, 549.

-- xxx

  Transcribers who have contributed to this page.

CorrieBuidhe- Moderator, Douglas Montgomery

  Location information for this page.