After disbanding parliament and unsuccessfully try to force a unified book of common prayer upon Scotland, King Charles I was left in a very weak position. He had to recall Parliament (the Long Parliament) at the end of 1640 and it was clear to MPs that they had leverage over the king. They used this…
The bow and crossbow remained a prevalent feature right through the battles of the Middle Ages. These weapons were highly effective but required a great deal of skill and practice to wield. The introduction of Black Powder weaponry in the early 16th century soon put a stop to this – with troops now being able…
The term “Landsknechts” appeared in the German language around 1470, meaning “servant of the land”, as it was formed by Maximilian I, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, around the same time. Maximilian was impressed with the tactics displayed by the Swiss Pikemen in their battle for independence against the Duchy of Burgundy and his…
This week, we head back to the age of Pike & Shotte for a quick look at one of the civil war’s principal architects – enter King Charles I! Charles I was the second son of James VI of Scotland and I of England. Charles’s popular older brother Henry died in 1612 leaving Charles as…
This week, we take a look at one of the great generals of the Thirty Years War – the fanatically religious Father Tilly! Johann Tserclaes was born in February 1559 to a devoutly Catholic Walloon family at Castle Tilly, Spanish Netherlands, in what is now Belgium. In his youth, he was raised with a deep-seated…
Pike & Shotte is a game of massed combat in the 16th and 17th centuries, predominantly featuring formations of pikemen and musket armed infantry. The bow and crossbow remained a prevalent feature right through the battles of the Middle Ages. These weapons were highly effective but required a great deal of skill and practice to…
We’re taking a look at the use of standards and flags to denote a regiment’s colours during the English Civil War in the era of Pike & Shotte. Military flags of the Civil Wars were essentially of three kinds. Ensigns were large square banners made of silk or taffeta, roughly 6′ across. These were…
We’ve new miniatures for Pike & Shotte; a Scots Covenanter General leads from the front upon a mighty steed, and a Standard Bearer suitable for any army. Scots Covenanter General There is a compelling thrill about the sight of a Scottish Government army drawn up for battle. Dour-faced hardmen from the lowlands of Scotland drawn…
King Henry VIII’s army clashes with the Irish on John’s majestic gaming table. Robin, our intrepid reporter brings us a dispatch from the frontlines! This week, we had a game of Pike and Shotte set in Ireland in the 16th Century, an interesting period and one I’m not too familiar with. The Tudor English are…
The Customer Service team finds itself outside of Berwick once again, ready to give the Royalist Scots another drubbing and secure the town for the winter! In our last game of Pike & Shotte, the Parliamentarian forces had been unable to completely dislodge the Royalists from the town of Berwick, thanks to the masterful defensive…
Dan Hewitson
Tom Mecredy