History of the Stewarts | Battles and Historic Events

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The Battle of Solway Moss

24 November 1542

The Battle of Solway Moss took place on Solway Moss near the River Esk on the English side of the Anglo-Scottish border in November 1542 between English and Scottish forces. James V had refused to break from the Catholic Church, as urged by his uncle Henry VIII, who then launched a raid into south-west Scotland. The Scottish army that marched against them was poorly led and organised. Many Scots were either captured or drowned in the river. News of the defeat is believed to have hastened the early death of James V.

When Henry VIII of England broke from the Roman Catholic Church, he asked James V of Scotland, his nephew, to do the same. James ignored his uncle´s request and further insulted him by refusing to meet Henry at York. Henry therefore sent troops against Scotland. In retaliation for this English raid into Scotland, James responded by assigning Robert, Lord Maxwell, the Scottish Warden of West March, the task of raising an army. James V wrote to Pope Paul III on 9 November 1542 about the English raid, and explained that he defied Henry VIII´s attempts to convert him to the Protestant faith.

Given the overwhelming odds against them, with just 3000 troops to match a Scottish raiding force of approximately 15,000. It would be reasonable to expect the English forces to have withdrawn behind the defences of Carlisle and prepared for a siege. However the English commander, Sir Thomas Wharton, was an experienced, skilled and confident leader who preferred open battle. Trusting to his lancers, he led out his troops from Carlisle to confront the Scots.The battle of Solway Moss was over almost as soon as it had begun. The vastly superior numbers of the Scottish forces should have made short work of the English army. But lack of cohesion amid the Scottish leaders, combined with skilful use of troops and topography on the part of the English, led to a humiliating Scottish defeat.

James, who was not present at the battle (he had remained at Lochmaben), withdrew to Falkland Palace humiliated and ill with fever. The news that his wife had given birth to a daughter instead of a son further crushed his will to live, and he is reported to have stated that the House of Stewart "came with a lass and will go with a lass". He died at Falkland two weeks later at the age of thirty. According to George Douglas, in his delirium he lamented the capture of his banner and Oliver Sinclair at Solway Moss more than his other losses.
It is probable that only seven Englishmen and 20 Scots were killed but 1,200 Scottish prisoners were taken,[ including Sinclair, the Earls of Cassilis, Glencairn, and Maxwell. Prisoners taken to England included Lord Gray, and Stewart of Rosyth. A number of captured Scottish earls, lords, and lairds were released; they sent hostages, called "pledges" into England in their place. On 14 December 1542, Thomas Wharton´s report of the battle was read to Privy Council, and they ordered that Scottish prisoners entering London should wear a red St Andrew´s cross.

Some of the high-ranking prisoners taken at the battle were exchanged for their ´pledges´ at Carlisle on 10 January 1543.The return of some prisoners was prevented at this time by the Scottish government which claimed they were traitors for losing the battle, or suspected they were now being influenced by Henry. As their families were arrested, these prisoners could not provide their pledges and stayed on the border at Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Schedules of prisoners, keepers, and pledges
The chief Scottish prisoners were taken to Newcastle upon Tyne, and were listed with their English keepers at that time in a schedule prepared by Sir Thomas Wharton; below the keepers of their substitute ´pledges´ or hostages are added from a list compiled later in 1543 amongst the papers of the Earl of Shrewsbury.

James Douglas of Drumlanrig; keeper, the Master Customar of Carlisle.
John Maxwell of Cohill; keeper, William Sandes; pledge, Archibald Maxwell, his brother, a child, in Yorkshire.
James Sinclair; keeper Alexander Musgrave; pledge, as for Oliver Sinclair.
John Charteris; keeper, William Porter
Robert Charteris; keeper, John Wharton
John Maxwell, brother of Lord Maxwell; pledge, his nephew Hugh Maxwell in Yorkshire.
Patrick Hepburn; keeper Lionel Carnaby
Walter Ker, laird of Graddon; keeper Thomas Denton; his pledge with Sir William Gascoigne, senior.
George Hume, laird of Ayton; keeper Thomas Warcup
Laird of Awncastell (John Maitland, laird of ´Awik Castle´, Annan); keeper Simon Musgrave; pledge, his brother with Thomas Wentworth.
William, Earl of Menteith; keeper Lancelot Lancaster.
Robert Erskine, son of Lord Erskine; keeper Edward Aglionby.
Patrick, Lord Gray; keeper Walter Strickland; pledges with the Archbishop of York.
Laurence, Lord Oliphant: keeper Sir John Lowther; pledges with the Bishop of Durham.
Oliver Sinclair: keeper Sir John Lowther: pledge, son of the Laird of Cleisburn
Hugh, Lord Somerville; keeper Sir Thomas Curwen
Malcolm, Lord Fleming; keeper Sir William Musgrave. Deceased when the Talbot-Shrewsbury papers list was compiled.
Gilbert Kennedy, Earl of Cassilis; keeper Sir Thomas Wharton: pledge with Archbishop of Canterbury.
Lord Maxwell; keeper Sir Thomas Wharton; remained at Carlisle in person.
William Cuninghame, 4th Earl Glencairn, keeper Duke of Norfolk