1547 Battle of Pinkie Cleugh

Following the battle, Warwick laid siege to Edinburgh. With the English ships at Leith (having defeated the Scots fleet), the way seemed open for a complete conquest of Scotland. Somerset, however, retreated: perhaps aware that the cost in money and men to hold the country was too great, especially as disturbances were breaking out in Cornwall in reaction to the Protestant Reformation now being vigorously promoted.

On 1^st October 1547, the Privy Council instructed Norroy Herald to:

‘… declare to the Queen Dowager and Council of Scotland the causes that moved his grace the Protector to enter their country with an army. That God had shown his power in giving his grace the late victory over those that withstode principally God and this godly purpose.’

He was then to press the Queen Dowager (Marie of Guise) and the Scottish Council:

‘to deliver the young Queen to the Protector to be suitably nourished and brought up with her husband, as a Queen of England—as he promises to do on his honour, failing which, that he will use all means to bring it about by force.’

Despite their defeat, the Scots refused to be browbeaten. French aid was requested, and the little Queen was kept safe at Dumbarton Castle, before being sent to France the following year. The Scots fleet continued to harass English shipping. It was not until England and France made peace in 1549, followed by the Treaty of Norham in June 1551 between England and Scotland, that hostilities finally ceased.