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…
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…
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…
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…
Add a splash of colour to your Edgehill army with any of these new character figures! Pick up your Prince Maurice, Sir Edmund Verney, and Sir Arthur Haselrig today! Sir Edmund Verney View in Store Sir Edmund Verney was a dyed in the wool Royalist, appointed member of parliament for Buckingham and Knight Marshal of…
Last Thursday evening, the gallant and noble Customer Service team travelled to the outskirts of Berwick in 1649 (conveniently located in John’s games room) to defend the town for King and God against the Parliamentarian hordes in a game of Pike & Shotte, masterfully run by Steve Morgan. What follows is a completely unbiased and…
We’re diving into the arsenals of the English Civil War this week, with a look at the Galloper Gun – an artillery piece that revolutionised cavalry tactics! During the 16th and 17th centuries, Europe was ravaged by almost unending warfare. With the arrival of the modern nation-state and the genesis of standing armies, the scale…
John’s mates at the Friends of General Haig wargames club rounded out 2018 with a massive recreation of Marston Moor – attended by Mr Stallard himself! As the late afternoon sun lit up the moor, the shepherd whistled to his dogs, and saw two armies hove into view. Shouts of ‘They’re the traitorous dogs’, and…
Dan Hewitson
Tom Mecredy
RichC