[Stephen Curtin]

Also about William Patten's account of the Pinkie Cleugh. The text that we discussed earlier came from a reprint. The original text can be found here.

http://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A09164.0001....w=fulltext

Here is the section which talks of holding a pike and a buckler at the same time.

"Standing at defēce, they thrust shoulders lykewise so nie together ye forerākes wel nie to kneling stoop lowe before for their fellowes behynde, holdynge their pykes in both handes, and thearwith in their left their bucklers, the one ende of the pyke agaynste their right foot▪ thother agaīst the enemie brest hye, their followers crossing theyr pyke pointes with theim forewarde, and thus each with other so nye as place & space wil suffer, thrugh the hole warde so thick, that as easly shall a bare fynger perce thrugh the skyn of an angrie hedgehog, as ony encoūter the frunt of their pykes."

Notice how in the original it says "holding their pikes in both hands, and therewith in their left their bucklers". The version we discussed previously said on their left whereas in the original it said in their left. This minor word change does all the more suggest to me that a small central gripped buckler was held in the left hand.

Also worth noting is that the use of a pike and buckler was only said to be used when in a defensive formation, and only be the front rank who were crouching down. I've seen images of pikemen in this position with their right hand ready to draw their swords. This suggests that these men might have expected to engage in close quarters combat immediately after the enemy made contact. Perhaps the Scots preferred to have a buckler at the ready rather than a sword.