Treaty of Haddington

As it was a lovely day, I decided to head 20 minutes down the A1 to our county town of Haddington, as today is the 477th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Haddington between Scotland and France, in 1548.

The context of this treaty is that the Scots were seeking military help from the French, to defeat the English, who were dug in at Haddington.

The price of this French support was that on 7 July, the Scots and French signed the Treaty of Haddington. This promised that Mary Stuart (aka Mary, Queen of Scots) would marry the Dauphin Francis - the heir to the French throne, which happened in 1588.

Meantime following the signing of the treaty, French artillery supported the Scots who lay siege to Haddington between July 1548 and September 1549 keen to dislodge the English. Eventually, the English withdrew from the town, as they were out of supplies, many of their men had died from disease or during the Scottish night raids, and more French re-inforcements had arrived under Paul de Thermes. 

The English (and their mercenary forces, which included German and Spanish professional soldiers) evacuated Haddington on 19 September 1549, travelling overland to Berwick upon Tweed. Mary of Guise, who was regent in Scotland (as Mary, Queen of Scots was in France, as per the treaty) was triumphant.

There are many reminders of this siege in the town, including the potmarks left by muskets fired at the parish church (see extra). It’s strange to think these marks were made 477 years ago and they’re still here today!

There’s a lot of history round us, which I love.

Anyway, I got my blip and I’m now home contemplating some lunch.

Have a good day, all.