Using the extensive Scottish administrative records detailing the preparations for Albany's invasion of England in 1523, this chapter uncovers the mechanisms used to supply Scottish armies. In contrast to other European states, the victualling of late medieval and early modern Scottish armies has received little attention. While a range of works examine the arms, armour and equipment of Scottish soldiers, little has been said about how they were fed. Certainly, a lack of surviving sources makes it difficult to see how pre-modern Scottish armies were victualled. As a result of this lack of work on provisioning, it is sometimes assumed that Scottish armies had no significant baggage train and that soldiers simply brought enough supplies to cover them for the period of their military service, or pillaged what they required, and that the crown took little or no role in the supply of goods.

Although men summoned to the host were asked to bring victuals with them, this formed only one element in the victualling of Scottish armies. A study of the administrative documents detailing Albany's 1523 campaign reveals that there was extensive state involvement in the supply of the army, which was based around a sophisticated system of coordinated planning that drew resources from across the kingdom. Rather than simply requiring the men summoned to the army to bring all the food they required for the duration of an expedition, Scottish rulers went to considerable efforts to gather supplies and transport them to the camp.

Supply Commissions

The supply of the army was often the matter which the Scottish ruler and his council discussed first and in greatest detail when planning a campaign. When preparing an army to send to the Western Isles in 1529, James V's council first secured victuals before summoning the host. When James prepared to lead another army to the borders in the following year, victualling was again one of the first matters his council discussed when planning the campaign. While the proclamations issued in October 1523 calling men to join Albany's invasion stated that they should bring food for thirty days, the council had already begun to prepare the victualling of the army at the beginning of August.