The Steel Bonnets and the Wild Scots

While the Scots army was very infantry heavy it did have a cavalry arm, the famous Border Horse. As the name suggests, this force was drawn from the counties along the English border, where raiding ones neighbours was a way of life. These Border reivers (raiders) provided the armies of their respective countries with a superb force of light cavalry, admittedly one whose loyalties were often suspect and whose propensity to rob anybody (save their own kin) endeared them to no-one. Mounted on small, fast and hardy ponies, these riders were the cavalry screen of the Scots army. A similar force performed the same duties for the English army, drawn from the counties along the Scots border.

The main weapon of these cavalrymen was a spear, 8 feet in length that served as a short lance. Many would also carry a longbow, or a light crossbow, called a latch. All would also carry a sword and dagger as backup weapons. For protection they were outfitted much the same as the infantry with a targe, a helmet (the steel bonnet) and armour appropriate to their wealth and status.

The Border Horse provided around 5% of the army's strength–compared to the 70% or so who fought as pike or spearmen. Another 15% or so came from the Gaelic-speaking Highlands, clansmen following their chiefs to war in time-honoured fashion.

These highlanders fought as infantry, but not in pike blocks or schiltrons as the lowlanders did.

"From mid-leg to the foot they go uncovered; their dress is, for an over-garment, a loose plaid and a shirt, saffron dyed. They are armed with a bow and arrows, a broadsword and a small halbert. They always carry in their belt a stout dagger, single-edged but of the sharpest. In time of war they cover the whole of their body with a coat of mail, made of iron rings and in it they fight. The common folk amongst the Wild Scots go out into battle with the whole body clad in a linen garment sewed together in patchwork, well daubed with wax or with pitch, and with an overcoat of deerskin."

John Major, History of Greater Britain, both England and Scotland, 1521

Some eschewed even this protection and stripped for combat, perhaps tying the shirt up around their waist for modesty. Note that the plaid mentioned here is not a kilt, but instead a cloak or mantle.

The mail coat would be fairly long, reaching down to the knees and worn over a padded aketon, the cotun. Relatively few warriors could afford mail, and merely wore the padded coat. Most would also have some kind of helmet, many would carry a targe and some would even wear raw-hide brogues.

Again, they armed themselves with what they could afford, and as well as the items John Major noted, they might carry spears (but not pikes) or axes, both large and small.