So , once in a blue moon this sub gets a question along the lines of why didn ' t Renaissance pikemen carry shields like the ancient Macedonians did ? and while this isn ' t a full answer it ' s interesting to note that medieval pikemen did indeed carry small shields sometimes . For instance this description by William Patten of the Scottish pikemen at Pinkie CleughThey came to the field , all well furnish with jack light iron jackets covered with white leather and skull , dagger , buckler , and swords all notably broad and thin , of exceeding good temper and universally so made to slice , that as I never saw any so good , so think I it hard to devise the better . Hereto , every man his pike and a great kercher wrapped twice or thrice about his neck not for cold but for cutting . Standing at defence , they thrust shoulders likewise so nigh together the fore rank , well nigh to kneeling , stoop low before their fellows behind holding their pikes in both hands , and therewith on their left their bucklers the one end of the pike against their right foot , the other against the enemy breast highAt the Battle of Flodden 30 years earlier , the longbow reportedly did relatively little damage to the Scottish infantry and the battle had to be decided by hand to hand combat . At Pinkie on the other hand , the English forces included artillery and mercenary arquebusiers from the continent , as well as decisive flanking fire from cannons aboard English warshipscontentuploads 201307 BofPmap 001 . jpg . As a result , once the Scots ' attack was halted by a bloody charge from the English menatarms , their pike formations melted away under missile fire .