Pedro de Gamboa facts for kids
Pedro de Gamboa (died 1550) was a brave Spanish soldier. He fought for Henry VIII of England, helping him in battles in France and Scotland.
He was born in Madrid, the capital city of Spain.
Early Military Service
In 1545, Pedro de Gamboa led a group of Spanish soldiers. They served under the Earl of Hertford, an important English leader. A writer named Eustace Chapuys called Gamboa a Maestre de Campo, which means he was a Colonel. He was also present at the Battle of Ancrum Moor.
In June 1545, Gamboa met with the Earl of Hertford. They talked about a disagreement between two of Gamboa's soldiers. The Earl of Hertford made it clear that fighting among the soldiers would not be allowed.
Fighting for England
By April 1547, Gamboa was doing so well that he received a payment of £250 from the English government. This was like a special thank-you for his service.
Gamboa fought bravely in the battle of Pinkie. He led a group of cavalry, who were soldiers on horseback, and they used firearms. On June 3, 1548, Gamboa and 70 of his men also took part in an attack on Dalkeith Castle. They tried to capture a Scottish leader named George Douglas of Pittendreich.
The Siege of Haddington
In July 1548, Gamboa's soldiers, who were skilled with firearms while on horseback, helped at the siege of Haddington. Another Spanish captain, Pedro de Negro, led them. They rode through the French lines to bring help to the town. An English soldier, Thomas Holcroft, wrote about this brave act.
A Spanish story, called the Chronicle of Henry VIII, also tells about this event. It says that Spanish and English cavalry soldiers rode into Haddington carrying bags of gunpowder. They cleverly used their horses outside the town gates. After the French and Scottish armies left, Pedro de Negro buried the horses in three large pits. This showed how dedicated they were to helping Haddington.
His Death
Pedro de Gamboa sadly died in London on January 19, 1550. He was killed near the churchyard of St Sepulchre-without-Newgate. The person who killed him was Carlos de Guevara, who had traveled from Scotland.
