Page "Inchkeith" Paragraph 14
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In the 16th century, the island suffered further English depredation.
The General Earl of Somerset garrisoned the island in 1547 after the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh.
His force of marines were ordered to reinforce the island, and so they built a large square fort, with corner towers, on the site of the present day lighthouse.
His forces, mainly Italian mercenaries, were ejected by a combined Franco-Scottish force under General D ’ Essé ( André de Montalembert, Sieur de Essé ) on June 19 or 29, 1549.
On the following day, Mary of Guise, the regent, visited the island, to see the " three and four hundred of her dead foes still unburied ".
Since 29 June was Fête Dieu in France, she renamed the island " L ’ Île de Dieu ".
The soldiers also nicknamed it " L ’ Île des Chevaux " ( The island of horses ).
Neither name stuck.
Seven English banners captured on the island were sent to Henri II of France.
On 17 July 1549, he gave the soldiers who brought the banners lifetime pensions.
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