1 June 2024: Flodden Field
The Flowers of the Forest
After Lindisfarne we decided to return to Edinburgh via an inland route with a stop at Branxton to visit Flodden Field, the site of the most significant battle in Scottish history.
The Flowers of the Forest is a Scottish lament commemorating the defeat of the Scottish army and the death of James IV at the Battle of Flodden.
The Battle of Flodden – 9 September 1513
The Flowers of the Forest
I’ve heard the lilting, at the yowe-milking,
Lassies a-lilting before dawn o' day;
But now they are moaning on ilka green loaning;
“The Flowers of the Forest are a' wede away”.Dool and wae for the order sent oor lads tae the Border!
The English, for ance, by guile wan the day,
The Flooers o' the Forest, that fought aye the foremost,
The pride o' oor land lie cauld in the clay.We’ll hae nae mair lilting, at the yowe-milking,
Women and bairns are heartless and wae;
Sighing and moaning on ilka green loaning;
“The Flowers of the Forest are all wede away”.
I’ve heard the singing, at the ewe-milking,
Girls singing before the break of day;
But now they are moaning on every green lane;
“The Flowers of the Forest are all withered away”.Sorrow and woe for the order that sent our lads to the Border!
The English, for once, by guile won the day,
The Flowers of the Forest, who always fought at the forefront,
The pride of our land lie cold in the clay.We’ll have no more singing, at the ewe-milking,
Women and children are heartless and woe;
Sighing and moaning on every green lane;
“The Flowers of the Forest are all withered away”.
Flowers of the Forest by Pipe Major of The Royal Regiment of Scotland at Prince Philip’s Funeral
From a political perspective, the Battle of Bannockburn (1314), where the Scots under Robert Bruce defeated the English under King Edward II, was Scotland’s most significant battle. It laid the foundations for renewed Scottish independence. But only 14 years later Scotland and England were fighting again. It was not until the Treaty of Berwick in 1357 that Scotland’s sovereign status was finally recognised.
The treaty did not prevent subsequent English claims to suzerainity, which ended with the Battle of Flodden in 1513.
Scotland’s defeat at Flodden set off an irreversible process towards union with England which continues today.
Two Men in a Trench
I’ve wanted to visit Flodden Field ever since seeing an episode of Two Men in a Trench (2002) in which two young archeologists (Neil and Tony) and their team excavated some trenches on the site. Here’s the blurb from the episode:
In 1513 Europe was in turmoil. The King of England, Henry VIII had crossed the Channel and invaded France. The French were Scotland’s historic ally and James the IV, the Scottish king, felt duty bound to come to their assistance. He did this by invading England, leading one of the best equipped armies Scotland was ever to send across the border.
Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey, brought the English army north to repel them. The two huge armies met at Flodden, and after just three bloody hours of battle, 12,000 men and the King of Scotland lay dead.
Neil and Tony start their archaeological expedition by trying to locate the Scottish defences and gun emplacements on the Hill of Flodden.
Flodden Field
Flodden Field is a very well preserved Medieval battle site, now used as farm land. As you walk around there are information boards that explain what happened during the battle with illustrations and commentary.
The site is maintained by the Remembering Flodden Project, who also provide a website/app that you can use as you walk around:
This illustration depicts the chaos at the height of the battle.
The Flodden Monument
The Flodden Monument was erected in 1910.
In Victorian times this is the place where it was thought that King James IV fell in battle. However, more recent opinion is that this happened four hundred yards south of the village, in the shallow valley close to the road at the foot of Branxton Hill.
Today it all seems so calm and peaceful, but it is chilling to think about what happened here over 500 years ago.
I took these panoramas from next to the monument on Piper’s Hill where the English army was positioned.
The Scottish army was positioned across the valley on the ridge of Branxton Hill opposite.
We are looking at the centre of the battlefield. The ground in the valley was boggy as it had rained most of the day.
The English started the battle here with their artillery.
The Scots’ artillery was ineffectual in response. All the Scots could really do now was advance and engage the English.
Earlier in the day, Thomas Howard had manoeuvred the English army behind the Scots on Flodden Hill to take up a position between them and the road back to Scotland. The Scots had to quickly move to Branxton Hill to face the English.
This video was made in the valley between the two hills.
Background to the Battle
The year 1513 saw Henry VIII campaigning in France, leaving seasoned warrior, the Earl of Surrey, to guard northern England.
Invoking the Auld Alliance with France, James IV of Scotland crossed the Tweed with a large well-equipped army. He took Wark, Norham, Etal and Ford Castles and established a stronghold a mile to the south of here, on Flodden Hill.
Surrey marched his forces north but avoided the Scottish position with a wide flanking move to the east, making his approach from the north, via Twizel Bridge.
James was forced to relinquish his fortifications and move his troops and heavy cannon to the ridge of Branxton Hill, ahead of you. The English lines spread out to the left and right of where you now stand.
Battle commenced in the late afternoon of 9th September 1513, when the Scots guns opened fire. It was dull, damp and muddy, having rained for most of the day.
In the following hours, these fields became the scene of bloody carnage in which an estimated 4,000 Englishmen and 10,000 Scots, including their king and many nobles lost their lives.
Chilling reading.
The battle started here on the far right of the English line.
The ground is flatter and was less boggy, so the Scottish pikemen succeeded in pushing back the English.
It’s hard to imagine a bloody battle taking place here. It seems to make the horror and pointlessness seem so much worse.
In the centre and left of the English line, the Scots pikemen failed when they entered the boggy ground and lost cohesion. In this situation their long pikes were actually a hindrance.
The Scots pike formations relied on creating a tight, impenetrable hedge of spear tips. In the right conditions they were very difficult to face and could push back opposing infantry.
The English were armed with much shorter billhooks. They are less unwieldy and much better for fighting at close quarters.
When the Scots pikemen lost cohesion in the boggy ground the English were able to get in close and wreak havoc.
This illustration depicts the Scottish pikemen coming down the the hill. They are about to enter the boggy ground.
Nature Continues Regardless
On the way back to the car we were greeted by this magnificent specimen of birdlife.
Driving on the Narrow Roads
Cathy was inspired by the bus drivers on the Isle of Mull.
We survived.
Stay tuned for more adventures on our European Odyssey!