Chronicle of Scotland by Robert Lindesay Volume 1 Book 20

Quhen the king campit on nicht in Ersilton¹ and on the morne went to Wark [Map] and Norhame [Map] and cast them doune and thairefter past to Furde [Map] and cast thame doune and greit slaughter maid of the kingis men² that stude about the house in the fallingis of the tymber. Sum sayis the lady of Furde³ was ane bewtiefull woman and that the king mellit witht hir and allso his sone the bischope of Sanct androis witht hir douchter, quhilk was against godis commandementis and against the order of all goode captanis of weir to begin at huredome and harlotrie befoir ony goode succes of battell or wictorie fallin into them. I beleif the stinkand adullterie and fornicatioun had ane greit pairt of⁴thair ewill succes⁵.

Note 1. I has "Ersiltoun".

Note 2. I adds "pioneris and vther."

Note 3. "Lady of Furde." This was Lady Heron, See Notes.

262. 19. Sum sayis the lady of Furde was ane bewltiefull woman and that the king mellit witht hir. Pitscottie evidently did not give implicit belief to the story, but only half credits it, because of the character of James in his relations with women (p. 263, I. 5, "I beleif," &c.)

The question whether an intrigue between James and the Lady Heron of Ford really affected the issue of Flodden has been keenly debated. Of the earlier Scotch historians, Pitscottie states it as a rumour, Buchanan as a fact, Leslie ignores it, Tytler follows Pitscottie, Hill Burton is sceptical, and Hume Brown, like Burton, qualifies the story by "it is said " (‘History of Scotland,' vol. i. p. 335).

The arguments of Mr T. Hodgkin, D.C.L., in 'Archaologia Eliana,' 1891, certainly deserve serious consideration. Mr Hodgkin thinks the story may have originated from Lady Ford having made personal suit to James for the delivery of her husband, then a prisoner in Scotland, and for the abstaining from casting down his castle, after which she went to the camp of Surrey, to whom she gave information as to the Scotch army (Hall's Chronicles, p. 558). The argument may be pushed even further than he has done. Ford Castle was cast down, and her husband was not released. To crave his release was not the act of an adulteress. He also points out that the dates leave very little time for an intrigue which could have delayed the campaign, and that while James may have been at Ford Castle from 29th August till 5th September, a stay of twenty days at Ford is impossible, as he entered England only seventeen days before Flodden. Lady Ford cannot have gone to Surrey at York, as Pitscottie says, from Ford, for Surrey left York on 26th August, and she must have gone to him in any case some days before 5th September.

Note 4. I inserts "the wytt of"—i.e., blame of.

Note 5. See Notes.

263. 5-29. I beleif the stinkand adullterie and fornicatioun had ane greit pairt of thair ewill succes .... And hie againe as ane feminnat prince subdewit and intyssit be the allurment and jfallis desait of this wickit woman. Pitscottie's doubts here disappear, and he treats Lady Ford and James's intrigue as a fact. The opportunity of preaching a moral sermon was too strong for him to resist.

Nocht witht standing the king conteinued still thair the space of xx dayis but battell and no pretinnis¹ of the sam, quhilk² at last all the wictuallis and wiuerse of the commons was waistit away and money of the fer norland men and Illis men was waistit in the samin maner that it was forcest³ to thame to pase hame and everie lord and gentillman send ane or tua hame of thair spetiall servantis to bring them wictuallis. In this wyse thair baid nocht witht the king abone ten thowsand men by⁴ borderaris and countrie men zeit the kingis grace suspect nor tuik no feir because he beleiffit no battell of the Inglischemen at that tyme. Bot this wickit lady of Furde sieand the king so oft dispairit for lak of wictuallis and knawand all the secreittis that was amangis the kingis men and airme batht of the king him self and his secreit consall, and this experience scho had be hir frequent hurdome witht the king and also hir douchter witht his sone, quhilk movet hir to ask lecence at the king to pase invart in the contrie to speik witht certane of hir freindis, declairand that scho sould bring him all nowellis out of the south contrie quhat they war doand or quhat was their porpois or to do, desyring his grace to remaine all till hir cuming. And hie againe as ane feminnat⁵ prince subdewit and intyssit be the allurment and fallis desait of this wickit woman gaif hir ower hastielie credence in this behalf and beleiffit trewlie all had bene trew that scho had promissit to that effect, gart conwoy hir ane certane way frome the oist as scho desyrit. Bot this lady thinkand nothing that scho had promist to the king that on nowayis scho wald keip it for lufe scho buire to hir natiue contrie, bot haistalie passit witht ane dessaitfull mynd to the Earle of Surry quhair he was lyand at Zork at that tyme and schew to him the haill secreittis of the king of Scottland and his airme and quhat poynt he was at and how his men was depairtit frome him for lak of wictuallis and thair was nocht bidin witht him bot ten thowsand men of all his airme. Thairof scho thocht it expedient to the said Earle of Surray to come fordwart witht them that he might be at that tyme, scho promissand to him that he sould haue wictorie; be hir craft and ingyne scho sould disdaine that king sa far as scho could to put him in the Inglischemenis handis. Thir nowellis being shawin to the Earle of Surray be this wickit woman [he] was werie reioyssit thairof and thankit hir greatlie of hir labouris and trawellis that scho tuike for hir natiue contrie, promissand to hir withtin thrie dayis he sould meit the king of Scotland and gif him battell.

Note 1. "Pretinnis" — i.e., pretences.

Note 2. I has "quhill"—i.e., until.

Note 3. I has "force"—i.e., necessity.

Note 4. I.e., besides.

Note 5. Effeminate,

In this meane tyme quhene they¹ war commonand, letteris come to the Earle of Surray that his sone the lord Halbert² was landit at Dower sex thowsand men of weir witht him of the best of all king Hairieis airme send to him be the said Harie quho was lyand in France at this tyme seiking his pensieoun, and gat word the king of Scottis was command in Ingland invaidand his realme for lufe of France, quhilk was contrar to the lufe of god and weill fair to baitht the said realmes of Ingland and Scottland considderand the promise, bandis, allyancis maid batht betuix the saidis realmes as we haue schawin befoir to zow. Nocht witht standing the king of Inglandis³ [was] brother to the king of Scottis and thairfoir he wrait him commissiouns in to the Earle of Surray that he suld be lutennant for the tyme and raise the haill body of the realme of Ingland baitht gentillmen and commons and cause thame pase fordwart aganis the king of Scottland for to defend thair realme gifand him ane exprese command that he sould nocht invaid the king of Scottland be no maner of way bot in his awin defence nor sould not persew the king of Scottland nor nane of his in Scottis ground bot [defend]⁴ them selffis withtin the realme of Ingland. The Earle of Surray heirand the lettaris of commissioun presentit be his sone was werie reioyssit and also of the hame comming of his sone Lord Halbert and tuike sic curage that he assemblit all his airme of Ingland and maid thair mustaris incontenent, quhilk come to the number of fyftie thowsand men, gentillmen and commons. The captans heirof was the Earle of Surrayis, princiepall lwtennant to the kingis maiestie and wnder him his sone lord Halbert principall governour of the rest⁵ and the⁶ Dacaris marschell, the lord of Wast mureland and the Percieis of Northt thumberland was scheiftaine of the waingaird. And this⁷ in all possibill haist they marchit fordwart towart the Scottis quhair they lay for the tyme to wit at Flowdun hills takand no cure of no enemeis to invaid thame at that tyme and spetiall of the Inglischemen at that tyme; nor the king nor nane of his consall knew of the Earle of Surrayis comming nor zeit beleiffit to haue battell of him nor nane wther of Ingland at that tyme, considdiring the king was nocht present in the realme.

Note 1. I has "the Erle of Surreye and the lady Fuird."

Note 2. I has "howert"—i.e., Howard.

Note 3. I has "Ingland lamentit heavelie the vnkyndnes of his guid brother the king of," &c.

Note 4. I inserts "defend."

Note 5. I has "oist."

Note 4. I inserts "lord." "Dacre" is the English spelling of the name. He was called Lord Dacre of the North. See Notes.

265. 30. Dacre was called "Lord Dacre of the North," so I is probably right.

Note 7. "This" is for "thus" here and in many other places. See Glossary.

Bot quhene the lordis past to the consall as said is the king dissagyssed him self and come prevelie and hard everie lordis wott and quhat was thair conclusioun towartis his proceidingis, to wit, the lordis devyssit and chargit Lord Patrick Lyndsay of the Byris to be chancelar and first wottar in the consall because he was best leirnit and of greatest aige and had greatest experience amangis thame all at that tyme. They requyrit of him gif he thocht it good that the king sould gif battell to Ingland at that tyme or nocht. The lord Lyndsay being ryplie advyssit in this matter¹, seing the proceidingis and conversatioun and behavieour of the king, ansuerit to the lordis in this maner as efter followis, sayand; 'My lordis ze desyre my oppinioun and iugment gif the king sould gif battell to Ingland at this tyme or nocht. My lordis I will gif zow fourtht ane similetude, desyrand zow to knaw my mynd be the samin heirefter. I compair zour lordschips to ane honest mearchand quho wald in his woage go to the dyce witht ane commone haschatur²! and thair to ieopardie in the play on ane cast³ aganis a glied⁴ half penney quhilk gif this marchand winnis it it wilbe comptit lyttill or nocht, bot gif he tynes he tynes his honour witht that nobill peace of | gould quhilk is of mair wallour. Sa my lordis, ze may wnder stand be this ze salbe callit the marchandis and zour king ane rose nobill and Ingland a common haschatour that hes nothing to ieopard bot ane gleid halfpenney in compariesone of our nobill king and ane auld cruikit cairll liand in ane charieot⁵, and thocht they tyne him they tint bot lyttill. Bot gif we jeopard our nobill king at this tyme witht ane⁶ simpill wight and happin to tyne him we wilbe haldin ewill marchandis and far war consallouris to his maiestie. For giue we tyne him we tyne the haill realme of Scottland and the haill nobilietie thairof, flor nane of my lordis is biddin at this tyme bot gentill men; the commons is all depairtit frome ws for lak of wictuallis, sua it is not, decent nor semlie to that we sould ieopard our nobill king and his nobilietie witht ane auld cruikit cairll and ane certane sowtaris and taillzouris witht him in companie. Bot better it war to cause the king to, remove, and certane of the lordis witht him, quhom he thinkis maist expedient, to tak the matter in hand! and ieopard thame selffis for the kingis plesour and thair awin honour and the commone weill of the. contrie at this tyme, and gif zour lordschipis will conclude in this maner, I think it best for my awin pairt.'

Note 1. 267. 13. The lord Lyndsay being ryplie aduyssit in this matter. Patrick, Lord Lyndsay, was the brother of David, Lord Lyndsay, whose skilful defence when charged for treason after Sauchie has already been narrated (ch. iv. p. 224 eZ seg.) He was Pitscottie's grandfather, and the traditions of the family no doubt furnished Pitscottie with these anecdotes which he has described in so telling a manner. He may have inherited his skill in story-telling from Lord Lyndsay, who was celebrated for his pithy speeches.

Note 2. I has "hasator"—i.e., hazarder or gambler.

Note 3. I has "ane roisnobill."

Note 4. "Glied" or "gleid." The original meaning is "squinting," but here used in the sense of "a bad halfpenny." See Glossary.

Note 5. I has "quhairfoir my lordis gif Ingland jeopardis ane cruked carll in ane chariott and," &ec.

Note 6. I has "so sempill ane match."

Be this the watchis come and schew the king that the Inglisch airme was in sight marchand fast fordwart withtin the space of ane Scottis myle. Then the king gart blaw the trumpitis and sett his men in order of battell, to wit, he gaif the wangaird to the Earle of Huntlie and to the lord Home quho was in number ten thowsand men and tuik the great battell in to him self witht all the nobilietie of Scottland, quhilk passit nocht abone xx thowsand men, and marchit fordwart a Iyttill in the syght of the Inglischemen quhilk was than passand ower the brig of Till. Then the maister gounar come in presentis of the king and fell on his kneyis desyrand at the king that he might schott his artaillze at the Inglische ost, quhair they war command ower the brige of Till; ffor he promissit and tuik in hand that he sould cut the brig at thair owercomming, that the king sould haue no displesour at the on half quhill the other sould be devourit flor he staillit his artaillze for the brige and thai come thairon. The king ansuerit to Robert Borthuik¹ his gounar lyk ane man that was be reft of his wit sayand to him "I sall hang the, quarter the, and draw the gif thow schott ane schot this day, for I ame determinat I will haue them all befoir me on ane plaine ffeild and say² thame quhat they can do all befor me." The Inglische men war all come ower the brige and the wandgaird was neir mearchant togither. Then the trumpitis blew on everie syde and the wangairdis ioynitt togither, to wit, the Scottis wangaird, the Earle of Huntlie [and] the lord Home, witht the borderaris and contriemen to the number of ten thowsand, and on the wther syde, of Ingland the lord Percie and the lord Wastmureland witht the haill bordararis and contriemen tharof in lyk maner, quho junitt cruellie on everie syde and faught crwellie witht wncertaine wictorie. Bot at last the Earle of Hunttlieis hieland men witht thair bowis and tua handit suordis wrocht sa manfullie that they defait the Inglischemen bot ony slaughter on thair syde; then the Earle of Huntlie and lord Home blew thair trumpattis and convenitt thair men agane to thair standartis. Be this the tua great battellis of Ingland come fordward wpoun the kingis battell and ioinitt awfullie at the sownd of the trumpit and faught furieouslie and lang quhill. Bot at last the king of Scottland defaitt them both.

Note 1. I has "robin a borthik."

Note 2. "Say"—i.e., essay or try. See Glossary.

Then¹ the great battell of Ingland led be the lord Halbert quho was wnder his father the Earle of Surray governour in that battell quho come furieouslie wpoun the king to the number of tuentie thowsand men; bot the kingis battell inconterid him crwellie and faught manfullie on both the saydis witht wncertane wictorie, quhill that the stremeis of blude ran on ather syde so aboundantlie that all the feildis and wateris was maid reid witht the conflewence thairof. The Earle of Huntlie then and the lord of Home standand in ane rayit battell quho had win the wangaird affoir and few of thair men ether hurt or slaine, the Earle of Hunttlie desyrit at the lord Home that he wald help the king and reskew him in his extremmetie, flor he said he was ower sett witht multitud of men. Nochtwithtstanding, the lord Home ansuerit the Earle of Huntlie in this maner, sayand, "He dois weill that dois for him self; we haue faught our wangaird ellis² and win the samin thairfoir lat the laif do thair pairt as we." The Earle of Huntlie ansuerit againe and said he could nocht suffer his natiue prince to be owercome witht his enemeis beffoir his ene, thairfor callit his men togither be sloghorne and sound of trumpit to haue passit to the king bot, or he come, all was defait on ether syde that few or nane was lewand nother on the kingis pairt nor on the wther. Swme sayis thair come foure men wpoun foure³ horse rydand to the feild witht foure speiris and ane wyspe wpoun ewerie speir heid to be ane signe and witter to thame that ewerie ane of them sould knawe ane wther⁴. They raide in the feild and horssed the king and brocht him fourtht of the feild on ane dune haiknay. Bot soume sayis they had him in the Merse betuix Dunce and Kelso. Qubhat they did witht him thair I can not tell bot ane man ten zeir efter conwickit of slaughter offeirit to the Duik of Albanie, for his lyfe, to lat him sie the place quhair the prince was endit⁴, to the taikin he sould lat him sie his belt of irone lyand besyde him in the graue; bot nochtwithtstanding this man gat no awdience be thame that was about them the Duik of Albanie quho desyrit not at that tyme that sic thingis sould be knawin.

Note 1. I has "Than sa schone as,"

Note 2. I has "alreddie."

Note 3. I has "fair."

Note 4. 272. 8. Swme sayis thair come foure men wpoun foure horse rydand to the feild witht foure speiris and ane wyspe wpoun ewerie speir heid to be ane signe and willer to thame that ewerie ane of them sould Anawe ane wither. The story that James escaped from the field was also currently believed, but the story of the four horsemen has the air of romance. There seems little reason to doubt the sword and dagger now at the Herald's College in London were the king's, or that his body was allowed to lie at Shenes unburied till the reign of Elizabeth, when it was buried at St Michael's by Lancelot Young, the Queen's glazier (Stow's 'Survey of London,' p. 539).

Note 5. I has "erdit".

Bot we will leif this and we will return to our porpois to the feild as disconfeit on this maner on baitht the sydis ffor nether Ingland nor Scottland knew who had the better in that battell bot that the Scottismen mist thair king ffor thair wer tua Inglischmen for ane Scottis man slaine; and sa money of the Inglischemen that war on lyue reteirit to the Earle of Surray and lord Halbert his sone and reteirit ane lyttill frome the feild and stude on thair feit that night, quhill on the morne at nyne houris nocht knawand quho had win or tint the feild. And in lyke wyse the lord Home stude all that night on his futte witht the number of ten M men quhill on the morne that the sone raise, he, seand of novyse nether of Inglischemen nor Scottis, depairtit his way and left the kingis artaillze behind him quhilk he might haue reskewit and brocht witht him gif hie had pleissit; ffor I hard say, wpoun the morne at ten houris, that I° Scottismen might haue broght away the kingis artaillze saiflie withtout ony stope of Inglischemen. Bot the Inglischemen suine efter, heirand the lord Home was reteirand frome the feild come soune togither witht the number they¹ be and cairttit the artaillze and had it away to Bervick, qubair mikill of it remanis to this day; syne went throw the feild seikand the nobill men quho was slaine and in spetiall the kingis grace, quhome² they fand money lyke him clade in his cott armor. Bot no man could say suirlie that it was hie because the same day of the feild he caussit ten to be clad in his leifray, clad witht his cott airmour. Amang the rest thair was tuo of his gaird the ane callit Alexander Makcullouck and the wther the Squyer of Clesche³, quhilk was men of makdome baitht allyke to the king. Thairfoir quhene they war deid gottin in the feild and the kingis cott airmor wpoun them the Inglischemen beleiffit that ane of thame was the king; thairfoir they tuik ane of thame quhome they thocht maist peirandlie to haue bene the king and caist him in ane cairt and had him away to Ingland. Bot zeit we knaw suirlie they gat not the king because they had nocht the taikin of his irone belt to schaw to no Scottisman. This sorrowfull battell strikin and endit on this maner at Flowdoun hillis in the monetht of September the nynt day, the zeir of god fre our redemptioun I v° and xiij zeiris and of his rigne the xxv zeir.

Note 1. I has "mycht be and," &c.

Note 2. Apparently a mistake for "quhene."

Note 3. Laing, Notes to Lyndsay's Works, i. p. 309, shows this was no relation to the hero of Lyndsay's poem, but probably a Colville. See Notes,

278. 17. Tuo of his gaird the ane callit Alexander Makcullouck and the wiher the Squyer of Clesche, quhillk was men of makdome baitht allyke to the king. Squire Meldrum of Cleish, in Kinross-shire, served with the navy at this time (Lyndsay's 'Poems,' vol. i. p. 161); but there were other lands of Cleish, which belonged to the family of Colville (Great Seal Register, 1513-46, No. 1695), and Mr David Laing conjectured that a Colville was the person here referred to.