376 Rev. R. Jones on the Battle of Flodden Field. 



By rock, by oak, by hawthorn tree, 

 Troop after troop are disappearing 

 Troop after troop their banners rearing 



Upon the eastern bank you see, 

 Still pouring down the rocky den 



Where flows the sullen Till. 

 And rising from the dim-wood glen 

 Standards on standards, men on men 



In slow succession still. 

 And sweeping o'er the gothic arch, 

 And pressing on in countless march, 



To gain the opposing hill. 



From Barmoor Wood to Twizel Bridge, and to the banks 

 of the Till by Crookham, all was commotion and bustle, for 

 the different divisions were marching to the various points 

 assigned them by their commanders. The fords across that 

 river, from the castle at Ford to its confluence with the 

 Tweed, were well known to many in the English army. 

 The bastard Heron, who was born and brought up in the 

 country, a daring Border trooper, who did good service in the 

 battle field, and who had very recently joined Surrey, together 

 with Sir William Bulmer and others perfectly acquainted 

 with all the natural difficulties of the river, were present to 

 give counsel on that eventful day ; and before noon, thou- 

 sands were across the Till, forming in the different companies 

 they were to march to Flodden. 



We may well suppose that so many soldiers hastening for 

 the battle field would be the engrossing news of the day. 

 Surrey's movements would reach Berwick and Coldstream 

 long before Lord Thomas Howard had passed all his men, 

 artillery, and heavy baggage over Twizel Bridge. The en- 

 campment at Flodden would be closely watched by all the 

 Borderers, and every eminence in the neighbourhood of Cold- 

 stream would be covered with spectators. Many a gallant 

 Scotchman would cross the Tweed at the mouth of the Leet, 

 either with a determination of mingling in the fight, or with 

 the intention of plundering their enemy should he be worsted 

 in the battle. The field above the monument leading to the 

 bridge, called the "Gallows Knowe," would be crowded 

 with men and women. The whole town of Coldstream would 

 be there viewing the Scotch army taking up its position on 

 the ridge of Branxton, and at that distance, many m- ould be 

 able to see the king's flag fluttering in the breeze. 



At the time the English army encamped at Barmoor Wood, 

 there were two celebrated fords across the Till lying between 

 the castles of Ford and Etall ; one called the Willow ford. 



