Rev. R. Jones on the Battle of Flodden Field. 377 



a little to the north of the village of Crookham, in the direc- 

 tion of Etall ; the other to the east of Crookham called Sandy- 

 ford. The Heaton ford is not so much as mentioned by any 

 ancient writer of this battle ; nor, can I understand, how at 

 this day it should be pointed out, as the ford over which part 

 of the English forces passed when marching for the battle 

 field. It is surrounded on the north side with precipitous 

 banks, not at all calculated for a multitude of men and 

 horses clothed in armour to cross over ; indeed, I am fully 

 persuaded that this was not the ford over which the Earl 

 of Surrey and the rear-guard passed on their march to 

 Flodden. From Watchlaw, an eminence east of Etall, and 

 from Barmoor Wood, where they encamped for the night, 

 almost a direct line may be drawn, leading to a haugh or 

 tongue of land bounding the Till below Crookham. The two 

 fords alluded to are placed here, and one retains to this day 

 the very name mentioned by Hall, who wrote an account of 

 the battle in 1548, or 35 years after it had taken place, as 

 " the little brook called Sandyford " over which the English 

 passed ; and the old ballad, which is supposed to have been 

 written not later than Queen Elizabeth's time, also mentions 

 this ford : — 



And never flee while life did last, 



But rather die by dint of sword ; 

 Thus over plains and hills they passed 



Until they came to Sandyford. 



With these strong evidences before me, I do not hesitate in 

 affirming, that this is the very ford through which Surrey 

 and the rear-guard plashed, although mentioned in such 

 a trifling manner as " A brook of breadth a tailor's yard." 

 The small stream of Pallinsburn empties itself into the Till 

 at this place, and is known by the same name, which cer- 

 tainly might be stepped over, being not more than three or 

 four feet in breadth. 



Before the army commenced its march from Barmoor 

 Wood, no doubt the village of Branxton would be mentioned 

 as the place of rendezvous, at which both the van-guard and 

 the rear-guard should meet. At the time of the battle, and 

 for more than two centuries after, a low piece of ground 

 lying to the north of the parish of Branxton, through which 

 the small stream of Pallinsburn runs, was covered with water 

 to the extent of more than a mile and a half in length, and 

 in many parts more than two hundred and fifty yards across. 



