Rev. R. Jones on the Battle of Flodden Field. 381 



other, stood thus upon the field : Lord Thomas Howard with 

 the van-guard was opposite Huntley and Home, Crawford 

 and Montrose ; the Earl of Surrey had chosen the ground 

 opposite the king, where the royal flag was flying, and which 

 positions were the centres of each army ; Sir Edward Stan- 

 ley who commanded the left wing of the rear-guard, was oppo- 

 site Lennox and Argyle. The cannons were placed in front, 

 along the two lines, at proper intervals between each division, 

 and from the cannon halls picked up at various times on the 

 field, we may almost conclude from the position in which 

 they generally are found, that the greater number of shot 

 fired by the Scotch were leaden balls, and by the English 

 iron. 



It was now drawing near to 4 o'clock, and the sun was 

 descending in the western sky; the clouds of night were 

 about to cover the earth, yet was there time enough for 

 thousands of the brave men, who were now standing gazing 

 at each other, in the full vigour of manhood and health to 

 be laid in the dust ; when, lo ! men were seen galloping 

 along the brow of the hill, and on the plain below from rank 

 to rank, and the trumpets sounded for the charge. All were 

 in readiness and eager for the battle, the voices of the differ- 

 ent commanders were distinctly heard, the clash of armour 

 grated for a moment harshly on the ear, when in the next 

 all was deadened by the roar of the guns, and the shouts of 

 men engaged in the deadly strife. 



" Then ordinance great anon out brast 

 On either side with thundering thumps, 



And roaring guns with fire fast 

 Then levelled out great leaden lumps." Old Ballad. 



The thunder of the cannon soon ceased on both sides, with- 

 out doing any serious injury to either; a few shots from each 

 party sufficed, neither of which could be considered very pro- 

 ficient in the art of gunnery. The ground was uneven, and 

 from the elevation of the guns the shot fell either short of the 

 object aimed at, or passed considerably over the heads of the 

 men, for many balls have been found north and south of the 

 field of battle, and also along the side of the hill where the 

 Scotch were stationed. Such fighting was too slow and 

 desultory in its effects, either to satisfy the one or the other ; 

 both sought closer quarters, and the struggle throughout was 

 maintained from hand to hand. 



It is admitted by all who have written an account of the 



