Rev. R. Jones on the Battle of Flodden Field. 385 



every hand was lifted up to strike, or bent to give the pierc- 

 ing stroke. 



Wherever the king moved there was death ; the struggle 

 for victory was most terrific, and so long as James was able 

 to command and shew himself in the ranks of his men, the 

 day was neither lost nor won. The endurance and intrepidity 

 which had signalized him throughout the battle never forsook 

 him, nor seemed to flag, and he had the happy method of 

 inspiring all about him with the same heroic ardour. He 

 and his nobles fought hand to hand with the English bill- 

 men, and many of them were cut down, and fell around the 

 king. All that men could do, was done on that fatal day. 

 Scotland's glory, and England's fame were neither tarnished 

 nor sullied by the combatants, for it is recorded in the page 

 of history that the northern spear was even more fatal than 

 the English axe or bill. 



Fortune which had soared and lingered so long over the 

 heads of both armies, now began to droop ; the king himself 

 was wounded by an arrow, and soon after cut down by an 

 English bill-man. He fell covered with honour amongst the 

 slain of his nobles, who throughout the battle had never 

 shrunk from death, but bravely to the last fought about their 

 king, guarding his person, and protecting him from danger. 

 Life was cheerfully given up in his defence by bishops, earls, 

 lords, and knights, and the field was honoured with the dust 

 of the noble dead, and saturated with the best and bravest 

 blood of Scotland. 



" The English shafts in volleys hailed, 

 In headlong charge their horse assailed 

 Front, flank, and rear, the squadrons sweep 

 To break the Scottish circle deep, 



That fought around their king. 



But yet, though thick the shafts as snow, 

 Though charging knights like whirlwinds go, 

 Though bill-men ply the ghastly blow, 

 Unbroken was the ring. 



The stubborn spearmen still made good 

 Their dark impenetrable wood. 

 Each stepping where his comrade stood. 

 The instant that he fell. 



No thought was there of dastard flight. 

 Link'd in the serried phalanx tight 

 Groom fought like noble, squire like knight 

 As fearlesssly and well." 



Never in any engagement do we read of such havoc amongst 

 the leaders of an army, excepting when Hannibal fought 



