298 BATTLE OF FLODDEK 



the marsh the troops turned to the right, when they quickly 

 found themselves on Branxton Moor where they effected a 

 junction with the Van Guard, from whom they were separated 

 by a low hill called Pipard's or Piper's Hill — the Stock Law 

 of modern Ordnance Survey maps. There they must be left, 

 while a few minutes are devoted to the consideration of the 

 object, character, and results of Surrey's daringly conceived 

 and brilliantly executed manoeuvre. The object was to cut 

 off the Scots from their base and country before they suspected 

 what was going on, by interposing the English army between 

 Flodden Hill and the Tweed. Surrey decided that such a 

 movement could be much more rapidly and effectively executed 

 by the separation of his army into two independently acting 

 divisions, than by leading them all together across the river 

 at the same point. 



If Surrey's man(euvre were to be judged by the standard 

 of the proverb "nothing succeeds like success," there could 

 be nothing but pi-aise for it, as it was entirely and brilliantly 

 successful ; but if by the caut)ns of military strategy nothing 

 but condemnation, as it was to the last degree foolhardy, 

 hazardous, and unscientific, even suicidal. The separation of 

 an army within a short distance of the enemy into two 

 portions, one of which, with the guns, was sent off out of 

 siglit miles away, while the other crossed a river at a ford 

 within easy range of his guns, had he chosen to bring them 

 into action, strikes one as the maddest thing to do. For 

 the truth is, that from the passage at Sandyford till the 

 arrival at Branxton, the English Rear Guard was entirely 

 at James's mercy. Had he availed himself of the opportunity, 

 he might have cut them to pieces, and effectually prevented 

 their junction with the Van Guard ; but, as has been said, 

 he refused to kick the football of fortune which thus lay 

 at his feet. Never in the annals of warfare was there such 

 an opportunity throwai away or insanely rejected. If Surrey's 

 Bear Guard had been cut off or neutralized, James could 

 have led his whole army against Howard, who would then 

 have been hoi^elessly outmatched. Why, then, did James 

 decline to attack ? He was repeatedly urged to do so in 

 the strongest possible way, but he resolutely refused. How 



