304 BATTLE OF FLODDEN 



disappearance and failure to come to the succour of their 

 King in his direst hour of need. Scott had supplied the true 

 key. To anyone who, like the lecturer, had seen of what 

 even disciplined soldiers and sailors were capable when 

 possessed with the demon of loot, the explanation was not 

 difficult. The character and antecedents of Borderers had to 

 be considered.'' They were " reivers " by birth, tradition, and 

 profession. Their companion Highlanders were not far different. 

 After the successful charge when their work, at any rate 

 for the time, seemed to be done, was it to be supposed that 

 they would neglect such an opportunity ? To do so, from 

 a professional point of view, would have been absurd — even 

 criminal ! " Let us loot " must have been the mot d'ordo^e, 

 " honestly if we can, but at all events let us loot." So they 

 dispersed to plunder fallen friend and foe, camp, baggage, 

 homestead, nags, cattle, sheep, anything, everything, and thus 

 became so completely demoralized and out-of-hand, that all 

 attempts to rally them were futile. 



After about three hours' fighting — -for the battle could not 

 have lasted much longer — darkness put an end to the ghastly 

 carnage (for it was no longer possible to distinguish enemy from 

 ally), and Surrey sounded the retreat, and waited for morning, 

 not knowing on which side victory lay. When moniing 

 dawned the Scots were able to realize the extent of their 

 tremendous losses, and they rapidly disappeared, melting away 

 across the Tweed, and leaving their guns, mostly brass, 



■^ There was no escaping' the plundering propensities of the Borderers. 



" Joyful to fight they took their way, 

 Scarce caring who might win the day, 

 Their booty was secure." — Marmion. 



The following illustrative extract from a letter written at the time 

 to a friend in Henry VIII.'s army is given by Jones : " The greatest 

 difficulty that I see is this— that such men of war as shall be sent 

 to the Borders do not trust the Borderers, which be falser than Scotts, 

 and have done more harm this time to our folk than the Scotts did ; 

 and therefore, if it were God's pleasure and the King's, I would that 

 all the horsemen in the Borders were in France with you, for when 

 the battalia (bodies of troops) joined, thej^ fell to rifling and robbing, 

 as well on o«r ^ide as of the Scotts," 



