276 REPORT OF MEETINGS FOR 1902 



At Branxton Church Dr Hodgkin, who had driven over 

 from Barmoor Castle, gave a short sketch of the history of 

 the battle, which was completed when the company had ascended 

 to the little eminence of Piper's Hill, which affords an excellent 

 view of the western part of the battle-field. 



As time pressed the lecturer took it for granted that his 

 hearers were acquainted with the causes which led up to the 

 war, with the earlier operations of James IV. (22nd — 28th 

 August 1513), in which he took the castles of Norham, Wark, 

 Etal, and Ford ; and, according to the belief of the country-side, 

 incurred the anger of St. Cuthbert by the ravages which he 

 committed on the territory of the saint. After these operations 

 there came a pause, and possibly James's strategic ability 

 was at fault ; but there is no reason to attribute the delay 

 of these few days, as the credulous Pitscottie does, to the 

 fascination of Lady Heron, who seems to have quitted the 

 district two days after King James crossed the border. 



Meanwhile the aged Earl of Surrey (who would have borne 

 the title of Duke of Norfolk but for the attainder of his. 

 father after the battle of Bosworth) was approaching the scene 

 of contest with a hastily raised body of men. King James had 

 fixed his camp on Fiodden Hill, "a place," as Lord Surrey 

 bitterly complained, " more like a fortress than anything else." 

 Surrey, on the other hand, by the 6th of September had 

 entered the valley of the Till and was encamped on Wooler 

 Haugh. There was much sending to and fro of heralds and 

 trumpets, mutual defiances, and an agreement practically arrived 

 at that the great duel between the two nations should come 

 off on Friday, the 9th of September. But where? That was 

 the all important question which probably caused the English 

 general many an anxious thought. Was he to march down 

 the valley of the Till and send his rough militia-lads charging 

 up the sides of the natural fortress on which James with his 

 strong army, excellently provisioned, sat comfortably awaiting 

 his attack ? No : he thought he saw a better way than that. 

 Disappearing from James's view and from all chance of contact 

 with his scouts, he marched on Thursday some eight miles 

 northward along the Berwick road (if such a road there 

 were at that time) and encamped for the night at Barmoor 

 Wood. 



