Page 130 of Tempted
As the clans began to gather above Edinburgh, James Stewart’s confidence soared. A thousand banners and standards fluttered bravely in the summer breeze. The sunlight blazed down upon the steel of a score of thousands of fighting men James knew it was the largest and most glorious army a king of Scotland had ever led, or was likely to ever lead again.
England and Scotland’s navies had been virtually at war all summer. England’s admiral, Thomas Howard, had a fleet of a thousand sailors, and it was taking a full-scale effort for Scotland’s admiral, the Earl of Arran, to keep them out to sea. Sea battles raged from St. Abb’s Head to the mouth of the Firth of Tay. Arran’s navy was now a sizable one. He commanded not only the king’s warships— the Margaret, the Lion, and the Great Michael—but also the converted merchant ships from every ruling clan.
Ram Douglas envied his brother Gavin and his cousins, Ian and Drummond, who captained Douglas vessels and were keeping the English fleet out beyond the Isle of May, well out of the estuary of the Forth, where Scotland’s capital was situated.
Ramsay had been chosen to lead the Douglas men-at-arms, since Angus was considered too old for battle, and in truth Ram would have been supremely insulted had it not been so. Both Angus and Ram knew their clan would obey orders from none other.
The ranks swelled every day as more and more clansmen obeyed their chief’s call to arms. The Earl of Huntly brought his Gordons, Argyll his Campbells, Lennox his Stewarts, and Bothwell his Hepburns.
James Stewart inspected his growing army each day and consulted with his earls, lords, bishops, and advisers each evening in the great hall of Edinburgh Castle. Tonight Ram could sense something in the very air. Tempers had been building to flashpoint, and it would take an iron hand and an iron will to keep the chiefs in check much longer. When James Stewart stood and held up his hands for silence, an odd hush fell upon that whole assembly. “I have had an appeal from the Queen of France. Henry Tudor has churlishly dismissed an ultimatum to leave Thérouanne in Flanders. England and France are at war! The French queen has named me her champion and has invited me to step one pace into England, to strike one blow for her.”
A deafening cheer rose up and rolled about the hall like a great wave. Ram Douglas felt the hair stand up on the nape of his neck. He was alarmed because Heath Kennedy had ridden in with news of an English Army twenty thousand strong, gathered at Newcastle.
The Earls of Atholl, Morton, and Crawford stood and urged the king to march into England immediately. This was followed by another uproarious outburst, confirming the chiefs were ready to depart on the morrow if James would but give the order. He asked Argyll for a tally of guns, cannon, weapon sleds, ox carts, and baggage wagons. Argyll consulted with Glencairn and Montrose and reported an excess of fifty thousand pieces in the baggage train. Next, he asked how long it would take an army of this size to march to England. Lord Home, who was familiar with the border country between Edinburgh and England, estimated it would take five days.
James was accustomed to taking the advice of Angus in matters of paramount importance. He urged him now to stand and give his blessing. Archibald Douglas’s harsh voice rose. “Lord Ramsay Douglas commands our clan in this war. He wishes tae voice wise words o’ caution. I ask ye tae listen tae him.”
As Ram got to his feet, none cheered him. Throats were cleared, feet shuffled, and the eyes that looked up at him were almost hostile. Clearly this gathering was in no mood for caution. Ram’s deep voice carried around the hall. “I’ve had reports today an army equal tae the size of ours is gathered at Newcastle.” Voices drowned him out. They would not believe such a thing possible when they had been told Henry Tudor and his army were fighting in France. Ram’s voice rose again. “This army is led by a man who was at our court until last year—Lord Howard, Earl of Surrey.” The babble of voices again made it impossible for him to be heard. James Stewart stood beside Ram Douglas and held up his hands until the crowd quieted. “My spies tell me this is true. Let Douglas speak,” admonished the king. “I would hear his advice.”
Ram’s eyes were black tonight, his face grim. “It will take us five days to reach the border. I think we should align our army on this side of the Tweed. We should keep Scotland’s army in Scotland. We should challenge England tae take one step intae Scotland. When they see our force matches theirs, I dinna think they will take that step!”
Shouting and cursing drowned him out. Some agreed, but more disagreed, until fighting broke out in the great hall. Loud shouts of “coward” could not be borne by Ram Douglas. His voice thundered out, “I challenge any and all tae personal combat! I’m no’ afraid tae mount a raid intae England! I’ll lead my Douglases and put Carlisle and Newcastle tae the torch. But I still say Scotland’s main army should remain on Scottish soil!”
Angus studied James Stewart’s face, and he knew this was not what he wanted to hear. The king was impetuous, eager to show off his reckless courage. Angus held his tongue. The king wanted to go to war with England. So be it.
James Stewart held up the turquoise ring that the Queen of France had sent to him. He grinned. “Louis has sent us twenty thousand French pikes. Let’s put them tae good use!”
That night as James Stewart lay abed watching the fireshine play over Janet Kennedy’s hair as she disrobed for him, he had a premonition that he might never love her again. “Jan, sweeting, this is our last night together.”
An icy hand clutched her heart, but as she walked to the bed, she gave him her most brilliant smile. The last thing a man wanted from a woman was tears. She saw that he had removed his iron belt of remorse to please her and wished fervently he would not wear it when he rode into battle. She knew he would not be merely a spectator, and it would hamper him. She did not mention it, however, for she knew what his answer would be.
Janet had gilded the tips of her breasts, and as James toyed with them, their color reminded him of something he must say. “Jan, you’ll find gold in the bottom drawer of my desk. Take it all in the morning. It will serve you better than pretty jewels.”
She kissed him to stop his words, but he lifted his mouth from hers until he had said what he must. “Keep our son safe, Janet. Explain to him that he is the son of a king and the brother of a king, but that he must never try to become a king.”
“My love, I will bring him up to serve James V after you are gone, but we will have years together yet.”
He gathered a handful of her flaming hair and brought it to his lips “Thank Angus for lending ye to me for a little while,” he said outrageously, and she threw back her head to laugh up at him. She saw the turquoise ring upon his little finger from the Queen of France and knew he could never resist an appeal from a woman. Then they loved each other as if it were for the last time.
The very next day James Stewart and his chiefs joined their men camped on the vast Burgh-muir, and on the last day of August the Scots army was on the march. It was a magnificent show of strength Its orderly ranks clad in their brave plaids stretched out well over two miles.
The weather was glorious, and on the fifth day of the march, as predicted, they crossed the River Tweed into England. The standard bearers led the way, carrying Scotland’s flag, the Red Tressured Lion on Gold. James Stewart rode at the head of his cavalry magnificently clad in red, black, and gold, telling the whole world that here indeed was the King of Scots. Each clan had its own pipers.
James had scouts out to keep him informed of the progress of the English Army and to choose the most advantageous high ground in the Cheviot Hills, where the Scots could make their stand. The spot they chose was high above the Till Valley, where three hills formed a formidable, natural fortress southwest of Norham.
Moneylaws Hill was at the center, Branxton Hill to the left, and Flodden Hill and Edge were on the right. James Stewart had outmaneuvered the Earl of Surrey to set his army upon these hills, and on that early September morning Scotland’s position was unassailable.
Ram commanded over four hundred Douglas. Fewer than a hundred were mounted. Only his and Angus’s mosstroopers were trained to the sword. The rest gathered from the far-flung Douglas territories were spearmen, as were the majority of soldiers. All Scots carried knives and dirks, and some were proficient with hagbuts, and others were trained to man the artillery and cannon that could decimate an enemy when used effectively.
Ram knew he need not wet-nurse his moss-troopers before the battle. Jock, his first lieutenant, was so well trained, he could handle the men without Ram’s direction. So he concentrated his attention on the Douglas spearmen. He ordered them to don their iron helmets and never remove them. He forbade them to use the seven-foot French pikes with which they were unfamiliar and ordered them to stick with their short spears and knives.
When the Earl of Surrey sent his herald under protection of a red cross to James, he challenged him to fight two days hence on open ground below the hills. Ram Douglas was happy with the king’s reply. The Scots would fight where they stood, not on ground an English earl had chosen
Douglas and Bothwell came up with an idea of fortification, and since it was their suggestion, they were the ones chosen to implement it They fortified the east escarpment of Flodden Edge with sharpened timber stakes thrusting outward at an angle that would rip the belly from a cavalry horse if it tried to jump the trench.
The next day English battle lines were drawn on the eastern bank of the River Till Surrey saw that all the marshy ground was covered by the Scots artillery, and when they would not come down to fight, he wisely abandoned his position. He retired his army to the north and reformed below Branxton Hill
Douglas and Bothwell urged the king to fall upon the English as they retreated across the River Till They knew they could defeat an army in retreat as it crossed a river with only one bridge, but James refused to give the order to leave the high ground.
