Jostling for Position
Another reason why James was happy to go into battle was because his army held the superior position. Surrey had heard that James was going to position his troops at Flodden Edge on September 7. Flodden Edge is a hill of approximately 600 feet high and Surrey knew that an attack would be suicidal. He asked James to move position so they could fight on flat ground but the Scottish king naturally refused. Apparently, the irate monarch said “that it was not fitting for an earl to seek to command a king.”
After James’ rebuff, Surrey elected to move his army north-east so it would be a few miles east of the enemy position and also on the opposite side of the River Till. It was a clever move because it enabled him to advance against James from the north, thus avoiding the Scottish artillery which was faced south. This new position also prevented James from retreating back to Scotland without a fight. The Scottish king had watched the English army move towards Berwick before doubling back. It was only then that he realized Surrey’s intention so he ordered his men to march one mile to Branxton Hill.
Let Battle Commence!
Despite Surrey’s clever tactical maneuver, the Scots still held the superior battle position and outnumbered the English. However, it was the weaponry which dictated the course of the conflict, with a little help from the predictably bad weather in the region. The Scottish army excelled in the use of massed pike formations which worked extremely well in battles where there was a lot of movement. It preferred to use the high ground for this purpose but at Flodden, it was a terrible mistake because the ground became mucky and slippery underfoot.
As a result, the Scottish army was unable to move as quickly as normal so when the battle began at 4 pm, the English ultimately gained the upper hand. Initially, it seemed as if the Scots would triumph because their enemy’s right flank started to crack under the strain of the massive pike attack. Surrey knew his army was in danger of collapse so he gambled by throwing in his reserve force in a desperate attempt to hold the line. A second Scottish pike attack was slowed down by the boggy ground and the English held firm.
At this point, the Scots dropped their pikes and pulled out their swords. Unfortunately for them, the English army was equipped with the 8.5-foot long bill which was originally an agricultural tool adapted for combat purposes. Meanwhile, the Scottish gunners at the top of the hill were inexperienced and their cannon shots were inaccurate. In contrast, the English gunners were fast and accurate which meant they were able to inflict serious casualties on their enemies. By now, the Battle of Flodden was in the balance and King James decided to roll the dice with one desperate final gamble.