A fateful day for Scotland The Battle of Flodden Field was founded upon the soundest of military maxims-"to take the enemy in rear whilst he is directed upon another enemy." Unfortunately, as with all strategies, it is never more than a "plan" and being good or sound is no guarantee of success as James IV, King of Scotland, found out to his fatal cost. In 1513, the year of the battle, Henry VIII, the formidable Tudor king sat upon the throne of England though he was on the continent as war raged with France. The King of Scotland was persuaded by the Queen of France to join in the fray, to his own advantage, in a renewal of that famous alliance said to exist between the two kingdoms. A Scots invasion force moved south into Northumbria where, upon a pretext, King James crossed the Tweed at Coldstream, burning castles and property, as he advanced at the head of a formidable Scottish Army of over 60, 000 men. Whilst King Henry was abroad the defence of the realm was put into the...