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Flodden Field

[ Roud 2862 ; Child 168 ; Ballad Index C168 ; trad.]

Spriguns of Tolgus sang Flodden Field on their 1975 album Jack With a Feather. A phrase from this song gave the album it’s title. They noted:

James IV of Scotland took advantage of the absence of Henry VIII to invade England on 22 August 1513; but on 9 September his army was defeated at Flodden Field, near Branxton in Northumberland, by an English force under the Earl of Surrey. James was killed. According to legend, his body was sent home in cowhide—hence the ballad’s assertion that “Jack with a feather (implying that Jack was a fool) was lapt all in leather”. James’s queen, Margaret, was Henry’s sister, which explains her husband’s mistrust of her attempts at peacemaking.

Strawhead sang Flodden Field on their 1977 album Farewell Musket, Pipe & Drum. They noted:

The ballad tells the story of James IV of Scotland’s ill-fated attempt to gain the throne of England, which culminated in his death at the battle of Flodden in 1513. The words are contemporary with the event and we have added a tune of our own.

The Owl Service and Alison O’Donnell sang Flodden Field on their 2008 CD The Fabric of Folk.

Andrew Calhoun sang Flodden Field on his 2016 CD of ballads of the Anglo-Scottish border, Rhymer’s Tower. He noted:

English ballad (Child #168) about their victory of the Battle of Flodden, 9 September 1513. James IV of Scotland was the last European monarch killed in battle. His wife Margaret was the sister of England’s Henry VIII.

Lyrics

Spriguns of Tolgus sing Flodden Field

King Jamie he has made a vow,
And keep it well if he may!
That he will be in London town
Upon Saint James’s day.

The up spoke good Queen Margaret,
The tears fell from her eyes:
“Leave off these wars, most noble king,
Keep your fidelitie.

“The water it runs swift and deep,
From bottom unto the brim;
King Henry hath men good enough;
And England hard to win.”

“Away,” quoth he, “with this silly fool!
In prison fast let her lie:
For she is come of the English blood,
And for these words shall die.”

Then up spake good Sir Thomas Howard,
The chamberlain that day:
“If you put our queen to death,
Scotland will rue it alway.”

Then cried King Jamie in a rage,
“Away with this foolish man!
He shall be hanged, and the queen be burned,
As soon as I come home.”

At Flodden Field the Scots came in,
Which made the English fain;
At Branxton Green the battle was seen,
And there King Jamie was slain.

Jack with a feather was lapt all in leather,
His boasting was all in vain;
He had such a chance, with a new Morris dance,
That he never came home again.

To tell you plain, twelve thousand were slain
That to the fight did stand,
And many prisoners took that day,
The best in all Scotland.

That day made many a fatherless child,
And many a widow poor,
And many a Scottish gay lady
Sat weeping in her bower.

Jack with a feather was lapt all in leather,
His boasting was all in vain;
He had such a chance, with a new Morris dance,
That he never came home again.

Andrew Calhoun sings Flodden Field

Scotland’s king hath made a vow,
Keep it well if he may;
That he will conquer England
Upon Saint James, his day.

“Upon Saint James’s day at noon,
At fair London will I be,
And all the lords of Scotland
Shall dine there with me.”

Then up spoke good Queen Margaret,
The tears fell from her eye:
“Leave off these wars, most noble king,
Keep your fidelity.

“The water runs swift and wondrous deep,
From the bottom to the brim;
My brother Henry hath men good enough;
England is hard to win.”

At Flodden Field the Scots came in
And stood in wind and rain.
At Branxton Green this battle was seen,
And there King James was slain.

The Scots then fled in disarray,
The English beat them blind;
Their cannons were all won away,
Their ensigns left behind.

Twelve thousand were slain on Flodden Field
That to the fight did stand,
And many earls and lords were taken,
The best in all Scotland.

That day made many a fatherless child,
And many a widow poor,
And many a noble lady
Sat weeping in her bower.