Flodden Flags - The Blue Blanket & St Margaret's Banner

I know!!!!! More Flodden flags...............

I think this maybe the last 2 flags for the Battle of Flodden..........until I can find more to make, that is. Thanks to Eric, for passing on the info about the Blue Blanket flag.

The Blue Blanket

The "Banner of the Holy Ghost",  or Blue Blanket was dedicated at the alter of St Eloi, in St Giles church. It was carried at processions and represents the rights and privileges confirmed to Edinburgh citizens in 1482, when they rescued James III from imprisonment in Edinburgh Castle.

The Blue Blanket survived the Reformation and destruction of St Eloi's as a symbol of the Incorporated Trades. 

In Osprey Elite 167, Scottish Renaissance Armies 1513-1550, there is a mention that The Incorporated Tradesmen of Edinburgh, took their guidon "The Blue Blanket" to Flodden.

The second flag, Is another Holy Banner, being the Banner of St Margaret of Scotland. This flag could have been carried by any unit of the Scots army. This flag is another that is taken out of Military Modelling 1982 Manual, which does have another two flags that I've not made yet, so I lied before!!!!

Flodden flags in action

I had an email the other day from wargamer Eric Elder, he sent me a photo of two command stands from his new project of The Battle of Flodden. Eric has used the flags that I made for both sides of the battle, that I've posted previously on this blog. I'm sure you'll agree they look great!! and I can't wait to see some more of Eric's work.
I must admit it's nice to finally see the flying high, as I've not had the time to put them on my own figures yet!!! I get a lot of ribbing from the other Rejects about this and why I've not finished the FIW rules I'm trying to write and why I've not started Fran's 20mm WWII figures and why I've not put a Viking game on for ages come to think of it, a game at all for ages...............moan, moan, moan!!!!

Also in other wargaming news, I made it into this months issue of Wargames Illustrated Woo Hooo!!. Page 90 top right picture, red stripy T-shirt, big belly poking out, (gotta do something about that). Yep that's me, I'm in deep conversation with Alex (I believe???), one of the authors of the new Saga Viking rules. Which will defiantly be making a dent in my wallet, when its released.
So if any of you feel the need, just send me your copy of your mag with a stamped addressed envelope and I'll sign it for you, he he he!!


Ray

Flodden Scots Flags - The Earl Marischal

For this post I've re-visited a flag I previously made and posted Link. The flag is that of Lord Robert Keith, Earl of Marischal who fought for the Scots during the Battle of Flodden.

The first flag is another rendition of a flag pictured in, Military Modelling 1882 Manual, this is the first time I've seen this flag in these colours, so I thought I'd give it a go, I'm very pleased with the results.
As you can see I've remade the yellow flag, this time I've turned the obverse side around so the writing is not backwards and I've kept the 3 deer heads facing the same way as I have with the first flag in this post. There was a conversation on TMP here's a , Link,  about the obverse side of the flag, if they would be the same as the front of the flag or a mirror image. In the post I went with a mirror image, but I think from a wargames purpose they look better this way??
I'm not 100% sure which flag was used or which flag I'm going to use for my Scots army.
Hope you like the new versions, and please use them for your armies....if you want.
Comments welcome and appreiated!!

Sir Edward Echyngham Banner for Flodden

I found a picture of this flag in Military Modelling 1982 Manual and just had to make it for my Flodden English army, I think this is the best looking flag I've done, blowing my own trumpet I just love the Dragon!!

Sir Edward Echyngham fought in the central battle of the van led by Thomas Howard. The battle fielded 9,000 soldiers including crack marines. These wearing the Tudor livery, served under their usual captains, Sir William Sidney of the Great Barque, James King of the Julian of Dartmouth and Edward Echyngham of The Spaniard. Trying to find any info about Echyngham proved very difficult, although I did find the document below, which is quite interesting.
 FATE OF ADMIRAL HOWARD 1513

The expedition put to sea in March, 1513, under the command of Sir Edward Howard. It was arranged that the King should follow in June with the main body. Sir Edward had already gained reputation by his conduct in the late war of Guienne. His letters detailing the movements of the fleet will be read with interest. There is something of that tone of self-confidence in them which will remind the reader of Wolfe and Nelson ; and in men of more doubtful courage would be deemed vainglorious. The French had made great preparations to keep the sea and intercept the passage with a fleet of fifty sail. The English navy at the time consisted of twenty-four ships, of which the total tonnage amounted to 8,460 tons. It carried 2,880 seamen and 4,650 soldiers. The Admiral's ship, the Mari  Rose, was of 600 tons, and carried 200 mariners. His subordinates in command were Sir Edward Echyngham, Sir Henry Shirborne, Sir William Sidney, Sir Thomas Cheney, all equally anxious with himself to win the King's favour and signalize their valour against the French.

On the 25th of April Sir Edward caught sight of the French galleys laid up in shallow water. They were protected by bulwarks on both sides, " planted so thick with guns and crossbows that the quarrels and the gunstones came together as thick as hailstones."  He at once resolved to board them with his boats.

The rest must be told in the words of Sir Edward Echyngham, who was present at the engagement.

" The admiral boarded the galley that Pryer John was in " (Prior John was an English corruption of the name of Pregian, the French Admiral), "and Charran the Spaniard with him, and sixteen others. By advice of the Admiral and Charran they had cast anchor [into the rails] of the French galley, and fastened the cable to the capstan, that if any of the galleys had been on fire they might have veered the cable and fallen off ; but the French hewed asunder the cable, or some of our mariners let it slip, and so they left this [brave man] in the hands of his enemies." In the melee, at ebb of the tide, no one came to his support. " There was a mariner wounded in eighteen places, who by adventure (by mere chance) recovered unto the buoy of the galley, so that the galley's boat took him up. He said he saw my Lord Admiral thrust against the rails of the galley with marris pikes. Charran's boy tells a like tale; for when his master and the Admiral had entered, Charran sent him for his hand-gun, which before he could deliver, the one galley was gone off from the other, and he saw my Lord Admiral waving his sword and crying to the galleys, ' Come aboard again ! Come aboard again ! ' which when my Lord saw they could not, he took his whistle from about his neck, wrapped it together and threw it into the sea." On making inquiries the next morning they could learn no more from the French Admiral than that, " one leapt into his galley with a gilt target on his arm, whom he had cast overboard with marris pikes." Such was the end of Sir Edward Howard, whose loss was universally lamented : " for there was never a nobleman so ill lost as he was, that was of so great courage and had so many virtues, and that ruled so great an army so well as he did, and kept so great order and true justice."

It was a costly sacrifice ; but the gallantry of the action retrieved in the eyes of the world the reputation of England.' At such a time, when unbounded admiration was felt for personal bravery, and victory depended much less on scientific

Flodden Scots Flags - Earl of Erroll and MacLean of Ardnamurchan

Once again, yes again Francis!!, another two Scottish flags for the Battle of Flodden.

The first flag belongs to William Hay 4th Earl of Erroll, who succeeded his father to the Earldom  in 1506. He commanded the left centre of the battle line along with the Earls of Crawford and Montrose. The Earl fell while fighting heroically by the side of the King.

                  "No thought was there of dastard flight, Linked in the serried phalanx tight.’

The second flag is for MacLean of Ardnamurchan, who led the McDonalds on the right of the battle line. Hector MacLean of Ardnamurchan was the 9th chief of clan MacLean and was killed during the battle.



Flodden Scots Flags - Bothwell and Mackenzie

Right that's enough of the fantasy side of the sport, lets get back to the Historical side of gaming. Hooray I here some of you shout!!

As the title suggests I've posted two more flags for Scottish army of James IV.

The first flag belongs to Adam Hepburn, 2nd Earl of Bothwell who was a Scottish nobleman, who succeeded his father Patrick Hepburn, 1st Earl of Bothwell in 1508. Prior to that, he was known by one of his territorial designations, Adam Hepburn of Crags.He married in 1511 (her first of four husbands) Agnes (died February, 1557), the illegitimate daughter of James Stewart, 1st Earl of Buchan by Margaret Murray. This Agnes Stewart was provided with Letters of Legitimacy, confirmed by Queen Mary of Guise, on 31 October 1552, under the Great Seal of Scotland.

The Earl of Bothwell was killed at the Battle of Flodden, where he commanded 5000 lowland conscripts from the Lothians, the forest of Ettrick and the boder burghs of Gallasheils and Selkirk which made up the Scottish reserve.
The second flag is that of Clan Mackenzie who were I believe led by John Mackenzie, or "John of Killin", traditionally reckoned 9th of Kintail, who was a Highland chief, and head of the Clan Mackenzie. The Mackenzies fought on the right of the battle which was commanded by the Earls of Argyle and Lennox.

Edmund Howard at Flodden 1513



I had an email this week from a follower of my blog Eric Elder, he asked if I was going to post anymore flags for the Battle of Flodden. So I knocked this flag up today, (much to the Angry Lurkers delight), it's from an article in Military Modelling 1982 Manual. There are some other flags there that I've not seen before either so I'll be busy making them for a while. The magazine only cost £1.50 or $4.50 in the USA or Canada, doesn't that just make you sick??

"Edmund Howard had with him 1,000 Cheshire men, and 500 Lancashire men, and many gentlemen of Yorkshire on the right wing of the Lord Howard; and the Lord Chamberlain of Scotland with many Lords did set upon him, and the Cheshire and Lancashire men never abode stroke, and few of the gentlemen of Yorkshire abode, but fled...And the said Edmund Howard was thrice felled, and to his relief the Lord Dacres came with 1,500 men, and put to flight all the said Scots, and had about 8 score of his men slain. In which battle a great number of Scots were slain."

This quote came from the source below.

Amongst the State Papers in the Public Record Office is the dispatch Articles of the Bataill bitwix the Kings of Scottes and therle of Surrey in Brankstone Feld, the 9 day of September. A contemporay French translation of the dispatch claimed it to have been sent by the Admiral Lord Thomas Howard, who had joined the army commanded by his father, the Earl of Surrey, with reinforcments from the Fleet.

Lord Clifford - Flodden flags 1513

Henry Clifford, 10th Baron de Clifford, also 10th Lord of Skipton was born in 1454 and died on the 23^rd April 1523, his father John the 9^th Baron de Clifford fought on the Lancastrian side during the War of the Roses, after he was killed in battle, Henry, aged 7 at the time was sent away for his own safety by his mother, (as the King had put an attainder on him), to Londesborough and then onto Threlkeld in Cumberland.
When King Richard III was killed at the Battle of Bosworth on the 22 August 1485, the attainder was lifted, so Henry could move back into the family home.                                    
In 1513, at the ripe old age of 60, Clifford, was called into service by Earl Percy of Northumberland who intended to repel the attacking Scots. He mustered the flower of old Craven, bringing 207 bowmen and 116 billmen liveried in the red wyvern. At the Battle of Flodden he fought in the centre battle of the English vanguard under Thomas Howard.

Scots Highlander flags at Flodden

More Flodden Flags

The first flag is that of William Sinclair, the 2nd Earl of Caithness, who led the levies from Sutherland and the Orkneys during the Battle of Flodden. The Earl was killed during the fierce fighting.

The second flag is for the clan Grant, who's men were led by MacLean of Ardnamurchan. Hector MacLean of Ardnamurchan was the 9th chief of  clan MacLean and was killed during the battle.

The third flag is that of the MacLeans of Duart.

All these flags may have been carried on the right flank of the Scots army under the Earl of Argyle and the Earl of Lennox.

Flags for Scottish Lords at the Battle of Flodden

"Not more flags", is all I'm hearing from my wargaming pals, granted its from the ones who don't have figures or ANY interest in the Battle of Flodden or Henry VIII's French campaigns. So just to please them all I thought I'd put some more flags on. Hopefully there's more people out there who like the flags than not!!
All the Lords in this post fought in the centre battle under the direct command of King James IV.
The flags themselves are taken from online sources, some from descriptions from the approxamate period some from coats of arms, so once again may not be 100% accurate. If anyone notices any mistakes on my part let me know and I'll try and put them right.
The first flag for today is that of Lord Herries. Andrew Herries 2nd Lord Herries of Terreglas was outlawed in 1507 and 1508 for killing George Sinclair of Highfield, but was pardoned around the  12 Dec 1508 on the intercession of the Queen of France. He was killed at Flodden.
The second flag belongs to John Maxwell 4th Lord Maxwell.  The Maxwells were an ancient family from the Scottish Borders, whose chief seat was at Caerlaverock Castle. His notoriously assaulted Robert Crichton, 2nd Lord Crichton of Sanquhar outside the court house in Dumfries in 1508 where Crichton was holding assizes, he seems to have got away without being punished. Maxwell also lost his life during the battle.
The third flag belonged to Lord Innerwick, Alexander Hamilton the 3rd Lord of Innerwick died at Flodden. I struggeld with this flag, but found an obscure text about his coat of arms, I couldn't find any info about the man himself.
The fourth flag belongs to Lord Bothwick. Now he has confused the hell out of me, I've trawled the internet about William Borthwick but found lots of conflicting info, I'm not sure whether he was the 3rd of 4th Lord or was killed at the battle. The Borthwick officail website, Link,  says he was the 3rd and was killed at Flodden, while other sites say the 3rd Lord died in 1503????
The last flag belong to Lord Sempil. John Sempill, 1st Lord Sempill of Eliotstoun was the founder of the collegiate Church of Lochwinnoch and was created Lord Sempill in the Peerage of Scotland around 1489. He was killed at the Battle of Flodden in September 1513.

Scottish Earls at Flodden

The three flag in this post belong to three Scottish Earls who fought in the centre battle under the command of King James IV. The flags are speculative and are taken from their coat of arms, so they may not be 100% accurate.
The first flag is for David Kennedy, 3rd Lord Kennedy, 1st Earl of Cassillis, (pronounced Cassels). Cassillis was a Scottish peer, the son of John Kennedy, 2nd Lord Kennedy. Invested as a Knight on 29 January 1487/88 by King James III, he wed Agnes Borthwick, daughter of Sir William Borthwick, 2nd Lord Borthwick, before July 1489. He succeeded to the title of 3rd Lord Kennedy between 1508 and 1509. Shortly thereafter, on 9 August 1509, he married his second wife, Margaret Boyd, daughter of Thomas Boyd, 1st Earl of Arran and Princess Mary Stewert of Scotland. Cassillis died while fighting at Flodden.
The second flag belonged to John Douglas, the 2nd Earl of Morton. Morton was the son of James Douglas, 1st Earl of Morton and Princess Joan of Scotland, Countess of Morton, daughter of James I of Scotland. He became earl in 1493, upon his father's death. He was succeeded by his son James Douglas, 3rd Earl of Morton after he met his end during the Battle of Flodden.
The last flag belonged to William Leslie, the 3rd Earl of Rothes. Rothes only succeeded his elder brother George in March 1513,  he had considerable trouble in making good his title to the family inheritance; and before his difficulties with the Crown were removed he was killed at Flodden.

English Flodden Flags

 Four more flags for the Battle of Flodden, the first two are both my versions of pictures from Hobilar No 53. The first flag is for Lord Molyneux, who fought in Stanleys battle on the left flank of the main battle commanded by Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey.

The second flag is for Maurice Berkley the captain of the Mary George, he commanded 200 marines from his ship. he was placed in the right side of the vanguard commanded by Edmund Howard.

The third flag is my version, so may not be 100% accurate of the flag of The Bishop of Ely, James Stanley. His men were commanded by his son John at the battle. They were on the right side of the main battle commanded by Lord Dacre.

The last flag is the flag of the city of York militia who were in the centre of the main battle commanded by the Earl of Surrey. Once again this flag is not 100% accurate and is my version from a description in the Battle of Flodden Osprey book No 168 and the modern York coat of arms. If anyone knows of any mistakes made please let me know, comments always welcome good or bad!!

Scots flags for the Battle of Flodden 2

Three flags for you in this post, the first belonged to, John Lindsay, the 6th Earl of Crawford, he was the son of  David Lindsay the 1st Duke of Montrose. He was in joint command of the centre left at the Battle of Flodden 1513, and fell during the battle.


The second flag is for William Hay the 4th Earl of Errol. who also fell during the battle, he was among with the Earl of Crawford and the Duke of Montrose in joint command of the left centre during the battle.

The last flag in this post belonged to Matthew Stuart, the 2nd Earl of Lennox, he was along with the Earl of Argyle in joint command of the Scottish right during the battle. Their command contained mainly highlanders led by their own clan chiefs. Lennox was killed during the battle.

Scots flags for the Battle of Flodden

Both of the first two flags belong to Lord Robert Keith, Master of Marischal who was born in 1483 in Scotland. He married Lady Elizabeth Douglas some time before January 8 1505.
Lord Keith was involved in the Battle of Flodden, in 1513. There seems to be a little confusion as to whether or not he was killed at the battle. 

I think you can all guess the third flag!


The last flag is for William Graham, Earl of Montrose, He accompanied James IV on his invasion of England in 1513 and was killed at the Battle of Flodden on 9 September 1513, together with his brother, George Graham of Callendar, and his brother-in-law, Sir William Edmonstone of Duntreath.

Flodden Flags - Lord Scrope of Bolton

Lord Sir Henry Scrope, 7th Scrope of Bolton fought at The Battle of Flodden commanding the Swaledale and Wensleydale contingents.

A contemporary poem was written about Sir Henry Scrope, 7th Lord Scrope of Bolton:

Lord Scroop of Bolton, stern and stout

On horseback, who had not his peer

No Englishman Scots more did doubt,

With him did wend all Wensleydale'

From Morton unto Moisdale Moor;

All they that dwelt by the banks of the Swale,

With him were bent in harness stour,

From Weresdale warlike wights did wend,

From Bishopsdale went bowmen bold;

From Coverdale to Cotter-end,

And all to Kidton causeway cold,

From Mallerstang and Middleham,

And all from Mask and Midleconby;

And all that climb the mountains cam,

Whose crown from frost is seldom free,

With lusty lads and large of length,

which dwelt at Semerwater side,

All Richmondshire, its total length,

The lusty Scroop did lead and guide.

Battle of the Spurs - Duke of Buckingham and Lord Bergavenny

Two more flags for the Battle of the Spurs, in 1513, this time we have standards for Edward Stafford, the 3rd Duke of Buckingham and George Nevill the 3rd Lord (A)Bergavenny.
From June to October 1513 Buckingham was a captain in the English army in France, serving with five hundred men in the 'middle ward.'
In the expedition into France of 1513 Bergavenny took a prominent part. From June to October he was a captain, or rather general, in the king's army, and landed at Calais on 30 June. He filled the same position from May to August in 1514, and he was rewarded in 1515 by the grant of the keepership of Ashdown Forest.
I've added another flag to this post, I was advised that the flag of Lord Bergavenny was wrong. The flag below is not an exact copy of the flag shown on, www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/Newsletter/022.htm, but it keep in with the size and style of the flags I've already made. So If anyone finds any mistakes or can point me in the right direction I'd appreciate it.

Marquess of Dorset' s Flags for The Battle of the Spurs

 In 1512, Thomas Grey, the 2nd Marquess of Dorset led an unsuccessful English military expedition to France to reconquer Aquitaine, which England had lost during the Hundred Years' War. Ferdinand of Aragon gave none of the support he had promised. While Ferdinand delayed and tried to persuade Dorset to help him to attack Navarre instead of Aquitaine, the English army's food, beer, and pay ran out, many took to wine and became ill, and the army mutinied. Back in England, Dorset had to face a trial.
 In 1513, he fought at the siege of Tournai and the Battle of Guinegate (also known as the Battle of the Spurs), and fought again in 1523 in the Scottish borders. These all gave him chances to make amends for the debacle of Aquitaine. To help Dorset in dealing with the Scots, he was appointed Lord Warden of the Marches, restored to the Privy Council, and became a gentleman of the chamber.

Earl of Northumberland's flags - The Battle of the Spurs 1513

Henry Percy, The 5th Earl of Northumberland fought for Henry VIII in the  War of the League of Cambrai (1508–1516) and at the Battle of the Spurs in 1513. The first flag is from the War of the Roses, so it may not be 100% correct, the second flag is taken from the front cover of Osprey's, "Henry VIII's Army", Men-At-Arms No191. If its good enough for Osprey, its good enough for me!!

Lord Dacre's flags at the Battle of Flodden

Two more flags for the English at the Battle fo Flodden. They both belong to Lord Darce, the warden of the English West March. At the battle Lord Dacre commanded the right flank of the English army, his command contained approx 1,800 foot and upto 2000 Border horse, including a troop commanded by the notorious Bastard Heron!

Sir Marmaduke Constable's Flags at the Battle of Flodden

Sir Marmaduke Constable fought at the Battle of Flodden, on the left flank of the vanguard commanded by Thomas Howard, The Lord Admiral. He was in in 70's at the battle, the only descriptions of his flags, I've found are from the War of the Roses, so being a septenagarian he should still have the same flags. Hopefully!