CHRONOLOGY

1488 – James IV of Scotland ascends the throne.

1494 – French armies invade Italy.

1496 – James supports the pretender Perkin Warbeck.

1497 – Scots besiege Norham Castle.

30 September 1497 – England and Scotland enter into a 30-year truce at Ayton.

8 August 1503 – The truce, ratified as a Treaty of Perpetual Peace in 1502, is consolidated by the marriage between James IV and Margaret Tudor.

1508 – The Scottish border warden Sir Robert Ker is killed on a truce day by the ‘Bastard’ Heron of Ford.

22 April 1509 – Henry VIII succeeds to the throne of England.

March 1510 – Treaty between England and France.

May 1511 – English expedition to assist Ferdinand of Aragon.

November 1511 – England enters into an accord with Pope Julius II and joins the ‘Holy Cause’.

1512 – James renews the ‘Auld Alliance’ with France.

10 August 1512 – Anglo-French naval engagement off Brest, death of Sir Edward Howard.

1513 – The Emperor Maximilian joins the Holy League.

May 1513 – The French queen appeals to James to intervene.

24 May 1513 – James writes to Henry requiring him to desist from hostilities against France.

30 June 1513 – Henry VIII lands at Calais.

12 July 1513 – Newcastle is appointed as the muster for the English army.

21 July 1513 – the Earl of Surrey organises his personal staff.

21 July 1513 – Henry leads the main body of the English army in France toward Therouanne.

24 July 1513 – James orders a general muster on the Burgh Muir of Edinburgh.

1 August 1513 – Surrey establishes a temporary HQ at Pontefract.

13 August 1513 – The ‘Ill Raid’.

17 August 1513 – The Scots complete their muster on the Burgh Muir.

21 August 1513 – The Scots army marches south to the advance muster at Ellam Kirk.

22 August 1513 – The Scots cross the Tweed at Coldstream.

24 August 1513 – James IV holds his final Parliament at Twizelhaugh.

24 August 1513 – The Scots siege of Norham Castle begins.

26 August 1513 – Surrey advances to York.

29 August 1513 – The earl moves north to Durham, collects the sacred banner of St Cuthbert.

29 August 1513 – Norham Castle capitulates.

30 August 1513 – Surrey reaches Newcastle where the English army is mustering.

1 September 1513 – Ford Castle surrenders, Scots establish HQ there.

1 September 1513 – The English army marches out of Newcastle, north to Bolton near Alnwick.

4 September 1513 – Surrey marshals the English army at Bolton where he is joined by his son the Lord Admiral. The English hold a council of war.

5 September 1513 – Surrey formally unfurls his banners at Bolton.

5 September 1513 – The Scots army digs in and deploys on Flodden Edge, the English herald Rouge Croix is sent with a challenge to James.

6 September 1513 – The English advance from Bolton to Wooler.

7 September 1513 – Rouge Croix is released and is sent back with a second message.

8 September 1513 – The English flank march begins. The Scots remain at Flodden.

9 September 1513 (a.m.) – The English cross the Till and advance toward Branxton.

9 September 1513 (p.m.) – The Scots deploy in their second position on Branxton Edge.

9 September 1513 (p.m.) – The English cross the Pallinsburn and begin their deployment.

9 September 1513 (p.m.) – The Battle of Flodden.

14 September 1513 – Surrey disbands his army.

24 September 1513 – Tournai surrenders after an eight-day siege.

25 September 1513 – News of the victory reaches Henry at Tournai.

26 November 1513 – A general council in Scotland invites John, Duke of Albany, to assume the governorship/regency of Scotland.

2 April 1514 – James IV’s flagship Michael is sold to France for £18,000 Scots.

March 1514 – The dissolution of the Holy League.

March 1514 – An Anglo-French truce is negotiated.

7 August 1514 – The truce is ratified as a peace treaty, the French cease all assistance to Scotland.