Adam Hepburn, 2nd Earl of Bothwell

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Hepburn,_2nd_Earl_of_Bothwell

Information form http://uk.geocities.com/nassarawa@btinternet.com

Son of the 1st Earl and his second wife Lady Margaret GORDON, daughter of George GORDON 2nd Earl of Huntley.

He was made Lord High Admiral of Scotland, but was one of those who fell at Floddon Field.The year 1513 saw Henry VIII campaigning in France, leaving seasoned warrior, the Earl of Surrey, to guard Northern England.

Invoking the Auld Alliance with France, James IV of Scotland crossed the Tweed with a large well-equipped army. He took Norham, Etal and Ford Castles and established a stronghold a mile to the south of here, on Flodden Hill.

Surrey marched his forces north but avoided the Scottish position with a wide flanking move to the east, making his approach to the Battle from the north, via Twizel Bridge.

James was forced to relinquish his fortifications and move his troops and heavy cannon to the ridge of Branxton Hill. The English lines spread out west to east along the ridge on which Branxton stands.

Battle commenced in the late afternoon of 9th September 1513, when the Scots' guns opened fire. It was dull, damp and muddy, having rained for most of the day.

In the following hours, these fields became the scene of bloody carnage in which an estimated 4,000 Englishmen and 10,000 Scots, including their king and many nobles lost their lives.

The opening salvoes have been fired. The Scottish guns have been hastily re-sited but their elevation has caused them to overshoot. By contrast, the lighter, smaller calibre English field guns proved to be accurate and deadly. Here, on the Scottish left, Hume's and Huntley's pike men formed up into their ranks, ready to descend and take on the divisions of Edmund Howard on the level ground to the front.

They were extremely successful. The Scots pikes were able to disperse Howard's troops with Howard himself being gravely wounded, and the English came close to fleeing the field. This looked like disaster for the English. The Scottish centre, further along Branxton Hill, saw the chance of total victory and charged down the slope to join combat.The opening salvoes have been fired. The Scottish guns have been hastily re-sited but their elevation has caused them to overshoot. By contrast, the lighter, smaller calibre English field guns proved to be accurate and deadly. Here, on the Scottish left, Hume's and Huntley's pike men formed up into their ranks, ready to descend and take on the divisions of Edmund Howard on the level ground to the front.

The Scots pikes were able to disperse Howard's troops with Howard himself being gravely wounded, and the English came close to fleeing the field. This looked like disaster for the English. The Scottish centre, further along Branxton Hill, saw the chance of total victory and charged down the slope to join combat.

The opening salvoes have been fired. The Scottish guns have been hastily re-sited but their elevation has caused them to overshoot. By contrast, the lighter, smaller calibre English field guns proved to be accurate and deadly. Here, on the Scottish left, Hume's and Huntley's pike men formed up into their ranks, ready to descend and take on the divisions of Edmund Howard on the level ground to the front.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Hepburn,_2nd_Earl_of_Bothwell

Adam Hepburn, 2nd Earl of Bothwell (died 9 September 1513) 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, under which he drew up his Testament.

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.

Adam Hepburn and Agnes had one child: Patrick.

The Earl of Bothwell was killed at the Battle of Flodden, where he commanded the Scottish reserve. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Flodden_Field