Over against Norham is Ladykirk, with its ancient church, dedicated, tradition says, by James IV. to the Virgin Mary, in gratitude for his narrow escape from death here when fording the swollen Tweed. A field to the east of the village shows some, remains of military works, ramparts for guns probably, from which to fire on Norham. In a line between this spot and the castle there was found in the river a stone cannon-ball, fifty-seven inches in girth, probably one fired from "Mons Meg" when she was here in 1497. Following the light bank of Tweed we reach Carham burn, where Malcolm II. won Lothian in battle; from Carham to the sea the right bank is English. The next important tributary on the English side, as we ascend the stream is Till, formed by Bowmont and Breamish Waters, which rise in the "Cheeviots," as the Scots pronounce the name. "T weed says to Til' 'What gars ye rin sae still?' Says Till to Tweed, 'Though ye run wi' speed, And I rin slaw, Whaur ye droon ae man, I droon tw'a.'" The ominous rhyme sounds with the slow lap of the green-grey waters of Till among her alders, and appears to hint at {049}the burden of the ruinous fight of Flodden. [Illustration: 0069] On August 22nd, James IV., "a fey man," kept his plighted word to France, which Henry VIII. was invading, and led the whole force of Highlands and Lowlands across the Border. He made his quarters at Ford Castle, where he did not, as legend says, dally with Lady Heron, still less did his young son, the Archbishop of St. Andrews, fleet the time carelessly with her daughter. {050}James cleared his position by capturing Wark (now scarcely visible in ruin), Chillingham, and Eital castles. [Illustration: 0070] Surrey with the English levies, including the Stanleys, sent a challenge from Alnwick. On September 3rd, the Scots are said to have wrecked Ford Castle, now a substantial and comfortable home, still containing the king's rooms. James crossed the Till by a bridge at Ford, as the tourist also does, if he wishes to see the field of the famous battle. We climb to the crest of Flodden Edge; look south to the wooded hills beyond the Till, and northwards note three declivities like steps in a gigantic staircase. The Scots were well provisioned, and should easily have held the hill-crest against Surrey's way-worn and half-starved mutinous men. [Illustration: 0071]