History of the house and race of Douglas and Angus

house of douglas. $3
after some Few skirmishes at their watering place, the Scots
removed their camp to another place that was stronger and
harder of access, which Hollinshed calls Stanhope-park,
whither the English also followed them. "While they lay
there encamped, the one over against the other, Sir James
Douglas, who was a provident and watchful captain, perceiv-
ing that the English watches were somewhat negligently kept
(either because they despised the small number of the ScotSj
or for that they thought they had no mind to fight, but to re-
tire) adventured upon a hazardous but hardy and worthy en-
terprise. He did choose out two hundred of the choicest of
his men, and passing the river in the night, a little off from
the English camp, he entered the enemies trenches on that
side they least expected, and approached the king's tent,
thinking either to have taken, or to have slain him: but the
king's chaplain being awake, discovered him, whom he slew
with his own hand for his pains: and now the alarm was giv-
en, and the whole army was up against him: wherefore having
only cut the king's tent-ropes, he returned safe in spite of
them, leaving three hundred of them slam in the place, who
offered to hinder his retreat. Upon this show and omen of
success and good fortune, Thomas Randolph would have
given battle in the fields; but Sir James advised him other-
wise, showing him how it was not for them, being so few in
number, to deal with so great an army in the open and plain
fields,but that their only way was to use sleights and stratagems,
and to keep themselves in places of strength and advantage. To
which purpose he told him the apologue of the fox, whom a
fisherman finding in his lodge carrying away a salmon to his
den for his young cubs, he drew his sword, and stood in the
door to kill him, knowing he had no other way to get oat.
The fox being thus straitened, went and took hold of the
fisherman's mantle, which lay by, and went toward the fire
to cast it into it and burn it; the fisherman to save his man-
tle, ran to the fire, and left the door free; so that the fox es-
caped out at the door, and, in his way, catched hold of the
salmon, and went clear away with all, to the fisherman's