History of the house and race of Douglas and Angus

63 HISTORY OF THE
meaning, but even to detract from their valour, they expro-
bate their poverty* and cast it up as a reproach, to breed
contempt of them in others, and to ascribe to it what is due
to their worth, to wit, the Liberty and preservation of their,
country from all foreign enemies: we may say justly, that it hath
not been the immediate cause of their being preserved against
England, Danes, or whatsoever enemy; but that there hath
been as much sufficiency of things necessary, (call it riches,
or by what other name you list) as hath moved other nations,
especially England, to covet it, and coveting to invade it: and
when they had done their best, they were driven from it;
not so much by the barrenness and roughness of the soil, as
by many and sad strokes of the inhabitants thereof; and by
such acts and deeds as became wise, valiant, and courageous
men. Concerning all which, this one example will serve to
confute whatsoever hath been, or can be said of this kind, than
which we need no other proof, and that is this same huge
and great army raised by this king (Edward III.) and intending
to have come into Scotland, if he had not been thus affront-
ed by Sir James and Randulph; and before in his father's time
at Biland, and ^ which admitteth of no exception) at Bannock-
burn. In all which there is no colour of want of will; he
showed it, he professed it, and presumed to devour them
in an instant: no want of forces, having gathered from all
countries not only his subjects, but his friends also: no scarci-
ty of victuals, he had abundance of all things: no hills nor
mountains, they met in the plain fields: no foreign aid on
the Scots side that we hear of, besides the two Brabanders,
that King Edward sent to help them. And so again whatso-
ever progress or appearance of conquest the English have made
of Scotland, it was never by their valour and arms, but by
the advantage of an intestine war, they siding with the one
party, and at last overcoming both, as did Edward I. in the
days of Baliolj wherefore they make a wrong account, and
much mistake the matter, that thin'c the liberty of this king-
dom hath been maintained more by the barrenness of our soil,
want of will in our enemies, or of leisure in the English,