History of the house and race of Douglas and Angus

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the great exploits atchieved by him, the consideration of the
time, in respect whereof (the peace being uncertain without,
and things not very quiet at home) military men were to ba
entertained, and used with all favour. By this occasion he did
not only obtain pardon for his fault, but he got also the gift of
keeping of the castle of Roxburgh, and sheriffship of Teviot-
dale, (and all other of his lands in Teviotdale, or elsewhere, re-
stored to him) which the other had, and which were the cause
of the slaughter. This clemency of King David was perhaps
profitable for that time, but pernicious in example: this fell
out, as hath been said, three months afrer the king's comma-
home; and therefore in October, or perhaps in September,
at the head court in Hawick, his pardon was obtained, and
his peace made with the king a little before the battle of Dur-
ham, which was in the year 1346, the 17th of October; so
that he was three or four years a banished man.
After his return from banishment, finding the king bent
upon his journey against England, he wisely and earnestly
dissuaded him, and did exhort him first to take order with
the disorders at home, and before all things to settle them:
for the Earl of Ross had slain the Lord of the Isles, wherebv
a great party of the king's army was diminished, the Lord of
the Isles' men lying back for want of a head, and so the Lord
Ross and his men for fear of punishment. So did also many
others that lay near them, retire and go home, fearing lest they
should suffer in their absence by their neighbourhood to those
disagreeing lords, and be some way damaged; wherefore
they thought good to provide in time, the best they could,
against all perils that might happen: for this cause he coun-
selled the king, first to settle peace with his own subjects before
he enterprized a foreign war; that, peace beino- settled, and
his army united, he might the more strongly and with better
success invade England. But the king contemning his T od
and wholesome counsel, (his French friendship prevatlin^
more with him than either his own good or the good of his
country) he raised an army wherewith he entered England,
and was countered by the English at Durham, wher 2 the