History of the house and race of Douglas and Angus

house of douglas; 1 jj
Here there was great inequality, where notwithstanding he
won the honour through the loss of himself: neither was it
accounted dishonour to his army, though more in number, or
to himself to have been thus overcome: for they are record-
ed to have done their endeavours, and discharged the parts of
valiant men, and were only overmatched by excellency of
valour, as we have shown, and as it may be seen by all
writers* not by hunger or cold, steepness of hills and moun-
tains; which I speak not to reproach any, but to make known
the truth, and withal, not to cover virtue on either side,
which was confessed of all in that age; neither was any man
found of another mind: only the Earl marischal of England
being a little after sent down with a company to be warden
of the borders, during Percy's captivity, who did build for
his ransom the castle of Penoun, near to Glasgow, durst ex-
tenuate the glory of the Scots with the reproach of his own
countrymen, attributing the cause of this victory; not to
the valour of the Scots, but to the cowardice of the English
that fought against them, boasting much of himself, that, if
he had been present, or if he should happen to have occasion
to fight with the Scots, he should do great matters. But
his boasting was soon made to appear but idle words: for,
moved by these his speeches, the governor of Scotland, viz.
Robert Earl of Fife, having raised an army, went into Eng-
land with Archibald Earl of Douglas called the grimy bro-
ther to this deceased Earl, and who did succeed him in the
Earldom, and made directly towards the Earl marischal, and
as soon as they came in sight, offered him battle: and when
they could not draw him out to fight, they sent a herald to
him to challenge him, and provoke him to fight, but all in
vain; for neither did he send back any answer, nor would
he come to an equal and even ground. Therefore they,
having spoiled and wasted the country with fire arid sword
in his sight, and as it were under his nose, returned home
into Scotland, to the great contentment of the Scots, and
no great discontentment of the English prisoners, who were
not vorry that his vanity was thus discovered. Certainly, the