History of the house and race of Douglas and Angus

HOUSE OF DOUGLAS. 179
been killed to day. This answer being so full of resolution
and courage, and void of all fear, did move the King to re-
gard him so much the more. They tell also, that being hurt
in his privy members, when, after the battle every man was
reckoning his wounds, and complaining he said at last, when
he had heard them all, They sit full still that have a riven
fa-cik. The speech continueth still in Scotland, and is pist
into a proverb, which is used to design such as have some
hidden and secret cau3e to complain, and say but little.
Holinshed writeth, that in respect of his noble parentage
and valour, he was tenderly cherished by King Henry, and
frankly and freely discharged without ransom; and such in-
deed is the custom of generous minds, to honour virtue even
in the enemy. It is generally agreed upon by all, that ha
was highly honoured and esteemed; so that the King, or some
of his nobles, caused draw his picture which is still to be seen
in the privy gallery at Whitehall. But touching his delivery,
some say that when he had staid in England certain months,
be was with difficulty set at liberty, after he had paid a great
sum of money. Others write, that he was detained eight or
nine years at least, but that seems to be too much; fur this
battle, called Shrewsbury-field, was in the year 1103, in the
fourth year of King Henry, on St Magdalen's day, and Dou-
glas was set free at the death, or not long after, of King Ro-
bert III. of Scotland, in the year 1406. When the Earl
heard word of his death, he made shift to agree for his ran-
som, and so returned with all speed into Scotland. It is said,
that George Earl of March didv him very good offices in
England, and was a chief mean and instrument of his deliv-
ery, being reconciled to him during his imprisonment; where-
fore the Earl Douglas at his return procured liberty for the
Earl of March to come home into Scotland, and to be receiv-
ed a freeMiege again; but upon condition that he should suf-
fer the castles of Lochimben and Dunbar to ranruin with the
Earl Douglas and his heirs, notwithstanding of any agreement
made between them to the contrary in England. And so in
the year 14 11, he was restored by the governor, after he had