Series 1 > History of Greater Britain, as well England as Scotland

294
JOHN MAJOR’S HISTORY
[book V.
Further, in the thirteen hundred and fifty-third year of the Lord,
William William Douglas of Nithsdale was slain by William Douglas,
siam’b^his his godson1, the lord of Douglas, at Galvort, in Ettrick Forest,
godson. when he was following the chase. Whether his godson were
moved to this crime by the hatred he had conceived to him
[Douglas] for the part he had in the death of Alexander
Ramsay, or simply by a spirit of ambition, I know not; for
they were, both of them, high-spirited men, and their lands
marched one with another. While he lived there was no man
more fond of fighting than this William, whose end I have
just declared, and as between him and Alexander Ramsay, I
know not which excelled the other in a lofty courage and in
good fortune ; but in uprightness and nobility of mind I give
the first place to Alexander Ramsay. For that other was
given overmuch to revenge, and through him it was that not
only many Englishmen lost their lives, but two Scots also of
conspicuous worth. Now we know that bloodthirsty and
deceitful men shall not live out half their days 2; wherefore it
is no wonder if he perished by the sword of William Douglas.
CHAP. XX.—How Eugene, the Frenchman, was sent into Scotland,
and of all that was wrought by the Scots along with him against the
English. Of the honourable return of the Frenchman. Of the violent
attack made by the English upon Scotland, and their rueful return to
England, and of what the Scots did thereafter.
What was done In the year of the Lord thirteen hundred and fifty-five, the
Frenchmanthe French king- sent a certain noble, Eugene de Garrenter3, into
sentlnto^5 Scotland; and Eugene had in his train but few Frenchmen,
Scotland. but these were all men skilled in war. They brought with
them into Scotland a sum of money, which should be used for
the levying of an army against the English. Now the guardian
and the outstanding men of Scotland took the money, but
gave naught to the soldiers. This, however, did not hinder
the earl of the Marches and the lord of Douglas from gather¬
ing together their own following ; and they invaded the English
borders. William Ramsay of Dalhousie they sent forward
1 filium suum spiritualem. 2 Ps. Iv. 23. 8 i.e. Garancieres.