and there lodged.  That day they made none assault, but the next morning they blew their horns and made ready to assail the castle, which was strong, for it stood in the marish.  That day they assaulted till they were weary, and did nothing.  Then they sowned the retreat and returned to their lodgings.  Then the lords drew to council to determine what they should do.  The most part were of the accord that the next day they should dislodge without giving of any assault and to draw fair and easily towards Carlisle.  But the earl Douglas brake that counsel and said:  ’In despite of sir Henry Percy, who said he would come and win again his pennon, let us not depart hence for two or three days.  Let us assail this castle:  it is pregnable:  we shall have double honour.  And then let us see if he will come and fetch his pennon:  he shall be well defended.’[3] Every man accorded to his saying, what for their honour and for the love of him.  Also they lodged there at their ease, for there was none that troubled them:  they made many lodgings of boughs and great herbs and fortified their camp sagely with the marish that was thereby, and their carriages were set at the entry into the marishes and had all their beasts within the marish.  Then they apparelled for to assault the next day:  this was their intention.

[2] Froissart says ‘eight English leagues.’  In the next chapter the distance becomes ‘seven little leagues,’ and later on, ’a six English miles,’ where the original is ‘lieues.’  The actual distance is about thirty miles.  The translator gives the form ‘Combur’ here, but ‘Ottenburge’ in the next chapter, as the name of the place.  It is remarkable indeed how little trouble he seems to have taken generally to give English names correctly.  In this chapter we have ‘Nymyche’ for ‘Alnwick’ and ‘Pouclan’ for ‘Pontland,’ forms rather less like the real names than those which he found in the French text, viz.  Nynich and Ponclau.

      [3] Froissart says, ‘if he comes, it shall be defended.’  The
      translator perhaps means ‘he shall be prevented.’

Now let us speak of sir Henry Percy and of sir Ralph his brother and shew somewhat what they did.  They were sore displeased that the earl Douglas had won the pennon of their arms:  also it touched greatly their honours, if they did not as sir Henry Percy said he would; for he had said to the earl Douglas that he should not carry his pennon out of England, and also he had openly spoken it before all the knights and squires that were at Newcastle.  The Englishmen there thought surely that the earl Douglas’ band was but the Scots’ vanguard and that their host was left behind.  The knights of the country, such as were well expert in arms, spake against sir Henry Percy’s opinion and said to him:  ’Sir, there fortuneth in war oftentimes many losses.  If the earl Douglas have won your pennon, he bought it dear, for he came to the gate to seek it and was well beaten:[4] another day ye shall win