as much of him or more.  Sir, we say this because we know well all the power of Scotland is abroad in the fields, and if we issue out and be not men enow to fight with them, and peradventure they have made this scrimmish with us to the intent to draw us out of the town, and the number that they be of, as it is said, above forty thousand men, they may soon enclose us and do with us what they will.  Yet it were better to lose a pennon than two or three hundred knights and squires and put all our country in adventure,’ These words refrained sir Henry and his brother, for they would do nothing against counsel.  Then tidings came to them by such as had seen the Scots and seen all their demeanour and what way they took and where they rested.

      [4] i.e. ‘well fought with.’

How sir Henry Percy and his brother with A good number of men of arms and archers went after the Scots, to win again his pennon that the earl Douglas had won before Newcastle-upon-tyne, and how they assailed the Scots before Otterburn in their lodgings

It was shewed to sir Henry Percy and to his brother and to the other knights and squires that were there, by such as had followed the Scots from Newcastle and had well advised their doing, who said to sir Henry and to sir Ralph:  ’Sirs, we have followed the Scots privily and have discovered all the country.  The Scots be at Pontland and have taken sir Edmund Alphel in his own castle, and from thence they be gone to Otterburn and there they lay this night.  What they will do to-morrow we know not:  they are ordained to abide there:  and, sirs, surely their great host is not with them, for in all they pass not there a three thousand men,’ When sir Henry heard that, he was joyful and said:  ’Sirs, let us leap on our horses, for by the faith I owe to God and to my lord my father I will go seek for my pennon and dislodge them this same night.’  Knights and squires that heard him agreed thereto and were joyous, and every man made him ready.

The same evening the bishop of Durham came thither with a good company, for he heard at Durham how the Scots were before Newcastle and how that the lord Percy’s sons with other lords and knights should fight with the Scots:  therefore the bishop of Durham to come to the rescue had assembled up all the country and so was coming to Newcastle.  But sir Henry Percy would not abide his coming, for he had with him six hundred spears, knights and squires, and an eight thousand footmen.  They thought that sufficient number to fight with the Scots, if they were not but three hundred spears and three thousand of other.  Thus they departed from Newcastle after