The Morning herald., 1875-09-28

tmopnted on horses that were but small il
height, but excessively active. The me-
themselves carried no provision, except
bag of oatmeal and each had at his sad
die small plate of iron called a girdle, OF
which, When they; ;plesssd, they coqld, b ,bak \
! the, oatmeal into chkes.. .Fhey killed tn
cattle of the English, as they travelct
through the country, roasted the flesh OF
wooden spita, OF boiled it in the skins o
the animals themselves, putting in littl'
water with the beet, to preventive fire from
burning the hide to pieces. This wa
rough cookery. They made their shoes, OF
rather sandals, in as coarse away; emitting
them out Of the raw hides of the cattle, and
fitting them to their ankles, like what are
now called short CATERS. As this sort o.
buskin had the hairy side Of the hide out
ermost, the English called those who wore
them rough.tootsd Scots, and sometimes
from the color of the hide, rea-shanks.
AS such forces needed to carry nothing
with them, either for provisions or ammu-
milton, the Scots moved with amazing speed,
from mountain to mountain, and from glen
to glen, pillaging and destroying the coun-
try wherever they came. In the mean
while, the young King Of England pursued
them with much larger army but as it
was encumbered by the necessity of carry
ing provisions in great quantities, and by
the slow motions of men in heavy armor,
they could not come up with the Scots, al
though they saw every day the smoke of the
houses and villages which they were burn
ing. The King of England was extremely
angry; for, though only a boy Of sixteen
years old, he longed to fight the Scots, and
to chastise them for the mischief they were
doing to his country and at length he
grew so impatient, that he offered large
reward to any one who would show him
where the Scottish army were.
AT length. after the English host had
suffered severe hardships, from want of pro-
visions, and fatiguing journeys through
fords, and swamps, and morasses, gentle
man named Rokeby came into the camp,
and claimed the reward which the King
had offered. He told the King that he had
been made prisoner by the Scots and that |
they had said they should be as glad to
meet the English King as lie to see them.
Accordingly, Rokeby guided the English
army to- the place where the Scots lay en-.
,amped.
But the English King was no nearer to
he battle which he desired for Douglas
md Randolph, knowing the force and num-
,ers of the English army, had taken up
heir camp on a steep hill, at the bottom of
which ran deep river called the Wear,
having channel filled with large stones,
o that there was no possibility for the En-
,llsh to attack the Scots without crossing
he water, and then climbing up the steep
I'LL in the very face Of their enemy; a risk
'hlch was too great to be attempted.
Then the King sent message of def
nee to the Scottish generals, inviting them
ither to draw back their forces, and allow
i'm freedom to cross the river, and time to
lace his army in order of battle on the
ther tn side, that they might fight fairly, or
ffering, if they liked it better, to, permit !
hem to eros, over to his side without oppo-
!tIon, that they might join battle on a fair
eld. Randolph and Douglas did nothing ]
'ut laug at this message. They said, that
1hen they fought. it should be at their own
'Ieasure, ana not because the King of Eng
and chose to ask for battle They re- 5
nlnded him, insultingly, how they had ,
zen IN MS country, for many days, burn !
ng, taking spoil, and doing what they
h!ought tit. If the King was displeased :
With this, they said, he must find his way T
cross the river to fight them the best way
e could.
The glish King, determined not to quit {
lght OF the Scots, encamped on the oppo-
ite side Of the river to watch their mo-
IONS, thinking that want of provisions !
!ould oblige them to quit their strong po-
ltlon on the mountains. But the Scots
nee more showed Edward their dexterity |
marching, by leaving their encamp- :
aent, and taking up another post, even
tronger and more difficult to approach ,
han the first which they had occupied.
ling Edward followed, and again encamp- '
d opposite to his dexterous and trouble.
ONE enemies dtsirous to bring them to
a.ttle, when he might hone to gain an easy
lctory, having more than double the num- !
er OF the Scottish army, all troops Of the :,
cry best quality.
While the armies lay thus opposed to :
ach other, Douglas resolved to give the !
oung King of England a lesson in the art
i war: At the dead Of night, he left the /
Scottish camp with small Iody Of chosen
'orse, not above two hundred, we'll armed.
Douglas forced his way to the pavilion
i the King himself and very nearly car
led that young prince prisoner out Of the
middle OF his great army. Edwards chap
am, however, and many of his household / |
TODD to arms bravely in his defence, while
he young King escaped by creeping away
eneath the canvass Of his tent. The chap
am and several of the Kings officers were
lain; bnt the whole camp was now
!armed and in arms, so that Douglas was {