Battle of Humbleton Hill The Battle of Humbleton Hill ( or Homildon Hill ) was a conflict between English and Scottish armies on 14 September 1402 in Northumberland , England . The battle was recounted in Shakespeare ’ s Henry IV , part 1 . Although Humbleton Hill is the modern name of the site , over the centuries it has been variously named Homildon , Hameldun , Holmedon , and Homilheugh . Background . During the time leading to the repudiation of the Truce of Leulinghem , both Kingdoms began to raid the other . On 22 June 1402 , a small government backed Scots force , returning from one such raid , was beaten by George Dunbar , the Earl of March ' s son , at the Battle of Nesbit Moor , at which no quarter was given . Archibald Douglas , 4th Earl of Douglas arguably the most militarily powerful man in Scotland , and a key part of the Duke of Albany ' s administration , used the pretext of Nisbet Muir to lead a punitive expedition into England . With Murdoch of Fife , Albany ' s son , Douglas ' s army marched as far as Newcastle to avenge the battle . At the head of 10 , 000 men he laid waste to the whole of Northumberland . Battle . March persuaded Henry Percy , 1st Earl of Northumberland , and his son Harry " Hotspur " to lie in wait for the returning Scots at Wooler . Once Douglas ' s men had made camp at Millfield , relatively low ground , the English army rushed to attack . The Scots did however have keen sentries and the army was able to retreat to the higher ground of Homildon hill , and organised into traditional Schiltron formations . Douglas had not learnt the lessons that had defeated his great uncle at the Battle of Halidon Hill seventy years previously . The Schiltrons presented a large target for the English Longbowmen , and the formations started to break . A hundred men , under Sir John Swinton of the Swintons of that Ilk , chose to charge the enemy saying : " " Better to die in the mellay than be shot down like deer " " . All perished . It has been suggested that Douglas hesitated to signal the advance of his main force , and when he did , it was too little too late . Douglas ' s mauled army met the as yet unbloodied English men at arms , and were routed . Many of Douglas ' s leading captains were captured , including his kinsman George Douglas , 1st Earl of Angus , Thomas Dunbar , 5th Earl of Moray and Murdoch of Fife . Douglas himself was captured having been wounded five times , including the loss of an eye . This wounding was despite the fact that it is alleged Douglas ' armour had taken three years in its construction . Aftermath . With so many of the Scots leaders and chivalry taken prisoner , it left Albany in a precarious position militarily if not politically . It was only due to King Henry ' s internal and Welsh problems that the English did not press home their victory with a full scale invasion of Scotland . Henry IV was keen that so many able soldiers should not return to Scotland to fight against him , so refused to allow those who held noble captives to ransom them . This act was one of many of the grievancees that the Percies had with the Crown . In 1403 they allied themselves with Owain Glyndŵr , and went into open rebellion against the English king . Hotspur set his prisoners free , as there was by now chance of remuneration for them , and many including Douglas decided to join forces with him . Indeed Douglas fought , and was again heavily wounded at Hotspur ' s final fight at the Battle of Shrewsbury . As recounted by Shakespeare . Here is a dear , a true industrious friend , < br > Sir Walter Blunt , new lighted from his horse . < br > Stain ’ d with the variation of each soil < br > Betwixt that Holmedon and this seat of ours ; < br > And he hath brought us smooth and welcome news . < br > The Earl of Douglas is discomfited : < br > Ten thousand bold Scots , two and twenty knights , < br > Balk ’ d in their own blood did Sir Walter see < br > On Holmedon ’ s plains . Of prisoners , Hotspur took < br > Mordake the Earl of Fife , and eldest son < br > To beaten Douglas ; and the Earl of Athol , < br > Of Murray , Angus , and Menteith : < br > And is not this an honourable spoil ? < br > A gallant prize ? ha , cousin , is it not ? - - - Shakespeare , Henry IV , part 1 , act 1 , scene 1 . Battle site . The site of the battle is now located within the Northumberland National Park . The hill contains the remains of an Iron Age hillfort at the summit , built some 1500 years before the battle . During the medieval period the sides of the ruined fort were apparently used for summer settlements and sheep shelters . According to Keys to the Past , the Battle Stone at was traditionally thought to commemorate the 1402 battle , but is actually a standing stone dating to the Bronze Age .