had been thrown; having, as they declared, been knocked
down by a giant fellow, who sprung from they knew not where, just as
they were about to lay hands upon your messenger. After they had
vanished, none had seen him pass the walls, and we judged that he must
have started in a craft that sailed up the Forth. Fearing that, if they
landed, he might speedily fall into the hands of Douglas, I sent a
vessel in chase; but they missed him, and indeed, from that time to
this I knew not, save by your letter to me, whether he had reached here
safely."

After a short stay, the Earl of March was about to return to Dunbar;
when he heard that the king, himself, was coming north with an army for
the invasion of Scotland, and would then confer with him, and consider
the terms on which he proposed to transfer his allegiance to him. A
month later the king arrived at Alnwick, and there George Dunbar, Earl
of March, entered into an agreement with him; in which he renounced all
fealty to the King of Scotland, in consideration for which he was
granted an estate in Lincolnshire, and other revenues. It was also
agreed that the subjects of the King of England should support the
earl, in time of necessity; and should be supported by him, and
received into his fortresses.

He was not, now, in a position to render any very efficient aid to the
king; for Robert Maitland, his nephew, to whom he had committed the
castle of Dunbar, had been summoned by Douglas, who had marched there
with a strong force, by order of the king, and had surrendered the
stronghold to him. However, he brought Dunbar's wife and family, and a
considerable force of his retainers, safely across the border.

He and Percy, together, then made a raid into the Douglas territory;
and penetrated as far as Haddington, and collected much spoil from the
country round. Douglas, however, came suddenly upon them in great
force, and they were obliged to retreat hastily across the frontier
again, abandoning their baggage and booty.

The king's invasion was no more satisfactory. The Earl of March was
unable to place Dunbar in his hands; and, as the Scots declined battle
in the open, he laid siege to Edinburgh, but without success. Dunbar
being closed to him, he was unable to obtain provisions, and was forced
to fall back to England, having accomplished nothing.

During his invasion, he had shown much more leniency than had been the
custom with his predecessors. He had taken what was nec