he subject. During his three invasions, he has never once summoned Sir
Edmund to join him; nor has he passed through Ludlow, as he might well
have done, seeing that it is a central position, and the nearest way
for an army marching towards Plinlimmon. I remarked, too, that when I
mentioned Mortimer's name in my discourse with him, the king's brow
clouded, as if ill pleased at the name."

"Then he acts wrongly," Hotspur said angrily. "Mortimer has given no
cause for offence. He has never, in any way, upheld the cause of the
young Earl of March; and knows, well enough, that it would be madness
to set up his claim to the throne, when Henry has given no cause for
complaint, and that the boy's existence seems to be well-nigh forgotten
by the country.

"However, as soon as this business is over I will, myself, to London;
and will beg the king to exercise the same benevolence, in the case of
Mortimer, as he has shown on behalf of Lord Grey. Why, he might as well
suspect us, to whom he largely owes his kingdom, as Mortimer, seeing
that my wife is aunt to the young earl."

Early in August it became known that preparations were being made, upon
a great scale, by Douglas for the invasion of England; and that, as
Military Governor of Scotland, he had summoned all the great nobles to
join, with their forces; and it was even said that numbers of French
knights were, on account of the long friendship between France and
Scotland, crossing the seas, to fight under Douglas against their old
enemies.

"Methinks," Hotspur said to his knights, "there can be little doubt
that there is an agreement between Scotland and Glendower; and this
would account for the fury the Welshmen have been showing, and the
manner in which they have destroyed the cathedrals, churches, and
castles alike; and so forced Henry to march against them, with the
forces of the greater part of England, just when Douglas is preparing
to assail us here.

"The forces of Westmoreland, Cumberland, Durham, and Northumberland, if
together, might hope to make a stout resistance, even against so large
a force as Douglas is collecting; but we cannot so gather. The Earl of
Westmoreland, who commands the forces of his own county and Cumberland,
must needs hold them together; lest the Scots pour down, besiege
Carlisle, and carry fire and sword through those counties.

"From here up to Berwick the country has been so plundered, and
devastated, that it is almost a desert; and I c