ch his pennon: he shall be well defended.'[3] Every man
accorded to his saying, what for their honour and for the love of him.
Also they lodged there at their ease, for there was none that troubled
them: they made many lodgings of boughs and great herbs and fortified
their camp sagely with the marish that was thereby, and their
carriages were set at the entry into the marishes and had all their
beasts within the marish. Then they apparelled for to assault the next
day: this was their intention.
[2] Froissart says 'eight English leagues.' In the next chapter
the distance becomes 'seven little leagues,' and later on, 'a
six English miles,' where the original is 'lieues.' The actual
distance is about thirty miles. The translator gives the form
'Combur' here, but 'Ottenburge' in the next chapter, as the
name of the place. It is remarkable indeed how little trouble
he seems to have taken generally to give English names correctly.
In this chapter we have 'Nymyche' for 'Alnwick' and 'Pouclan'
for 'Pontland,' forms rather less like the real names than those
which he found in the French text, viz. Nynich and Ponclau.
[3] Froissart says, 'if he comes, it shall be defended.' The
translator perhaps means 'he shall be prevented.'
Now let us speak of sir Henry Percy and of sir Ralph his brother and
shew somewhat what they did. They were sore displeased that the earl
Douglas had won the pennon of their arms: also it touched greatly
their honours, if they did not as sir Henry Percy said he would; for
he had said to the earl Douglas that he should not carry his pennon
out of England, and also he had openly spoken it before all the
knights and squires that were at Newcastle. The Englishmen there
thought surely that the earl Douglas' band was but the Scots' vanguard
and that their host was left behind. The knights of the country, such
as were well expert in arms, spake against sir Henry Percy's opinion
and said to him: 'Sir, there fortuneth in war oftentimes many losses.
If the earl Douglas have won your pennon, he bought it dear, for he
came to the gate to seek it and was well beaten:[4] another day ye
shall win 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 o
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