counsall could prevaill. Thus we
continewed from the Wednisday, the last of October, till Mononday the
fyft of November,[1035] never two or thrie abyding ferme in one opinioun
the space of twenty-four houris. The pestilent wittis of the Quenis
practisaris did then exercise thame selfis, (God sall recompanse thair
maliciouse craft in thair awin bosome, we dowbt not;) for thei caused
two godlie and fordward young men, the Lardis of Pharnyherst and
Cesfurd,[1036] who ones had glaidlie joyned thame selfis with us, to
withdraw thame selfis and thair freindis: The same thei did to the Erle
Mortoun, who promissed to be oures, but did never planelie joyne. Thei
intysed the Capitane of the Castell to deny us supporte, in caise we war
persewed; and, finallie, the counsall of some was no less pestiferous
against us, then was the counsall of Achitophell against David and his
discomforted soldiouris. "Rander, O Lord, to the wicked according to
thair malice."

[SN: THE LAST DISCOMFITURE UPOUN MONUNDAY.]

Upoun Mononday, the fyft[1037] of November, did the Frenche ische out of
Leyth betymes, for kepping[1038] of the victuallis whiche should have
cumed to us. We being trubled amanges our selfis, and, as said is,
devided in opinionis, wer neather circumspect when thei did ische,
neather yitt did we follow with suche expeditioun as had bene meitt for
men that wald have sought our advantage. Our soldiouris could skarslie
be dong furth of the towne. The Erle of Arrane, Lord James, and a
certane with thame, maid haist. Many honest man then followed, and maid
suche diligence, that thei caused the Frenche ones to retear somewhat
effrayedlie. The rest that ware in Leyth, perceaving the danger of
thair fallowis, isshed out for thair succurse. The Erle of Arrane and
Lord James foirsaid, being more fordward nor prudent and circumspect,
did compell the Capitanes, as is allegeit, to bring thare men so ney,
that eyther thei must neidis have hasarded battell with the hole Frenche
men, (and that under the mercy of thair cannonis also,) or ellis thei
must neidis reteyre in a verray narrow cure.[1039] For our men warr
approched ney[1040] to Restalrig. The one parte of the Frenche wer upoun
the north towardis the sea, the other parte marched frome Leyth to
Edinburgh; and yitt thei marched so, that we could have foughten neather
cumpany, befoir that thei should have joyned. We took purpoise thairfoir
to reteire towardis the towne, and that with expeditio