and considerable damage, one
of which was headed by Angus and his brother George Douglas (this
latter, however, being promptly punished and defeated on the spot by the
brave Borderers), James made the usual call for a general assembly of
forces on the Boroughmuir: but he had advanced only a little way on his
march to the Borders when he was stopped by the declaration of the lords
that they would only act on the defensive, and would on no account go
out of Scotland. The fathers of these same lords had followed James IV,
though with the strongest disapproval, to the fatal field of Flodden,
their loyalty triumphing over their judgment: but the sons on either
side had no such bond between them. James disbanded in disgust the
reluctant host, which considered less the honour of Scotland than their
own safety; but got together afterwards a smaller army under the
leadership of Lord Maxwell, with which to try over again the old issue.
Pitscottie's account of the discussions and dissensions, and of all the
scorns which subdued James's spirit, is very graphic. Norfolk had led a
great body of men into Scotland, who though not advancing very far had
done great harm burning and ravaging; but, checked by a smaller force,
which held him back without giving battle, had finally retired across
the Border, where James was very anxious to have followed him.

"The King's mind was very ardent on battel on English ground, which
when the lords perceived they passed again to the council, and
concluded that they would not follow the Duke of Norfolk at that
time for the King's pleasure, because they said that it was not
grounded upon no good cause or reasone, and that he was ane better
priests' king nor he was theirs, and used more of priests' counsel
nor theirs. Therefore they had the less will to fight with him, and
said it was more meritoriously done to hang all such as gave counsel
to the King to break his promises to the King of England, whereof
they perceived great inconvenients to befall. When they had thus
concluded, and the King being advertised thereof, the King departed
with his familiar servants to Edinburgh; but the army and council
remained still at Lauder."

It was a fatal spot for such a controversy, the spot where, two
generations before, the favourite friends and counsellors of James III,
whether guilty or not guilty--who can say?--were hanged over the bridge
as an example to a