ircumstances arose the lenity of
the borderers in their incursions and the equivocal moderation which
they sometimes observed towards each other, in open war[36].

[Footnote 36: This practice of the marchmen was observed and
reprobated by Patten. "Anoother maner have they (_the English
borderers_) amoong them, of wearyng handkerchers roll'd about their
armes, and letters brouder'd (_embroidered_) upon their cappes: they
said themselves, the use thearof was that ech of them might knowe
his fellowe, and thearbye the sooner assemble, or in nede to ayd one
another, and such lyke respectes; howbeit, thear wear of the army
amoong us (sum suspicious men perchaunce), that thought thei used them
for collusion, and rather bycaus thei might be knowen to the enemie,
as the enemies are knowen to them (for thei have their markes too),
and so in conflict either ech to spare oother, or gently eche to take
oother. Indede men have been mooved the rather to thinke so, bycaus
sum of their crosses (_the English red cross_) were so narrowe, and
so singly set on, that a puff of wynde might blowed them from their
breastes, and that thei wear found right often talking with the
Skottish prikkers within less than their gad's (_spears_) length
asunder; and when thei perceived thei had been espied, thei have begun
one to run at anoother, but so apparently perlassent (_in parley_), as
the lookers on resembled their chasyng lyke the running at base in an
uplondish toun, whear the match is made for a quart of good ale,
or like the play in Robin Cookes scole (_a fencing school_), whear,
bycaus the punies may lerne, thei strike fewe strokes but by assent
and appointment. I hard sum men say, it did mooch augment their
suspicion that wey, bycaus at the battail they sawe these prikkers so
badly demean them, more intending the taking of prisoners, than the
surety of victorye; for while oother men fought, thei fell to their
prey; that as thear wear but fewe of them but brought home his
prisoner, so wear thear many that had six or seven."--_Patten's
Account of Somerset's Expedition, apud Dalyell's Fragments_, p. 76.

It is singular that, about this very period, the same circumstances
are severely animadverted upon by the strenuous Scottishman, who wrote
the _Complaynt of Scotland_, as well as by the English author above
quoted. "There is nothing that is occasione of your adhering to
the opinion of Ingland contrair your natife cuntre, bot the grit
familiarit