ensure peace, for a
considerable time, on the border.

The prisoners were all treated with great kindness and consideration.
They were lodged in the castle, and were treated as guests rather than
as prisoners.

Oswald and his father were both pleased to hear, two days after the
battle, that when the Scottish dead were examined, the bodies of
William Baird and ten of his kinsmen were found, lying together. They
had resisted desperately to the last, refusing to surrender themselves;
well knowing that their misdeeds and many depredations, in England,
would bring them to the gallows, if taken alive.

"Well, Father, we shall be able to live in peace for a time, now. No
doubt the Bairds have brought with them every spear they could muster,
for none would willingly have stayed at home, when there was a promise
of gathering so much booty; therefore their strength must be altogether
broken, and it will be long, indeed, before the Bairds ride in a raid
into Northumberland."

His father nodded.

"'Tis a good thing, Oswald, assuredly; though I would rather that we
had had the attacking of them in their own hold. Still, at any rate,
there is an end of the feud for years to come; and I shall be able to
lie down to sleep, without wondering whether they will be knocking at
the gate, before morning."

Chapter 20: The Percys' Discontent.

During the time that had elapsed, between his receiving the news of
Mortimer's capture by Glendower, and the battle of Homildon Hill, Percy
had written several times to the king, with reference to his taking the
same steps to ransom Mortimer that he had taken on behalf of Lord Grey.
The king, however, answered very coldly; and one of his letters more
than hinted that he believed that Mortimer had voluntarily placed
himself in Glendower's hands, and that an agreement existed between
them. Not only was Hotspur furious at such an accusation, but the earl,
himself, was deeply angered.

"'Tis past all belief," Hotspur said, "that such a charge should be
made. Had Mortimer wished to join Glendower, he could have gone to him,
not as a prisoner, but at the head of three thousand good fighting men.
Why should he have thrown away the lives of twelve hundred of his own
vassals, and those of his nephew? Nay, more, had Mortimer intended
treachery, he might have marched and fallen on the rear of the king's
army, entangled among the Welsh mountains and forests, while Glendower
fell upon him from in fr