me distant quarter. After harassing his army during some time in this
fruitless chase, he advanced northwards, and crossed the Tyne, with
a resolution of awaiting them on their return homewards, and taking
vengeance for all their depredations.[**] But that whole country was
already so much wasted by their frequent incursions, that it could
not afford subsistence to his army; and he was obliged again to return
southwards, and change his plan of operations. He had now lost all track
of the enemy; and though he promised the reward of a hundred pounds a
year to any one who should bring him an account of their motions, he
remained inactive some days before he received any intelligence of
them.[***] He found at last that they had fixed their camp on the
southern banks of the Were, as if they intended to await a battle; but
their prudent leaders had chosen the ground with such judgment, that the
English, on their approach, saw it impracticable, without temerity,
to cross the river in their front, and attack them in their present
situation. Edward, impatient for revenge and glory, here sent them a
defiance, and challenged them, if they dared, to meet him in an equal
field, and try the fortune of arms. The bold spirit of Douglas could ill
brook this bravado, and he advised the acceptance of the challenge; but
he was overruled by Murray, who replied to Edward that he never took the
counsel of an enemy in any of his operations. The king, therefore,
kept still his position opposite to the Scots; and daily expected that
necessity would oblige them to change their quarters, and give him an
opportunity of overwhelming them with superior forces. After a few days,
they suddenly decamped, and marched farther up the river; but still
posted themselves in such a manner as to preserve the advantage of the
ground if the enemy should venture to attack them.[****]

* Froissard, liv. iv. chap. 17.

** Froissard, liv. iv. chap. 19.

*** Rymer, vol. iv. p. 312. Froissard, liv. iv. chap. 19.

**** Froissard, liv. iv. chap. 19.

Edward insisted that all hazards should be run, rather than allow these
ravagers to escape with impunity; but Mortimer's authority prevented the
attack, and opposed itself to the valor of the young monarch. While the
armies lay in this position, an incident happened which had well nigh
proved fatal to the English. Douglas, having gotten the word, and
surveyed exactly the situation of the English camp,