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252 SCOTTISH ANNALS
the king's nobles of the province of York were frankly enraged
that Scots should infest English territories ;
x and they gath-
ered with a strong force of cavalry at Newcastle upon the river
Tyne. For, as the matter pressed, they could not collect forces
of infantry. And they came thither on the sixth day of the
week, wearied by their long and arduous journey.
Now when they discussed in common there what was to be
done, the more prudent alleged that much had been done al-
ready, since the king of Scotland had retired very far, through
fore-learning their approach ; that for the present this ought
to suffice for their moderate strength ;
it was not safe for them,
nor of use to the king of the English, that they should advance
further lest ; perchance they should seem to expose their small
number like a loaf of bread to be devoured by the endless host
of the barbarians. They had not more than four hundred
horsemen, while in the enemy's army were estimated more than
eighty thousand men-at-arms.
To this the more eager replied that their most wicked foes
ought by all means to be attacked that ; they should not
despair of victory, which without doubt would follow justice.
At last the opinion of the latter prevailing, because God so
willed that the event should be ascribed rather to the divine
will than to the power or prudence of man, the men of valour
(among whom the leaders were Robert de Estuteville, Ranulf
de Glanville, Bernard de Balliol, William de Vescy,) somewhat
refreshed by the night's rest advanced in the earliest morning
with such speed, as though hastening by propulsion of some
power, that before the fifth hour 2
they had traversed twenty-
four miles ; although that seemed scarcely within the
endurance of men laden witji the weight of their arms.
And while they went a mist, so it is said, covered them so
in in the open, and they took him himself and bound him with tightest chains.
But of the Scottish ants so many are reported to have been slain that they
were said to exceed all number. And as the king was sent for incarceration
to the castle of Richmond, the prophecy of Merlin seems to have been ful-
"
filled. . . ." Cf. Geoffrey of Monmouth, VII, 3, ed. San-Marte, 95 : Scot-
land shall rage, and summoning her allies cease to shed blood. To her jaws
shall be given a bridle which shall be forged in the Armorican gulf."
Cf. R. de D., i, 384. M.P., Chr. Maj., ii, 293-294; H.A., i, 387-388.
Jordan Fantosme claims to have witnessed the capture ; 11. 1774-1775, in
Chr. of Ste., etc., iv, 350-352. A Jordan of Flanders was among those taken
with the king ; B. of P., i, 167 ; infra, note.
1 R. de T., in Chr. of Ste., etc., iv, 264 :
"
For this king [William] had,
with Roger de Mowbray and his other accomplices, for the whole summer
wasted the northern parts of England, which pertain to Scotland."
2 Of their march ?
" Before five o'clock," Stevenson. Cf. note by
Howlett, Chr. of Ste., etc., i, 188.