The reign of Henry IV. is distinguished by the “Battle of Shrewsbury,” one of the most terrible battles recorded in the History of England. Henry was surrounded on all sides by difficulties and dangers. His nobles were animated by mutual hostilities. His subjects in Wales seized the opportunity which the discontent among the aristocracy of England gave them, and broke out in insurrection. Inspired and guided by Owen Glendower, the indomitable Welsh fought a long and tedious battle, in which the royal representative, Sir Edmund Mortimer, was taken prisoner. Mortimer’s nephew, the Earl of March, was also carried into Wales. Henry could not be persuaded to offer a ransom for the liberty of Mortimer. His refusal embittered the Percies, to whose assistance he owed his crown. During this unsettled state of affairs the Scots made incursions into England. The peers consented to attend the king in an expedition against Scotland. The expedition proved abortive. Henry found that Richard III. would not obey his mandate to do homage to him for his crown; he found that the Scots would not submit; he found that they would not give him battle. He therefore withdrew and disbanded his army. The Scots, resolved to punish Henry for this miserable attempt at subjugation, marched into the northern counties of England at the head of Earl Douglas. They were totally routed in the battle which ensued at Holmedon; and Douglas, with a number of nobles, was taken prisoner. Henry ordered the Earl of Northumberland not to ransom the prisoners. Northumberland had a right to ransom or return them. A dispute was the result. The relations between the sovereign and the Percies were more deeply embittered, and Northumberland was forbidden by Henry to enter the court. _Get thee gone_, _for I do see_ _Danger and disobedience in thine eye_. _O_, _Sir_, _your presence is too bold and peremptory_, _And Majesty may never yet endure_ _The moody frontier of a servant brow_. _You have good leave to leave us_: _when we need_ _Your use and counsel_, _we shall send for you_.