"The Scots then dislodged, seemingly resolved to return with all haste to their own country. But Otterbourn arrested their steps. The castle resisted the assault; and the capture of it would have been of such little value to them that most of the Scotch knights wished that the enterprise should be abandoned. "Douglas commanded, however, that the assault should be persevered in, and he was entirely influenced by his chivalric feelings. He contended that the very difficulty of the enterprise was the reason of undertaking it; and he wished not to be too far from Sir Henry Percy, lest that gallant knight should not be able to do his devoir in redeeming his pledge of winning the pennon of his arms again. "Hotspur longed to follow Douglas and redeem his badge of honour; but the sage knights of the country, and such as were well expert in arms, spoke against his opinion, and said to him, 'Sir, there fortuneth in war oftentimes many losses. If the Earl Douglas has won your pennon, he bought it dear, for he came to the gate to seek it, and was well beaten: another day you shall win as much of him and more. Sir, we say this because we know well that all the power of Scotland is abroad in the fields; and if we issue forth and are not strong enough to fight with them (and perchance they have made this skirmish with us to draw us out of the town), they may soon enclose us, and do with us what they will. It is better to loose a pennon than two or three hundred knights and squires, and put all the country to adventure.'" By such words as these, Hotspur and his brother were refrained, but the coveted moment came. "The hostile banners waved in the night breeze, and the bright moon, which had been more wont to look upon the loves than the wars of chivalry, lighted up the Scottish camp. A battle ensued of as valiant a character as any recorded in the pages of history; for there was neither knight nor squire but what did his devoir and fought hand to hand." The Scots remained masters of the field: but the Douglas was slain, and this loss could not be recompensed even by the capture of the Percy. Little did the "gentle Kate" anticipate this catastrophe when her fairy fingers with proud and loving alacrity embroidered on the flowing pennon the inspiring watchword of her chivalric husband and his noble family--ESPERANCE. FOOTNOTES: [40] Historical Memoirs of Queens of England.--H. Lawrance. [41] Emare. [42] _Bete_--inlayed, embroidered. [43] Amadis of Gaul, bk. i. ch. xv. [44] Ibid. bk. iv. ch. iii. [45] Orl. Fur.: transl. by Rose. [46] _Samyte_--rich silk. [47] _Pelored_--furred. [48] Lybeaus Disconus. [49] _Schyre_--clear. [50] _Hende_--kind, obliging. [51] _Alner_--pouch, bag or purse. [52] Launfal. [53] Amadis of Gaul, bk. i. ch. xxx. [54] _Hende_--kind, civil, obliging. [55] Saracen king. [56] _Asowr_--azure. [57] _Hewke_--herald's coat. [58] _Steven_--voice, sound [59] _Kantle_--a corner. [60] Drayton's Polyolbion, Song 4.