Off archeris thare assemblíd wire Twenty thousand, that rollyd[21] war, But men off armys, that war thar, Qwhare-off in abundance had they. The Scottis men, that in the park than lay, Wyst rycht nouht off that gadryng, Made thame gret myrth and solasyng. * * * * * [_Here[22] follows an account of the battle._] Jhon of Copeland there took the King Of force, noucht yholdyne in that takyng; The King twa teth owt off his hevyd, Wyth a dynt off a knyff hym revyd.[23] FOOTNOTES: [8] To. [9] Eager. [10] War. [11] Yearned. [12] Quickly. [13] Haste. [14] Fortification. [15] Made to be. [16] The English writers compute the Scottish numbers at threescore thousand, and state that fifteen thousand were left slain (_cf._ Baker's _Chronicle_). [17] After. [18] Lodged. [19] Their station. [20] Nevertheless. [21] Enrolled. [22] pp. 475, 476. [23] p. 476. A FIGHTING PRIOR. SOURCE.--Thomas Walsingham, _Gesta Abbatum_ (Rolls Series), ii. 378. When he had a small breathing space from his domestic rivalries, a greater trouble came upon Prior Thomas [of Tynmouth]. For the King of Scots, "David le Brus" by name, taking courage during the absence of King Edward (who at that time was fighting Philip, King of France, at Creçy), and being encouraged also by letters from the said Philip, gathered an army and entered the country, slaying many, taking others prisoner, burning the country, destroying the crops, extorting money for the safety of goods, and doing incalculable damage. But Thomas, unmoved by these things, stood firm, and so fortified his place with men and arms, and provisions, and weapons of war, that it would have been impossible for the enemy to injure his priory without great difficulty and danger. At that time, William Douglas, leader of the army, in whom the whole hope of the Scots was set, being an arrogant man and a mocker, sent, according to his manner, a messenger to Prior Thomas to tell him to prepare a meal for him, since after two days he proposed to breakfast with him; this order he sent hoping to shake his determination. Nevertheless, he did not break his word, but in truth prophesied, as once did Caiaphas. For, after two days, he was taken and sent to Tynmouth for safe custody. The Prior then hastened to meet him, laughingly saying he had come well to the breakfast he had prepared for him. And William said, "Indeed this coming is painful to me." "Not at all," answered the Prior, "you come most opportunely." At that time, the Scots being overwhelmed, David, the King, was taken prisoner, by which event the Prior was so much comforted that he recovered from a heavy infirmity, which his eyes had lately contracted. In fact, whereas he had not been able to see the light, suddenly, on hearing the news, he removed the plasters, threw off the bandages, and was never afterwards troubled by this kind of infirmity. THE SURRENDER OF CALAIS (AUGUST 3, 1347).