This fpeech cheered both the countefs and all préfent. When night came, fir William prepared himfelf the beft way he could, to get out of the caftle privately, and unfeen by any of the Scots. Fortunately for him, it rained fo very Hard all that night, that none of them quitted their quarters : he therefore paffed through the army without being noticed. Shortly after, and about day-break, he met, on his road, two Scotfmen, half a league from their army, driving thither two oxen and.à cow: fir William, knowing them to be Scotfmen, wounded them both very feverely, killed the cattle, that they might not carry them to the army, and faid to them, 4 60 and tell your king, that William Montacute has paffed through his army, and is gone to feek for fuccour from the king of England, who is now at Berwick.' When the Scots lords heard this, they faid to one another, * The king often makes his men be wounded and killed without any reafon and, be* lieving that the king of England would come to give them battle before they ihould gain the caftle, they went in a body to the king, and told him, that his longer ftay there would neither bring him honour nor profit ; that their expedition had turned out ex* ceedingly well, and that they had done much mifchief to the Engliih by remaining in their country twelve days, and burning and deftroying the city of Durham ; that, every thing confidered, it was now proper for them to return to their own kingdom and homes, and carry off fafe the booty they had made: and that, at another feafon, they, would 5 follow