They therefore concealed themfelves and their horfes under oaks and other large trees until it was day. It was a long rime before they could make any fire from their flints and wet wood: however, they did fucceed, and feveral large fires were made; for the cold and rain lafted until fun-rife, but it continued to drizzle until the hour of fix. Between fix and nîne o-clock, the day began to get fomewhat warmer, the fun to fhine, and the larks to fing. The leaders then afîêm-bied to confide r what was beft to be done, for they had failed in their intentions of arriving at Melrofe during the night. They refolved to breakfaft in the open fields on what they had, to refrefh themfelves and horfes, and fend out parties to forage. This was exe-cuted, and the greater part of their foragers fpread themfelves over the country and adjacent villages. They brought hay and corn for the horfes, and provifion for their matters. It happened that the Englifh quartered in the abbey of Melrofe had that morning fent out their foragers, fo that the two parties met, and the Englifh had not the advantage : feveral of their party were (lain and wounded, and their forage ieized. When fir Thomas Mufgrave and the Eng-lifh knights in Melrofe heard of it, they knew the Scots were not far diftant : they ordered their trumpets to found, and their horfes to be faddled, -whiift they armed themfelves, 'for they were de-termined to take the field. They left the abbey in good order, and in handfome array. ' • * - 349 The