sss • • : lord Neville who had commanded the defence of the frontiers of Northumberland for five years againft the Scots, was difmiffed : for this lervice he had been paid by the counties of Northum-berland and Durham, the fiim of fixteen thou-sand francs annually. Sir Henry Percy being appointed in his fiead to this command, with a falary of eleven thou-fand francs yearly, was a. cireumftanee which created much animofity md hatred between the Percies and Nevilles, who were neighbours and had • been friends. The barons and knights of Scotland, knowing of this, determined on an in-road to England, as the opportunity was favour-able, now the Englifh were quarrelling among themfelves, to make fome return for the many infults they had fuffered from them. In order that their intentions might not be known, they appointed a feaft to be holden at Aberdeen, on the borders of the Highlands. The greater part of the barons .attended | and it was then refolved, that on the middle of Auguft of the year 1388, they would aflemble all their forces at a caftle called Jedworth, fituated amidft deepforefts and on the borders of Cumberland. Having arranged every thing concerning this bufinefs, they fepârated, but never mentioned one word of their intentions to the king ; for they faid among themfelves, he knew nothing about war. On the appointed day, earl James Douglas, firft arrived at Jedworth : then came John earl of