So I sent word to every Galloway lord and laird and to my governors at Bothwell, Petty and Avoch Castles to muster at Threave in the fullest numbers on the Feast Day of Saint Peter and Paul, the 29th of July.
Five days before, Willie had taken ships with five hundred of my men for Carlingford Lough. It was the first time he had sole command. I firmly told myself not to worry about him. I had enough to worry about for myself.
I was pleased with the turnout. Because of the distance to the mustering place for Petty and Avoch only knights and mounted men-at-arms were called for from them. All Galloway sent as many mounted knights and men-at-arms and spearmen as could be raised, so I had four thousand to lead to the rallying place, a satisfying contribution. Joanna let Marjorie hand me the stirrup cup. I smiled down at her and emptied it. They went up on the ramparts to wave as we rode away.
It took three days to reach Jedburgh, and we turned south to go a few miles to the wide hollow that was our meeting place near a hamlet called Southdean. It was semi-organized chaos with horse lines stretching all the way across the hollow on one side, tents erected haphazardly, banners and pennants scattered throughout and cookfires sending up ribbons of smoke and on the far edge latrine ditches. Fife had set up a pavilion large enough for all the leaders to meet in the center of the camp.
We gathered quickly. Robert, Earl of Fife and Menteith, representing the king, was our leader. George, Earl of Dunbar and March and John, Earl of Moray, would make sure that their concerns were not sacrificed as the Stewarts were wont to do. James, Earl of Douglas, would make sure that he was first in the battle and received the lion’s share of the glory. James Douglas of Dalkeith knew I was for both our interests and would have my back. William Keith, Marischal of Scotland, a steady and experienced fighter, would try to bring some good sense to the proceedings.
We pulled camp stools up to the rough trestle table.
Fife said, “I have a spy—a servant—in Henry Percy’s household.” His having a spy in England surprised no one. No doubt, the English had spies in our households as well. He continued, “He sent me word that they ken our plans for an invasion. Northumberland has sent Henry Hotspur and Sir Ralph with all the men he could raise, mayhap eight thousand, to intercept us. What my spy didnae ken is where they were going. It could be Newcastle, but Carlisle is more likely. They will expect us to attack there and will hope to cut us off on our way home.”
We had not expected the Percy army to have already been raised and in the field. This did indeed change things. But having raised such a large army as we had here and for good reasons, we could not just turn around and go home, especially since we outnumbered Percy’s forces.
I tugged my ear, trying to decide the best plan. I had four thousand men. Douglas had even more. All the rest brought us to at least sixteen thousand men, so we outnumbered Hotspur Percy’s army by a large margin. Not that the largest army always won as King David had learnt at the Battle of Neville's Cross. We would still have to be canny and choose our strategy. And choose our battlefield.
“If we take the middle march and at first attack Haltwhistle, it will allow us to turn east to Newcastle or west to Carlisle once our scouts—” I nodded to Fife. “—or spies find where Hotspur and his brother have taken their army.”
Fife shook his head. “An army this size is too slow and unwieldy. By the time we turned and marched to where they were supposed to be, they could be elsewhere. I dinnae think Percy is likely to want to face so large a force in battle, so an ambush or night attack is more likely what he would do.”
Young Douglas snorted. “Percy is as eager for a fight as I am. He’s nae old man to refuse battle.”
“I agree!” Dunbar said.
James of Dalkeith and I exchanged glances. Had we ever been such hotheads? Mayhap. But I could not remember it.
“Henry Percy does have a reputation as a firebrand, but not so much that he would attack an army half again larger than his own. Dividing in two so we can bring him to battle might be a better plan.” Fife tapped his fingers on the table. “Percy is most likely to believe we will attack Carlisle and try to cut us off from a retreat. But their home territory is Newcastle, so he might be protecting his father’s lands.”
William Keith put his elbows on the table and clasped his hands. “If we divided the army, half could attack around Carlisle and the other around Durham. If they needed to retreat, a smaller army could move faster. And the other half could come to their aid if it were needed.”
I still doubted the wisdom of the strategy, but each half would be large enough to be a formidable fighting force. And I appeared to be outnumbered. Besides, I respected William Keith’s opinion. “If we divide our force, we should keep the numbers about even so neither is at a disadvantage because either is going to be outnumbered by Percy.”
“I want to march toward Durham,” Douglas said. “That is the most likely to draw the Percy brothers out! And I mean to fight Harry Hotspur.”
Fife slapped his hand down on the table. “Well enough. I am decided. If you want the western march, you may have it, Douglas. You and Dunbar can raid the towns near Durham. Archibald and I will lead our men to ravage the towns near Carlisle.” He looked around the table, eyes narrowed as he made a decision. “Keith, you are with Douglas. Dalkeith, you are with us.”
That made the two forces about even. “Then we should prepare to march tomorrow,” I said. “The graze here will be gone by then for our horses, and I prefer letting the English provide their grain.”
Douglas laughed. “Now there, I agree with you.”
Once we were out of the tent and striding through the crowded, noisy camp, James asked, “You dinnae agree with this strategy?”
“I would have liked to take advantage of the army being so large. We could take Durham or even Newcastle with an army this large. Make them pay a ransom nae to be sacked, but that wouldnae suit the firebrands eager for glory like Douglas. And Fife is right that it is unwieldy. An army this size cannae move fast.” I shrugged. “This can work but we need a little luck, and we Scots are nae always lucky.”