Battle of Homildon Hill

On 22 June 1402, a small force backed by the Scots government, returning from one such raid, was attacked and defeated by George Dunbar, the Earl of March's son, at the Battle of Nesbit Moor, at which no quarter was given.

Once Douglas's men had made camp at Milfield, relatively low ground, the English army rushed to attack.

Douglas himself was captured having been wounded five times, including the loss of an eye, despite the fact his armour had allegedly taken three years to make.

It was only due to King Henry's internal and Welsh problems that the English did not press home their victory with a full-scale invasion of Scotland.

Henry IV was keen that so many able soldiers should not return to Scotland to fight against him, so refused to allow those who held noble captives to ransom them.

Hotspur set his prisoners free, as there was by now no chance of remuneration for them, and many including Douglas decided to join forces with him.

The Earl of Douglas is discomfited: Ten thousand bold Scots, two and twenty knights, Balk’d in their own blood did Sir Walter see On Holmedon’s plains.