"Let them hold only the ground on which their feet stand.

As they advance or retire, close ever in on their rear, drive off their cattle and destroy their crops and granaries in the Pale; force them to live wholly in their walled towns, and as you gain in strength capture these one by one, as did we in Scotland.

So, and so only, can you hope for ultimate success." His advice was received with a silence which he at once saw betokened disapproval.

One after another of the Irish chieftains rose and declared that such a war could not be sustained.
"Our retainers," they said, "are ready to fight, but after fighting they will want to return to their homes; besides, we are fifteen thousand strong, and the English men-at-arms marching against us are but eight hundred; it would be shameful and cowardly to avoid a battle, and were we willing to do so our followers would not obey us.

Let us first destroy this body of English, then we shall be joined by others, and can soon march straight upon Dublin." Archie saw that it was hopeless to persevere, and set out the following day with the wild rabble, for they could not be termed an army, to meet the English.