Thus the king returned across the border without having achieved any success, whatever.
The Lords of the Marches were not now ordered to contribute any troops, but were to hold their castles strongly; lest, when the army was fairly entangled among the mountains, Glendower should make a great incursion into England.

The only advantage gained by the English invasion was that the king, by promises of pardon and rewards, drew away a number of the leading men who had hitherto acted with Glendower.

Their defection, however, was more than made up by the enthusiasm excited by the spectacle of the second retirement of a great English army, without having effected anything of importance.
So evident was this, that in October Henry again advanced, with the contingents of no fewer than twenty-two counties.

The season, however, was already unfavourable for operations and, after enduring great hardships and suffering, the army again fell back, having effected even less than the two which had preceded it.
Things, however, turned out fortunately for Oswald.

The army had advanced a week across the border when a messenger arrived at Ludlow, with a letter from London for the king.
"It will be no easy matter to forward it," Sir Edmund said, as the despatch was handed to him.