Who ever heard of a battle where neither knight nor man-at-arms drew sword?
'Tis out of all reason to fight in that manner." "Nevertheless, Roger, as we have won a great victory, what matter is it whether we or the archers bore the chief hand in it?
The last battle we fought in was a different matter.

We had plenty of fighting, but no victory." "It was more to my taste, nevertheless," Roger grumbled, "even though the Welsh well nigh made an end of me; and, for myself, I could not help hoping that the archers would be beaten, and leave it to us to take our part in the fighting.

They had done more than their share when they had broken the Scottish ranks, and slain I know not how many; and it would have been fair of them, after that, to draw back, and leave it to us to finish the business." "'Tis well as it is, Roger, and for one I am well satisfied.

We have given the Scots a lesson that will keep them quiet for a long time.

We have recovered all the spoil they were carrying off, and we could have won nothing more, had we been in the thick of the melee, and come out of it, perhaps, sorely wounded again." Roger, however, was by no means satisfied; and, to the end of his life, always fell into a bad temper when the battle of Homildon was spoken of.
All the prisoners of consequence were taken to Alnwick, where the army fell back; much to the disgust of some of the more eager spirits, who would fain have crossed the frontier, and made reprisals for the woes the Scots had inflicted.