We attacked Otterburn Castle, but failed to carry it, for it was strong and well defended.

There was a council that night, and most of the leaders were in favour of retiring at once to Scotland, with the abundance of spoil that we had gained.

But Douglas persuaded them to remain two or three days, and to capture the castle, and not to go off as if afraid of Percy's threats.

So we waited all the next day; and at night the Percys, with 600 spears and 8000 infantry, came up.
Our leaders had not been idle, for they had examined the ground carefully, and arranged how the battle should be fought, if we were attacked.
"Having heard nothing of the English, all day, we lay down to sleep, not expecting to hear aught of them until the morning.

It was a moonlight night, and being in August, there was but a short darkness between the twilights; and the English, arriving, at once made an attack, falling first on the servants' huts, which they took for those of the chiefs.