However, he brought Dunbar's wife and family, and a considerable force of his retainers, safely across the border.
He and Percy, together, then made a raid into the Douglas territory; and penetrated as far as Haddington, and collected much spoil from the country round.

Douglas, however, came suddenly upon them in great force, and they were obliged to retreat hastily across the frontier again, abandoning their baggage and booty.
The king's invasion was no more satisfactory.

The Earl of March was unable to place Dunbar in his hands; and, as the Scots declined battle in the open, he laid siege to Edinburgh, but without success.

Dunbar being closed to him, he was unable to obtain provisions, and was forced to fall back to England, having accomplished nothing.
During his invasion, he had shown much more leniency than had been the custom with his predecessors.

He had taken what was necessary to support the army, but had abstained from wasting the country, destroying villages and towns, and slaughtering the country people; and, so far from embittering the animosity between the two nations, he had produced a better state of feeling; and a truce was, in consequence, concluded for a year, at Kelso, by special commissioners from both kings, on the 21st of December, 1400..