Against a direct charge they were
unable to stand; but they attacked, with fury, whenever there was an
opportunity of fighting under circumstances when our weight and
discipline gave us little advantage. I hear, from Sir William Bastow,
that your little band covered the rear of Sir John Burgon's troop, and
succeeded in keeping them at bay, until he had broken the resistance in
front, and carried off a small party of villagers who were still
defending themselves."
"That was so, my lord. Our men were all accustomed to border warfare;
and had for the most part, before entering Percy's service, been often
engaged in border forays; and had taken to soldiering after their own
homes had been burnt, and their cattle driven off, by Scottish raiders.
Therefore they were accustomed to fight each for himself, instead of in
close order. Their horses, too, bred on the moors, are far more active
and nimble than are the heavier horses of the south; and enter heart
and soul into a fray, kicking and plunging and striking with their
forelegs at any who approach to assail their riders. Thus it was that
they were able to hold the Welsh carles at bay, far better than men
otherwise trained and mounted would have been.
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