He and Oswald scoured the
country, sometimes returning late in the afternoon, but often staying
for the night at the houses of one or other of Oswald's friends. Once
they crossed the border, and rode to the Armstrongs', where they
stopped for a couple of days, bringing Allan and Janet back with them;
for Roxburgh was still held by the English, and unless when hostilities
were actively going on, the people of the border, save the marauders,
who were always ready to seize any opportunity that offered of carrying
off booty, were on friendly terms, and maintained frequent intercourse
with each other.
Alwyn had returned to Alnwick when his leave was up. He had spent his
time quietly at the hold. He and his brother had discussed many plans
by which its defences could be strengthened, but arrived at the same
conclusion: that it could defend itself, at present, against any small
party, but must yield, however much its defences were increased, at the
approach of an invading army; since, even with the assistance of the
inhabitants of the surrounding districts, it could not maintain itself
until an army was gathered, and the invaders driven out.
Occasionally an afternoon was devoted to sports on the moor; and, on
one occasion, John Forster sent messengers down to Yardhope, and other
villages on the Coquet, and to the holds of his neighbours; inviting
them to come to a gathering, at which there would be prizes for riding,
wrestling, running, shooting, and feats of arms on horseback and foot,
and at which all comers would be entertained.
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