As soon as the Earl of Northumberland and his son saw that he intended
to march up through Northumberland, instead of returning by the line
that he had come through Tynedale, they set their force in motion and
marched out; leaving a sufficient strength to hold Alnwick, should
Douglas attack it. Being joined, two days later, by the Earl of Dunbar,
they posted themselves in a position whence they could march to
intercept the Scots, upon any road they might follow on their way
north.
On the 12th, they learned for certain that the Scots were following the
road that would take them through Wooler. Moving instantly, the Earl
with his forces came up to them, posted on a hill, a mile to the
northwest of Homildon. He at once seized a hill facing it, and disposed
his knights, men-at-arms, and spearmen along the crest.
Hotspur would straightway have charged down, and attacked the Scots in
their position; but Dunbar put his hand on his bridle, and urged him,
strongly, to await the assault; and to provoke the Scots into taking
the offensive by galling them with his archers, in which he was far
superior to them; while, on the other hand, they were much stronger in
spears and horsemen.
Hotspur, seeing the goodness of the advice, assented to it; and ordered
the archers to descend, at once, into the valley between the two hills;
and to launch their arrows against the Scots.
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