As a conclufion, we fhall give our Readers the narrative of the battle between the Earl of Douglas, and the fons of the Earl of Northumberland, which is faid to be the foundation of that old epic fong, well known by the title of Chevy-Chace.

The Scotish army, as already hinted, having ravaged the eaftern borders of England, to a very great degree, was commanded by James Earl Douglas, who, entering the bishopric of Durham, committed the fame hoftilities there; which Piercy Earl of Northumberland receiving advice of, fent his fons Henry and Ralph, to intercept him on his return homewards. But Douglas being arrived at Newcastle upon Tyne, endeavoured, by reproachful language, to provoke the numerous garrifon to come out and fight him. Irritated at this, Henry, eldest son of the Earl of Northumberland, (through his violent difpofition firnamed Hotspur) being therein, fent Douglas a challenge to fight him in fingle combat; which being readily accepted, they foon entered the lifts, in fight both of the army and garrifon. In the frit course Piercy was unhorfed, and Douglas, fnatching his fpear, with an audible voice declared, that he would carry it along with him as a trophy into Scotland. Piercy was rescued by the garrifon. Douglas not being able to attack Newcastle in form, marched the day after homewards, and in a fhort time arrived at Otterburn in Riddefdale. Piercy concluding it would be a great difhonour to him to have his fpear carried into Scotland, marched with all his men to retake it; of which Douglas receiving intelligence, prepared to receive them. The battle began in the forenoon, and continued till towards the next morning, when the Scots gave ground, and Douglas was in danger of being taken. This being obferved by the two Patricks Heburns, father and fon, they, with the greatest intrepidity, rallied the troops, and by a furious affault reftored the fight. Thus Douglas was enabled to break the enemy, and having pufhed them too far, was furrounded and killed on the fpot. This infpired his men with frefh courage, which is unusual on the like occafion: they vigorously renewed the attack, and obtained a compleat victory. Henry Piercy, alias Hotspur, was taken prifoner; as was his brother Ralph fome time before. Of the English were flain eighteen hundred and forty, about one thoufand wounded, and one thoutand and forty taken prifoners. On the Scotifh fide were killed about one hundred, and two hundred taken prifoners.

The Bishop of Durham arriving at Newcale with a great reinforcement for Piercy's army, a few days after Hotspur's departure, and not being able to overtake him, deferred his march. In the interim, being joined by a number of people from divers parts, his army was increased to ten thousand men, with whom

he

he fet out next day in queft of the Scots: who, being advertised of his march, prepared to receive him with vigour; of which the Bishop receiving advice, he judged it the fafeft way to secure both himself and his men by a timely retreat.

The Scots having no other enemy to fear at present, permitted seven hundred prifoners to withdraw, among whom was Ralph Piercy, on their promise to return when called for. Many of the common fort were discharged gratis; but Henry Piercy, with about four hundred of the nobility, and perfons of diftinction, were carried prifoners to Scotland. This is the celebrated battle that was fought at Otterburn, on the 21ft of July, anno 1338, commonly called the battle of Cheviot-chafe, from the noted ballad of that name.

This inftance, happening about four centuries ago, may ferve to fhew, by comparing the circumstances with the ballad, what regard is due to the relations given in epic poetry respecting facts of more antient date.

MONTHLY

CATALOGUE,

For NOVEMBER, 1757.

POLITICA L.

Art. 1. Obfervations on fome Remarks in the Monthly Review, for March, 1757, on a Pamphlet intitled, The Independent Freeholder's Letter to the People of England, fhewing, That the chief Point inculcated in the faid Letter, and which the Reviewers think Scarce attainable, viz. the calling of frequent Parliaments, might easily be gained by a proper Union of the People. 8vo. 6d. Corbet.

C

Oncerning the expediency of rew, frequent, and free Parliaments, it may be gathered from the recital of this title page, that the Reviewers, and the Gentleman, Author of this piece, have no controversy. It was a fundamental of the conftitution, that Parliaments fhould be frequent and free: the fame is afferted in the ftrongest terms, in the national Declaration of Rights, which accompanied the tender of the Crown to the Prince and Princefs of Orange; and what follows is the preamble of the Triennial Act paffed in the fixth of William and Mary. "Whereas by the antient "laws and ftatutes of this kingdom, frequent Parliaments ought "to be held; and whereas frequent and new Parliaments tend "very much to the happy union and good agreement of the King "and People, we your Majefty's, &c. do mott humbly befeech, &c. "and it is hereby declared and enacted, &c. that from henceforth

Hh 2

"a Par

"a Parliament fhall be holden once in three years at the least." Prorogations, a fpecies of King-craft, brought into play by Henry VIII. gave the firft fhock to this corner ftone of our ancient fyftem. Dif. continuance of Parliaments, and abuse of Parliaments, became alternately matter of national grievance afterwards; and in the year 1716, advantage was taken of the times to obtrude the feptennial Act on the nation. Deliverance from the fuppofed mischiefs of this Act, (againft which only four boroughs petitioned, tho' it fo deeply affected the claims and rights of the whole community) is the point our Author labours, both in this and his former performance; and the means he recommends, are, complaints, petitions, and remonftrances, preferred and fupported by the joint voice of the people.To encourage us to join in this cry, he fpecifies feveral points obtained, both in England and Ireland, by the force of it; and he adds, all the stimulations in the power of words to induce his fellow. fubjects to think and act accordingly.-But what weight is there in words? And if the calling of frequent Parliaments might eafily be gained by a proper union of the people, how is this proper union to be gained? How few of the people will give this pamphlet a reading? How few of the people that do read it, will beftow a fecond thought upon it? And if it were poffible for ten thousand individuals to take their bias from it, how could they be brought to co-operate in one and the fame purpofe? In fhort, the object defired, appears to the Reviewer, full as unattainable this year as it did the laft; and if he was to fay more, he thinks the make and colour of the Times would juftify him. The people are either not to be moved, or not to be fixed. Those best qualified to interpofe for the preservation of the public, cannot be prevailed upon to interpofe; but remain as fo many spectators at the theatre, filently waiting the catastrophe, which every new incident accelerates. For the reft, they are a quickfand, now agitated by intereft, now by paffion; confiftent never :-while, on the other hand, the B-gh-ho-ers only tumultuate till they agree in the choice of a proper Py Mr. After which the Macedonian phalanx was not more compact, or more irrefiftable. Acting then for themselves in the name of the nation, (the thing laid to their charge at least) and in poffeffion of all the powers requifite for their own purposes, what room is there to hope, that they can be either writ, or talked, or clamoured up to fuch a pitch of self-denial, as fhould induce them to make a facrifice of themselves to the public? And unless they could be fo induced, might we not cry and curse till our hearts ached (not having the ark of God with us) before we fhould fee the citadel of Corruption, like Jericho, fall to the ground.

Art. 2. The Profperity of Britain, proved from the Degeneracy of its People. A Letter to the Reverend Dr. Brown on his Efti mate of Manners. With fome Thoughts on his Anfwerer in the Real Character. 8vo. Is. Baldwin.

This piece appears to be the offspring of a flighty imagination. The Writer affects to ridicule the Effeminacy of the Age, in a

ftrain of irony which he is scarce able to support through two pages

in fucceffion.

In the opening, this Triffler attempts to be fyllogiftical. You must grant, fays he, the following plain postulatum.

• That character of a people is the most advantageous to a State, under the influence of which the people are most happy.

This is felf-evident: and this granted, the whole of my deduction follows of confequence; and is proved under these three propofitions.

1. That Wisdom and Virtue are neceffary to the profperity of a State.

2. That all wife and good men have afferted this neceffity.

3. That the People of England have no Wisdom or Virtue.

From thefe it is evident, that the people of England owe their profperity to fome fuperior quality.'

But, with due deference to this extraordinary Logician, thefe propofitions warrant a very different conclufion: for if Wisdom and Virtue are neceffary to the Profperity of a State, and if the People of England have no Wifdom or Virtue, confequently they can enjoy no Profperity: which undermines the very foundation on which he has erected his airy fuperftructure.

It must be allowed, however, that there are here and there fome lively fallies of fancy, of which the Reader may see a specimen in the following extract.

What is profperity but wealth? And are the most virtuous of mankind the richeft? It is ftrange men do not in any course of life perceive; that nothing stands fo much in the way of getting riches as virtue; nor was there ever an inftance of a man who gave the preference to one that poffeffed the other. There is fomething abfurd, even to ridicule, in the vehemence with which the threadbare Curate preaches the utility of virtue, and afferts in his darned caflock the certain profperity that attends it. Himself is probably an exception. to his doctrine. Virtues that would do honour to a mitre are buried under his brown hat; and his Rector, wnose profperity he cannot. but envy, has purchaíed the cure with a covenant of immediate refignation.

Let the Preacher blush to read this: unlefs beggary be profperity, and fimony be virtue, he has vented faifehood from the pulpit.'

We do not think, however, that this is either a time or a fubject proper for the difplay of fuch idle levity as runs through this performance. And we recommend it to the Author, never more to deal in irony, till he has learned the proper ufe of it. Irony ought only to be employed in expofing bafe and unworthy principles; but the Curate, preaching profperity as the confequence of virtue, is not a proper object for its ridicule.

It is no wonder, however, that a Writer who seems to be an utter ftranger to any kind of regular fyftem, fhould endeavour to render other people's notions as unfettled as his own.

Art. 3. Lottery Schemes in general, calculated to raife any Sums of Money, without enhancing the Public Debt or Taxes. Humbly addreffed to the Legiflature. By John Woodcock. 8vo. 6d, Cooper.

Inftead of attempting to give our Readers an adequate idea of a pamphlet which confifts entirely of figure-work, we shall only remark, that the Author's name feems unbappily adapted to a work of this nature. Let its import be reversed: inttead of Woodcock, let us read Fowler; and transfer the former name to the Public: for those are properly the Woodcocks who are caught in our State-lottery-nets. Art. 4. A Letter from Lewis XV. to GMt. 8vo, 6d. Pottinger.

Defigned to ridicule and abufe General Mordaunt; and candidly published before the Inquiry into his conduct took place. The Author's abilities are of a-piece with his generofity. He puts us in mind of the name, Lewis Baboon, bestowed upon the Grand Monarch by the Writer of the History of John Bull: for Lewis XV. is, by this Letter-fcribbler, made to chatter like any Monkey.

Art. 5. A Letter from an Officer in the Army, to the People of Great Britain, relative to the late fecret Expedition. 8vo. Is. Staples,

A weak defence of the Officers who commanded in the late Expedition.

Art. 6. The State Farce; or, They are all come home, &c. 8vo. 6d. Scott.

This ranks with the Secret Expedition, a Farce, mentioned in our Catalogue for laft month; and probably comes from the fame indefatigable Grub; who may be commended for his industry, tho' he cannot be praifed for his ingenuity.

Art. 7. Remarks upon a Letter publifhed in the London Chronicle, or Univerfal Evening Poft, No. 115. Containing an Enquiry into the Caufes of the Failure of the late Expedition against CapeBreton. In a Letter to a Member of Parliament. 8vo. 6d. Cooper.

The Author fets out with remarking, that with regard to the late Expedition against Cape Breton, under the conduct of Admiral Holborne and General Loudon, No better scheme could have been projected for retrieving our late misfortunes in North-America, than that enterprize. The importance of Cape Breton to the French, may be estimated from the effect which the reduction of it had in the last war; it paved the way for the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, and the

reftitution