From Manx Soc vol IV,VII & IX

Holinshead's Chronicle.

In the year 1388, Robert, earl of Fife, and Archembald Dowglas, lord of Galloway, entered with a proud army into England, and in the meantime came sundry Irishmen by sea to the coast of Galloway, and landing in divers places, fetched away great booty of cattle, and other goods of the inhabitants ; whereas William Douglas, son of the said Archembald, being informed, got a convenient power of men together, by support of his brother-in-law, Robert, earl of Fife, and by license of the king passed over with the same shipped in certain vessels into Ireland, where being got on land, be laid siege to the town of Carlingford. The townsmen, doubting to be taken by assault, purchased a truce for certain days, promising to give .a great sum of money to have their town saved ; but in the meantime they assembled the number of 800 men, through help of another town, not very far off, called Doundalke, and joining with them, they divided themselves into two parts. One part set upon Robert Steward, of Durisvier, who having the conduct of the earl of Fife’s men, was gone abroad into the country to fetch in some preie ; and the other part assailed William Douglas, that still lay afore the town.

Nevertheless the said Robert and William received the enemies with such man hood, that they put them in both places to flight, and immediately after gave assault to the town, and entering the same per force, put all the goods found therein to the sack, and then set it on fire and burned it to ashes. This done, they took three score ships which they found in diverse havens and creeks there on that coast, and freighting 15 of them with such spoil as they had got, they burned the residue, and then returning homewards, spoiled the Isle of Man by the way as they passed. Shortly after their return home, the King of England sent an army into Scotland which did much hurt in the Mers, in burning and overthrowing divers towns and houses. King Robert being certified thereof, as then remaining in the north parts of Scotland, assembled the nobles of his realm at Aberdeen ; and there by all their advices it was concluded that the whole puissance of the realm should be raised with all speed, to revenge these injuries done to English men. Hereupon were two armies assembled, the one, wherein were 15,000 men, was committed to the governance of the earl of Fife, having with him the earl of Menteith, Archembald Dowglasse lord of Galloway, and Alexander Lindseie of Walcop. The other, containing like number of men, was appointed to the guiding of the earls of Douglas and March, having with them James Lindseie earl of Crawford, John Dunbar earl of Murrey, and the lord Hate the constable of Scotland, with divers others of the nobility [both which (saith Froissard) amounted to the number of 40,000].—.—Vol. 2,p. 248.