The Battle of Poitiers, fought between England and France in 1366, ended in a decisive English victory. Among those captured was Archibald Douglas, a Scottish nobleman allied to the French. Sir William Ramsay, a fellow captive, saw Douglas and had an idea.
Striding up to Douglas with every appearance of indignant anger, he began to cuff him soundly. Asked what he meant by behaving in that way to a nobleman, Sir William burst into scornful laughter. "Nobleman, indeed! A scoundrelly lackey who somehow has got his master's armour. I know the rascal. Forty shillings is enough ransom for him. Off you go, sirrah, and search for your master's body."
And Douglas, with the crestfallen air of a detected impostor, slunk off -- to freedom.
一三六六年英、法普瓦捷之役，英軍大捷，俘擄者包括阿切博爾德．道格拉斯：這個蘇格蘭貴族，是法軍盟友。另一戰俘威廉．拉姆齊爵士見到他，心生一計。
他一副義憤填膺樣子，大步走到道格拉斯跟前，重重打他幾巴掌。英軍問他為什麼這樣對待一個貴族，他不屑的笑起來，說道：「貴族？哈哈！他只是個卑鄙奴才，不知怎樣取得主人的甲冑。我認識這個無賴。他的身價，只值四十先令。你這傢伙，快滾，去把你主人的屍體找回來。」
道格拉斯垂頭喪氣，像個騙子被認出一樣，悄悄溜走，重獲自由。