1

As soone therefore as the moone began to appeare, they joined again with more malice than before. The Englishmen fought so egerlie, that putting the Scots back, and causing them to give ground, they had woone the Scottish, and so by all likelihood got the upper hand, had not Patrike Hepborne with his sonne, and such other of his companie that attended him, come to the rescue, by whom the fight was begun afresh. Herewith also came the Earl of Douglasse, and with a great mace in his hand laid such sore strokes round about him, that none came within his reach, but downe he went. The said Douglasse, the younger, having with him Robert and Simon Glendowre, was (all which notwithstanding) most grievously wounded, whome his friends (coming about to succor) found them cast upon the ground; next unto whom lay one named Hart most miserablie wounded also. At that time a priest (which had faithfullie assisted this Douglasse in all distresse,) did (now the bodie being decaied) defend the same from other hurt of the adversarie. Douglasse being in this state, his near friends (John Lindseie, John and Walter Seinsclere) came unto him, demanding how he did. To whome he straitlie answered, (as one whome the presence of death nothing dismayed,) "that he was verie well;" for said he, "I do not die now in my bed by sluggish destinie, but in the field, as almost all my ancestors have done. Wherefore this shall be the last thing I shall require of you; first to keep my death most secret, secondlie, that you suffer not my standard to be throwne downe, and lastlie, that you revenge my death; the which, if I may, before hand, by your promise hope to be performed, I shall with more patience endure all other things." Whereupon they first severed his body that it should not be knowne, then they erected his standard, crieing (as the manner is (a Douglasse a Douglasse." At which voice there was so great a concourse of people, and such a joiefule assault upon the enemie, that forthwith they drove them from the place of the battel. For at the verie name of Douglasse, (not only the common people) but John Earl of Murrey, (supposing that the same side was in distress) prepared in all haste to succour

in consequence of which he received three mortal wounds in the body, which was left wholly unprotected. The Earl of Murray also, from the suddenness of the attack, forgot his helmet, so that he fought with his head uncovered. He, however, escaped un

hurt.

him. Finally, the whole number of the Scottishmen bare themselves so manfully, that the Englishmen being broken and put to flight, were slain and borne downe. The chase con

tinued till the break of day, with killing and taking, with such cases as is ever seen, though the greater indeed were taken with their lives saved, after they once fell in the chase. Among others Rafe Persie and his brother Henrie, were taken by Keith, the Marshall of Scotland, somewhat before the Englishmen began to turn.* But Leslius, lib. 7, p. 263, saith that Henry Hotspur was taken by Montgomery, who for his ransome did build the castle of Pounane, which his heirs to this day do enjoy. There were also taken besides the two Percies, divers other men of name, as Robert Ogill, Thomas Halberke, John Lilburn, William Wauchlut, Robert Heron, the Baron of Hilton, John Colwell, and Patrick Lovell, Knights. There

* This assertion of Lesly seems the most probable, since it is, in some measure, verified by the ballad, although it makes Montgomery kill Percy contrary to historical truth-and Montgomery himself to have been afterwards shot through the heart by an English Archer.

A Knight among the Scots there was,
Which saw Earl Douglas die,

Who straight in wrath did vow revenge
Upon the Earl Percy.

Sir Hugh Montgomery was he called;

Who with a spear most bright,

Well mounted on a gallant steed
Ran fiercelie through the fight.
And passed the English Archers all,
Without all dread or fear,

And through Earl Percy's body then,

He thrust his hateful spear.

With such a vehement force and might

He did his body gore,

The spear went through the other side,
A large cloth yard and more.

Amongst the English Generals who fled from the field was Mathew Ridmano, Governor of Berwick, whom James Lindsay (supposing by the beauty of his armour to be of nobler blood) did so vehemently follow (says our author) for the space of three miles. At last Řidmano, supposing that it was not by flight that he was to make his escape, (and deeming it better to hazard his life than otherwise to be slain without adventure) alighted from his horse to fight with his enemy on foot, which Lindsaie

were taken in all of Englishman to the number of a thousand and forty, and slain in the field and chase (as Froissard recounteth) above eighteen hundred. Neither did this victory chance to the Scots without great loss and slaughter. For among others the Earl of Douglass* was thrice stricken through the

did accordingly in the end, after a long conflict between them, the Englishman (being inferior to the Scot in armour and weapon) did yield himself to his adversary, by whom (after he had given an oath to return at a certain day) he was permitted to go at liberty! This anecdote points out the high chivalrous spirit of the borders, and is perhaps the first mention made in history of a parole of honour taken from a prisoner of war for his returning into the power of his Captor at an appointed time-a practice so common at present in Europe, and which shows our superiority to our ancestors in that nice sense of honour, which, by regulating words and actions, has been of such beneficial con sequences to modern society.

*It is related by some historians that, when the Scottish ar my arrived before Newcastle, Percy, desirous to show some proof of his strength and dexterity in fight, challenged Douglas to single combat. The challenge was accepted, and they fought with sharp ground spears: Percy, after having shown great skill and agility, was thrown out of his saddle by Douglas, but was roscued by a sally of the garrison, and carried into the town.

This fight is perhaps alluded to in the following verses of the ballad, although they put the challenge in the mouth of Douglas, and alter its motive.

But trust me Percy, pity it were,
And great offence, to kill
Any of these our harmless men,
For they have done no ill.
Let thou and I the battle try,

And set our men aside,

Accurs'd be he, Lord Percy said,

By whom this is denied.

At last these two stout Earls did meet

Like Captains of great might;

Like lions moved, they laid on load,

And made a cruel fight.

They fought until they both did sweat

With swords of tempered steel;

Until the blood like drops of rain,

They trickling down did feel.

Douglas, according to the ballad, was at last killed by an Eng lish Archer, after having attempted to bribe Percy to yield him self prisoner, which was, of course, spurned at by the latter.

bodie, and also wounded so mortally in the head that he died of those hurts immediately after." The death of Douglas is so beautifully described in the ballad, that we cannot help inserting it for the gratification of the poetical reader.

With that there came an arrow keen,

Out of an English bow,

Which struck Earl Douglas to the heart
A deep and deadly blow.

Who never spoke more words than these,
Fight on, my merry men all;

For why? my life is at an end:

Lord Percy sees me fall.

This battle was one of the most remarkable that was ever fought between two gallant nations, for the chivalrous valour displayed on both sides, the military renown of the two commanders, (the constant rivals of each other in "adventures high") the number of the slain, and the length of its duration. For, says the ballad,

This fight did last from break of day,
Till setting of the sun;

For when they rung the evening bell
The battle scarce was done.

It was fought, says Holinshed, upon St. Oswald's day, which which is the fifth of August, in the year 1888.*

* It may be amusing to the reader to have some account of the gallant Hepburn, who was, in a great measure, the means of restoring the battle when it was on the point of being lost to his country. The Earl of March being mounted one day on a young unbroken horse, was in the utmost danger of his life from its fierce boundings, when an English prisoner of the name of Hepburn, who was hard by, rushed forward, when the byestanders were retreating, seized the enraged animal by the bridal, and held it fast till its rider dismounted. In reward of this service, the Earl gave him lands in East Lothian, which his posterity enjoy to this day. It may be remarked that this family has produced many valiant soldiers, who, not only in the battle of Otterburn, but in many others, have distinguished themselves in the cause of Scotland. This event happened in the reign of David II.

FOR THE COILA REPOSITORY.

A JOURNEY TO THE TOP OF MOUNT SKIDDAW IN

CUMBERLAND.

་་་་་、

EARLY in the morning we began to ascend this tremendous mountain, having previously engaged a guide. The bottom of the mountain was beautiful, abounding in trees and shrubs, untill we came to the foot of Latrigg, a hill pretty large, round and heathy. Here the road began to contract itself, overhanging and being overhung by precipices, which, though green and beautiful, produced in us a considerable impression of danger. After a few minutes of very vigorous walking or rather climbing, the lake of Derwentwater, which had been previously concealed from our view by a group of cliffs and fells, opened upon us in all the luxuriance of wild sublimity. Upon our other hand the placid sheet of Bassenthwaite spread itself at full length. The road now became more precipitous and dangerous; we were forced to ascend in a zig-zag direc tion, and it required our utmost care and attention to pick our steps while scaling the ridge of a tremendous precipice, where one false step would in a moment have precipitated us into eternity.

As we continued to ascend, Derwentwater gradually grew less, and at length dwindled into insignificance, while new and dark ranges of mountains rose upon our view. We had now no tract, not even that of the sheep, to follow: all was dreary and wild. Following our guide through many turnings and windings, and sometimes crossing savage hollows where all view was excluded, we at length, and after much exertion, reached an eminence, from whence toward the south we had a beautiful prospect of the whole verdant vales of St. John and Nadale; studded with churches and houses, which appeared like specks, and bounded by large, dark, and scowling hills. After resting ourselves awhile here, we again recommenced our fatiguing journey, and penetrated into the dark heart of Skiddaw, where nothing met our eye but precipices, covered with moss and purple heath, piled upon precipices. No tree or bush appeared upon this part of the mountain, -no trace of man, nor of the works of man. Chasms, dark, deep, and tremendous, where torrents angrily thundering, and