Anonymous

“ In the annals of Scotland, no name has been more celebrated for valour and enterprise than that of Douglas. They themselves boast that their line is so ancient, that no person can point out the first man that originally elevated the family. ”

“ When he had thus got into the midst of the English camp without being discovered, he drew his sword, and cut asunder the ropes of a tent, calling out his usual war-cry,—"Douglas, Douglas! English thieves, you are all dead men!" His followers immediately began to cut down and overturn the tents, cutting and stabbing the English soldiers as they endeavoured to get to arms. ”

“ The battle of Bannockburn, so glorious to the Scots, put an end to the pretensions of the English King to the crown of Scotland. Instead of being able to send more armies into Scotland, England was, in its turn, invaded by the Scots; and Bruce sent his two great commanders, the Good Lord James Douglas, and Thomas Randolph, Earl of Murray, to lay waste the counties of Northumberland and Durham, and distress the English as much as they could.
Their soldiers were about twenty thousand men in number, all lightly armed, and mounted on horses that were but small in height, but excessively active. ”

“ I sink fast; but let them still cry my war-cry, and conceal my death from my followers. There was a tradition in our family that a dead Douglas should win a field, and I trust it will this day be accomplished."
The Nobles did as he had enjoined; they concealed the Earl's body, and again rushed on to the battle, shouting "Douglas! Douglas!" louder than before. The English were weakened by the loss of the brave brothers Henry and Ralph Percy, both of whom were made prisoners, fighting most gallantly; and almost no man of note amongst the English escaped death or captivity. ”

“ Historians however relate, that the family took its rise during the reign of one of the ancient kings of Scotland, and, at a time when the country was invaded by Donald Bain, Lord of the Western Isles. In a great battle with this powerful chieftain, the Scots were on the point of giving way, when a man of tall stature and noble aspect made his appearance, accompanied with his two sons. They boldly confronted the victorious enemy, and by words and example so encouraged those that fled, that the Scots took heart, and after a desperate struggle, Donald Bain was defeated and himself slain. ”

“ This army, indeed, in arms and equipment, was not equal to the English, but Bruce was at their head, one of the ablest generals of the time, and under him were his brother Edward, his nephew Sir Thomas Randolph, and The Douglas, leaders under whom the Scots had always been aceustomed to conquer. Sir Thomas Randolph and Lord Douglas had aeted together on many a well fought field, and the strictost friendship existed betwixt these two great men. ”

“ Now, one night he had gone out to look after his nets, leaving a small fire in his hut; and when he came back, behold there was a fox in the cabin, taking the liberty to eat one of the finest salmon he had taken. 'Ho, Mr. Robber!' said the fisherman, drawing his sword, and standing in the door-way to prevent the fox’s escape; 'you shall presently die the death. ”

“ Douglas and his men now came up, and furious at finding his faithful adherent slain, he performed such deeds of valour, that the English were slaughtered around him in heaps, and the remainder made prisoners. Douglas next assailed the castle, but instead of meeting with resistance, he found the gates open, and that part of the garrison which was left at home, busied in cooking provisions for those who were at church: so he and his followers entered and sat down to the dinner prepared for their enemies. ”

“ But the English king was no nearer to the battle which he desired; for Douglas and Randolph, knowing the force and numbers of the English army, had taken up their eamp on a steep hill, at the bottom of which ran a deep river, so that there was no possibility for the English to attack the Scots without crossing the water, and then climbing up the hill in the very face of their enemy, a risk which was too great to be attempted. ”

“ As the army needed to earry nothing with them, either for provisions or ammunition, the Scots moved with amazing speed, from mountain to mountain, and from glen to glen, pillaging and destroying the eountry wheresoever they came. In the meanwhile, the young King of England pursued them with a much larger army; but, as it was eneumbered by the neeessity of earrying provisions in great quantities, and by the slow motions of men in heavy armour, they could not eome up with the Seots, although they saw every day the smoke of the houses and villages whieh they were burning. ”

“ On their way home, the Scots encamped at Otterburn, about 20 miles from the frontier. In the middle of the night the alarm was given that Percy was upon them, and the moonlight showed his advance with very superior numbers. ”