ed in the neighbourhood, where Henry Percy, (surnamed Hotspur,) lay in garrison. Percy, willing to shew some proof of his personal prowess, challenged Douglas to single combat. In the first encounter the English knight was unhorsed, and had been ta ken prison, but for the timely interference of the garison. Douglas carried off Percy's lance with the pennon attached to it, and waving it on high, swore that he would carry it home to Scotland as a trophy of victory. Burning with revenge, Hotspur and his brother Sir Ralph, immediately collected an army thrice as numerous as the Scots, and taking the benefit of a moonlight march, suddenly attacked them in their camp at Otterburn. This assault was so unexpected, that the earls of Douglas, Dunbar and Moray, who were sitting at supper in a tent, had scarcely time to reach their armour.* The action, which was long and doubtful, was fought with uncommon gallantry on both sides. At one moment, the Scots giving way, the English had nearly penetrated to the Scottish standards, when Patrick Hepburn,+ with his son and company, coming up, gal * Heron's Hist Scot. ↑ Holinshed gives us this account of the origin of the Hepburns: In the reign of David II., one of that name, an Englishman, on being taken prisoner by the Scots, was present while the earl of Dunbar was exercising a young gelding. The animal proving restive, the earl was in imminent danger of his life, when Hepburn leaping forward, boldly seized the bridle rein, and held the animal till the earl alighted. In reward for this essential service, the eark gave Hepburn certain lands in Lothian.. lantly supported the falling battalions. The earl of Douglas now approaching, armed with a ponderous mace, and accompanied only by his chaplain and two squires, rushed into the thickest ranks of the enemy, and after prodigies of valour, fell covered with wounds. He desired his followers, who had come to his rescue, to conceal his death, and avenge his fall. "I die like my forefathers," said the expiring chief, "in a field of battle, and not on a bed of sickness. Conceal my death, defend my standard, and avenge my fall. It is an old prophecy, that a dead man shall gain a field, and I hope it will be accomplished this night." The Scots having again raised the standard of their fallen commander, shouted, "A Douglas! a Douglas !" and rushed on with redoubled vigour to the conflict. The fight continued with great obstinacy till the morning, when the English were completely routed, and the two Percys taken prisoners. On this signal defeat, the Northumbrians retired; but the bishop of Durham, who had arrived too late at Newcastle to join the army of Percy, now advanced with fresh forces. The Scots, who were encumbered with their prisoners, were plac ed in imminent danger in the event of a rencounter with the enemy; but still flushed with victory, they prepared to meet them, and according to John Major, were encouraged with these memorable words of the earl of Dunbar: *Border Minst. i. Harding says, that Hotspur was taken to Dunbar : "Henry was taken there anone, To Dunbar led, for whom was made great mone." "We have this night, most noble Scots, sustained the chief heat and force of the battle; we have overthrown the youth and strength of Northumberland, with their two princes; for which there is no cause why we, after such honour obtained against those valiant princes, should now fear this silly priest. Truly there remaineth nothing now for us, but that every one of us give but two strokes; because the leader will fly at the third, and all the flock will follow: since the shepherd being stricken, the sheep will dispersed. But if they shall so long contend with us, that, (as God most rightly forbid,) we chance to be overcome, then shall we most shamefully lose the glory, which we before have honourably gained by this night's travail. But contrary, if we be men, and put on us such valiant hearts, (as the preservation of honour requireth,) we shall easily teach this mitred priest, that it had been far more honour to him, safety to his, and most commodity to them all, that he had remained at home, with rods to correct unbridled and negligent scholars, than with swords to enter battle against grown and bearded soldiers." Having thus spoken, the Scots, who remained se curely entrenched in their encampment, agreeably to a preconcerted plan, set up a loud shout with their favourite war-horns, which being echoed among the hills, made the English believe their army considerably strengthened, upon which the bishop retired, without attempting the rescue of the Percies. This battle was fought in August 1388. It was happy for the Scots, that the command of them now devolved on the earl of Dunbar, the most prudent general of his age. As his circumspection constantly predominated over his courage, he was almost always successful in his various battles. The earl of Dunbar conducted his army with the prisoners to the Tweed; carrying the adored remains of the gallant Douglas to Melrose, the sacred cemetery of his valiant family. Hostilities continued on the borders till. peace was concluded at Lelinghen between England and France, in 1389, in which the Scots were as usual included. Robert, king of Scotland, died in the following year, and was succeeded by his eldest son, John, earl of Carrick, who, on ascending the throne, assumed the name of Robert III. But the turbulent chiefs of the borders, not sufficiently checked by the supreme authority, and wanting their brutal occupation of war, plunged again into scenes of faction and sedition at home. It was probably the result of some quarrel with the administration, though the particulars are not known, that induced the two great border heroes, the earls of Dunbar and Douglas, to enter at this time into treaties with the king of England, for giving and receiving aid; and by which they were engaged to pay him certain services during their lives. The commis sion issued to negociate such treaties is still extant, though it is not known how it terminated. But the fiefs of the feudal nobility had long become hereditary in Europe; so that a baron who had incurred the displeasure of his sovereign, no longer run the risk of being stript at random of his honours and possessions. CHAPTER VIII. To fair Lincluden's haly cells, Fu' dowie, I'll repair : There peace wi' gentle patience dwells Nae deadly feuds are there. With tears I'll wither ilka charm, Like draps o' baleful yew, And wail the beauty that could harm C. K. SHARPE, Esq. Lady Elisabeth Dunbar.-The Duke of Rothsay. IN 1899, the earl of Dunbar, who now ranked among the first of the Scottish nobles, and was about to be united with the royal family by the ties of blood, was doomed to experience a cruel domestic affliction. His daughter, Elisabeth, had been betrothed to David, the young duke of Rothsay, son and heir to the king. On the faith of the prince, who had given a bond, under seal, to perform the espousals, the earl had advanced a considerable tion of his daughter's matrimonial settlement. por Archibald, earl of Douglas, (surnamed the Grim,) jealous of the advantages which this marriage promised to bestow on a family, whose pre-eminence in the state already rivalled his own, protested against the alliance, which had not obtained the sanction of parliament; and, in the meantime, by his intrigues at court, through the influence of the duke of Albany, who entirely governed the affairs of his weak |