History told as a storyIn the mist-shrouded glens of Scotland, where
King Robert the Bruce held sway, dwelled a warrior named Douglas.
His raven locks and sun-baked visage earned him the moniker "The
Black Douglas." A stalwart friend to the king, he was a terror to
the English who sought to snatch Scotland's freedom.
The
Black Douglas' exploits became a whispered legend. English bairns
whimpered at his name, and mothers used him as a spectral bogeyman
to keep their wee ones in check. One such English-held castle
stood defiant, a symbol of their occupation. The Scots, yearning
to wrest it back, saw a chance when a joyous festival swept the
land.
Most English soldiers in the castle revelled in the
merriment, gorging on food and swilling ale. A handful, however,
maintained a vigil on the ramparts – or so they believed. A
soldier's wife, tending to her child atop the wall, spied dark
shapes shifting in the gloaming fields. Dismissively, she crooned
a soothing lullaby, murmuring:
The woman continued her song, a
melody unknowingly serenading imminent peril.
Little did
the English know, those "shapes" were the Black Douglas and his
men, cloaked in the twilight's veil. On all fours they crept,
dragging ladders like serpents through the tall grass. The
unsuspecting English remained blissfully unaware, lost in their
revelry.
Just as the last "shadowy cow" vanished, a gruff
voice sent shivers down her spine. It was the Black Douglas
himself, standing mere inches behind! All at once a gruff voice
was heard behind her, saying, "Don't be so sure about that!"
Like phantoms, Scottish soldiers swarmed the wall, scaling the
ladders with practiced agility.
Pandemonium erupted. Caught
flat-footed, the English were no match for the Scots' fury. The
Black Douglas, with swift precision, secured the castle,
reclaiming it for his king and his people.
The woman and
her child, though startled, were treated with respect. The Black
Douglas, a man of honour, arranged their safe passage back to
England. Whether she continued her lullaby about the Black
Douglas, history remains silent. But one truth echoed through the
land – the Black Douglas, a fearsome warrior with a cunning mind,
had secured his place in legend.
See also:
Who
was the Black Douglas?
Berwick
Castle
More stories from the Douglas Archives
|
