The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-05-21
From Tales Of the Borders"
The Red Hall; or Berwick In 1895
NJ JoEH n. WILSON

n WILSON.
Somewhat more han FIVE hundred Yeani
ago Berwick-upon-Tweed was the most
wealthy and hOurishing city in Great Brit.
ain. Its commerce was the most extensivei
ITS merchants the most enterprising and
successful. London in some measure strovA
70 Je its rival, but it possessed not tenth
OF the natural advantages, and Berwick
continued 10 bear the palm alone -beins
styled the Alexandra of the nations, the
emporium of commerce, and one of the
first commercial cities Of the world Thin
state Of prosperity it owed almost solely "a
Alexander Ill, who did more for Berwick
than any sovereign that has since claimed
its allegiance. He brought over a colony
Of wealthy Flemmings, for whom be erect
ed an immense building called the Red Hall
Situated where the Wood Market nov,
stands), and which at once served rs dwell,
llng-hOuses, factories, and fortress. The
terms upon which be granted charter ID
this company of merchants were, that they
should defend, even unto death, their Rel
Hall against every attack of an enemy, ami
Of the English in particular. Wool was
the staple commodity of their commerce.,
but they also traded extensively in silks
and in foreign manufactures The pea
pie of Berwick understood Free Trade ia
those days In this state Of peace ana
enviable prosperity It continued till The
spring Of 1896 The bold, the crafty, and
revengeful Edward 1. meditated an invasion
Of Scotland; and Berwick, from its wealth.
situation, and importance, was naturally
anticipated to be the first object Of his
attack. To defeat this, Baloil-whom We
can sometimes almost admire, though GER
orally We despise and pity him-sent The
chief men Of Fife and their retainers to The
assistance Of the town. Easter week arrived,
but no tidiDgs were beard Of Edwards move
ments, and business went on with its usudl
hustle, Amongst the merchants Of tbe
Red Hall was one known by the appelAtioa
Of William the Fleming, and he had 4
daughter, an heiress and an only child,
whose beauty was the theme of BerWiekss
minstrels, when rhyme was beginning 70
begin. Many knee was bent to the rich
and beautiful Isabella; but she preferred
the humble and halftOld passion of Francis
Scott, who was one of the clerks in the
Red Hall, to the chivalrous declarations bf
prouder lovers. Francis possessed industry
and perseverance and these, in the eyes Of
her father, were qualifications precious as
rubies These, with love for bis daughter,
nkI 1hsn1AsG.,.
the day for their marriage bad arrived,
Francis and Isabella were kneeling befo&e
the altar, and the priest was pronounciig
the service, the merchant was gazing fondiy
over bis child, when a sudden and hurried
zeal from the Bell Tower broke upon the
ceremony, and cries of sc The English 10
armsl" were heard from the street. The
voice Of the priest faltered-he stopped !;
William the Fleming placed bis hand uF4n
his sword the bridegroom started to lis
feet, and the fair Isabella chung to his side
Come, children" said the merchant, " let
us to the Hall-a happier hour may bless
your nuptials-this is no moment for bridal
ceremony" And in silence, each man
grasped his sword, they departed from the
chapel, where the performance of the mar
riage rites was broken by the sound Of 10
vasion. The ramparts were crowded With
armed citizens, and large English faet
was seen bearing round LiDdisferne. In a
few hours the hostile vessels entered the
river, and commenced furious attack upon
the town. Their assault was returned By
the inhabitants as men who were resolved
to die for liberty. For hours tie battle
ragged, and the Tweed became as sheet of
blood. But while the conflict rose fercett
again the Bell Tower sent forth its sounds
OF death. Edward, at the head of thirty
five thousand troops, had crossed the river
at Coldstream, and was now seen eucamp-
ing at the foot Of Halidon Hill Part of
his army immediately descended upon the
town, to the assistance Of the feet. They
commenced a resolute attack from the
north, while the greater part Of the garsi-
son held bloody combat with the ships jim
the river. Though thus attacked on both
sides, the besleged fought with the courage
of surrounded lions, and the proud feet
was defeated and driven from the river.
The attacks of the army were desperate, hut
without success, for desperate were the men
who opposed them. Treacbery, hOwevtr Z,
that to this day remains undiscovered, az.
listed in the town and, at an hour when
the garrison thought not, the gates ware
deceitfully opened, and the English army
rushed like a torrent upon the street .
Wildly the work of slaughter began. With
the sword and with the knife, the inhabs
ants defended every house, every foot iof
ground. Mild mothers and gentle maidehs
fought for their thresholds with the fury Iof
hungry wolves-and delicate hands did
deeds Of carnage. The war of blood ragged
from street to street, while the English aruy
poured on like ceasless stream. Shouts,
groans, the clang Of swords, and the shrieks
of women mingled together. Fiercer grew
the close of the deadly warfare: but the
numbers Of the besieged became few. HeaAx
Of dead men lay at every door, each with
his sword glued to his hands with the bloAd
of an enemy. Of the warriors from FiSe
every man persisted bat their price wasi
costly sacrifice Of the bOldest lives in En-
gland. The streets ran deep with bloo4
and, independent Of slaughtered enemies,
the mangled and Gfeless bodies of sevdl-
faan thouaaud IF inhahikanfa navod ~