Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-06-21
The Black Douglas.

The Black Douglas.
SCRAP % HISTORY foR omtnnS.
King Edward |. of England nearly con.
quered Scotland. They did not have photo
graphs in those days but had expressive and
descriptive names for people of rank, which
answered just as well. So Edward was
known as " Longshanks." 1t was from no
lack of spirit or energy that he did not quite
complete the stubborn work, but he died a
little too soon On his death-bed he called
his pretty sprtless son TO him, and made
him promise TO carry on the war; he then
ordered that his body should be boiled in
cadron and that his bones should be
wrapped up in bulls hide, and carried at
the head of the army in future campaigns
against the Scots After these and some
other queer requests, death relieved him of
the hard politics Of this world, and so he
went away. Then his son, Edward H.,
tucked away the beligerent old Kings
bones among the bones of other old kings in
Westminster Abbey, and spent his time in
dissipation among his favorites, and allowed
the resolute Scots to recover Scotland.
Good James, Lord Douglas, was a very
wise man in his day. lie may not have
had long shanks but he had a very long
head as you shall presently see. lie was
one of the hardest foes with which the two
Edwards had to contend, and his long head
proved quite too powerful for the second Ed
ward, who, in his single campaign against
the Scots, lost at Bannockbum nearly all
that his father had gained
The tall Scottish castle of Roxburgh stood
near the border lifting its grim turrets above
the Teviot and the Tweed. When the Black
Douglas, as Lord james was called, had re-
covered castle after castle from the English,
he desired to gain this stronghold. and de-
termined to accomplish his wish.
But he knew it could be taken only by
surprise, and a very willy ruse it must be.
He had outwitted the English so many times,
that they were sharply on the lookout for
him.
How could it be done
IT'S an old Yule-log story, and you shall
be told.
Near the castle was gloomy old forest,
called Jedburgh. Here, just as the first days
of spring began to kindle in the sunrise and
sunsets, and warm the frosty hills, Black
Douglas concealed sixty picked men.
1t was Shroye-tide, and Fasten's Eve, inn
mediately before the great church festival of
Lent was TO be celebrated with a great gush
of music and blaze of light and free offer
ings of wine in the great hall OF the castle
The garrison was to have leave for merry
making and INDUCING in drunken wassail
The sun had gone down in the red sky, and
the long, deep shadow began to fall on jed
burgh woods, the river, the hills, and valleys
An officers wife had returned from the
great hall, where all was preparation for the
merry-making, to the high battlements of
the CASTLE in order to quiet her little child
and put it to rest. The sentinel, from time
to time, paced near her She began to sing
Hush We, Hush ye,
Hush We, DO not fret ye,
Little pet ye The Black Douglas
Hush We, Shall not get ye!"
She saw some strange objects moving
across the level ground in the distance. They
greatly puzzled her. They did not travel
quite like animals, but they seemed to have
four legs
"What are those queer-looking things
yonder 2" she asked of the sentinel as he
drew near.
"They are Farmer Asher's cattle, said
the soldier straining his eyes to discern the
outlines of the long figures in the shadows.
The good man is making merry tonight,
and has forgotten to bring in his oxen /,
lucky twill be if they do not fall a prey to
the Black Douglas"
So sure was he that the objects were cattle
that he ceased to watch them longer.
The woman's eye, however, followed the
queer-looking cattle for some time until they
seemed to disappear under the outer works
of the castle. Then, feeling quite at ease,
she thought she would sing again. Spring
was in the evening airi it may have made
her feel like singing.
Now the name of the Black Douglas had
become so terrible to the English, that it
proved bugbear TO the children, who, when
they msbehaved were told that the Black
Douglas would get them. The little ditty
have quoted must have been very queting
to good children in those alarming times.
So the good woman sang cheeriy;
" Hush We, Hush ye
Hush ye, DO not fret We;
Little pet YET The Black Douglas
Hush ye, Shall not get ye!
"Do not be quite SO sure of that said a
husky voice close beside her, and mail
| gloyed hand fell solidly upon her shoulder.
| She was dreadfully frightened, for she knew
from the appearance Of the man he must be
the Black Douglas,
The Scots came leaping over the walls.
! The garrison was merry-making below, and,
almost before the dsarmed jewellers had any
warning, the Black Douglas was in the midst
of them, The old stronghold was taken,
and many Of the garrison were put to the
sword; but the Black Douglas spared the
woman and the child, who probably never
afterward felt quite so sure about the little
ditty
"IIush We