Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Volume 07
General
Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Volume 07
Scottish Borders (Scotland) -- Fiction
Work allowed no time or inclination for exclamations; but death
everywhere among both parties extorting the groan or the yell, pulled
down the proudest and the bravest; but their places were not seen after
their heads fell, for the mass was so thick that there scarcely seemed
room for the arm to do the work of the will. Still victory boded well
for Buccleugh; and again, as the opposing party began to recede, the
cries commenced, "Bellenden! Bellenden!" but they were not destined to
be many times repeated. A loud cheer came from the king's party, even
when they were retiring. It was soon explained. They were being joined
by the two clans of the Homes and Kers, who had come up hot with revenge
against their old enemy, but with less loyalty than possessed by Scott.
The onset of the newcomers was a repetition of that of the Borderers,
fierce, and bearing the aspect of victory before it was won.
All this was seen by the mistress of Darnick, and heard by Heiton with
the feelings of a caged lion. It was now her time, she saw how victory
pointed. It was impossible for Buccleugh to hold out.
"Now," she said, "thou knowest whom to fight for with safety. Ere a
quarter-of-an-hour the king's party will prevail. Get thee into the
thick of the fight, but as far from Wat Scott as you can. Thou'lt save
thy head and thy lands, without injuring thy old friend."
The portal was opened, and the master of Darnick was soon fighting
desperately in the ranks of the king, his nervous arm dealing death at
every stroke. "Heiton to the rescue!" was sounded; and his retainers,
returning, took the Scotts in flank. This movement was decisive. In a
short time the Borderers were in retreat, and the wounded of the king's
party conveyed to the tower, where the kind attentions and hospitality
of the laird hastened their recovery.
The policy of the mistress of Darnick was soon apparent from the
treatment inflicted not only upon the retainers of Scott, but on all
those who did not come forward to the help of Angus;[15] and it was this
latter consequence, foreseen by her, which dictated her stratagem. She
knew that it was necessary for Heiton to be on the one side or the
other; and the good effects of her wisdom were shown in another way.
About thirty years after the battle of Darnick, a new charter was
bestowed on Heiton; a good sign that he was held in remembrance for
having been found in the ranks of the king; that charter was, no doubt,
not by James, who was supposed to favour the design of Scott, but by
Mary, whose counsellors were not led by these distinctions, and who
looked only at the open evidences of loyalty.
[Footnote 15: Scott himself was outlawed.--ED.]
THE BROKEN HEART.
A TALE OF THE REBELLION.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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