Note 328 — Chapter V · SUMMARY.

It seems that, on the 25th of September, Lord Dacre had sent his kinsman, Walter Strickland, of Sizergh Castle, and his three hundred Kendal men, to attack the stronghold of Kerr of Fernihirst with artillery. To the surprise of all parties, after a desperate onslaught, Strickland and his “men of Kent-dale bold” were repulsed. On the whole, the Scots had the best of it in the desultory warfare of that day. Then, at night, the English camp was terribly discomfited by the invasion of some spiritual adversary, on whose inbreak they had not calculated. The mischief done, although gravely attributed to the foul fiend, was most likely effected by some clever rogues of Border horse-boys; for, as soon as it was dark, the whole of the horses of the English army broke loose into their camp, and, mad with terror, charged their masters; who, taking them for the Scottish cavalry, shot at them with their arrows and guns. They shot away a hundred sheaves of arrows in this strange combat. Fifty of the English steeds committed felo-de-se by galloping over a steep precipice, and more than two hundred and fifty thought fit to rush into the flames of Jedburgh, where they were caught by Scotchwomen, who, according to the proverb of “an ill wind that blows nobody good,” were seeking what they could find in the conflagration. They did not expect the horses of their enemies, but they were glad of all they could get, and led them away, though some “be right evil burnt” says Lord Surrey. “I think there is lost above eight hundred horses. I dare not write,” he adds sarcastically, “the wonders Lord Dacre and all his company do say they saw that night, of sprites and fearful sights; and universally all their company say plainly that the devil was that night among them six times.”[329]

Notwithstanding the earnestness of the Queen’s messages, urging the invasion of her adopted country. Lord Dacre camped but one night in Scotland, and then, according to the above document, he met with a strange reception. Assuredly that night was signalized by a combat unheard of in the annals of warfare, of an army against its own horses. It has been a fashion in history to decry Albany and his regency; but those who can appreciate his difficulties, from the divisions he encountered in the country, the formidable enemy he had on its Borders, and, worse than all, the treacherous espionage of Queen Margaret, who betrayed the most important proceedings of his council to the English, must allow Albany to have been a very great man, even to have preserved the Scottish monarchy for his young kinsman. The fact was, that he not only gave the English a warm reception when they crossed his frontier, but more frequently invaded them.]