|
Page xiv:-
Again: when Sir Matthew Redman, governor of Berwick, was
flying from the battle of Otterburn, he was singled out and
pursued, on account of his armour, by Sir James Lindsey; and
his horse failing him, after a chace of three miles, was
obliged to alight and stand the combat: upon this the other
also alighted, in the true spirit of ancient chivalry, and
having vanquished his antagonist, permitted him to depart
upon plighting his word to return in twenty days. It is
worthy of remark, that such a contract, even amongst the
meanest, was so sacred, that the violation of it was
accounted infamous in the extreme, and deprived a man of all
respect, even amongst his former most intimate friends.
However, in this case Redman had no occasion to return, for
Lindsey being taken on the same day by a party of his
garrison, was instantly released by him, in lieu of the
liberty which he himself had received just before. It is
well observed by one historian, who relates this
circumstance, that the fierceness and subtlety of these men
were strangely blended with generosity and good faith,
without which war would soon destroy its own vitals.
The present which Sir William Marmion received from his
favourite lady at an entertainment, and the command which
accompanied it, of wearing it in a place of the greatest
danger, bears strong resemblance to the romantic tales of
King Arthur's time; and serves, at least, to shew, that the
humors and fashions of men, particularly in these wild and
Northern parts, was much the same as in ages almost
fabulous. He repaired, in consequence of this mandate, to
the famous siege of Norham castle, then beleaguered by the
Scots and defended by Sir Thomas Grey, as to the place most
accordant to the nature of the present; and thrust himself
into every dangerous piece of service which occurred there,
that he might acquire a proper right to the favour he had
received.
As a further example of the prevailing humour of those
martial times, what sort of priest must we suppose
Cressingham to have been, who never wore any coat that is
accounted characteristic of profession but that in which he
was killed, viz. an iron one? Beck, the fighting
Bishop of Carlisle, was so turbulent a mortal, that the
English King, in order to keep him within bounds, was
obliged to take from him a part of those possessions which
he had earned in battle, and in particular the livings of
Penrith and Symond-Burne. But, not to mention Thurstan, who
fought the battle of the Standard, there are sufficient
reasons for believing that most of the priests in the
Northern parts of England had a double profession; and they
are so often mentioned as principals in these continual
wars, that one cannot well help concluding that the martial
one was more attended to. When the pastors are such, what
must the people be!
Indeed, of the little regard that was paid to religion one
may take as an instance, if the numberless accounts that are
handed down to us of churches burnt and priests massacred
were wanting, the robbery committed by a parcel of these
banditti near Darlington, on the Cardinals who were deputed
from Rome to make peace between the two nations; no regard
was paid to the sanctity either of their character or
office, but they were sent away in a very pitiful condition.
To be convinced of their general disposition for cruelty, we
need only consult almost any page in their history. The
infernal savageness of the Gallovegians is every where
noted, and their actions were mostly requited with a
brutality little inferior. But it is a notable instance of
this disposition, (if it be true,) that the Scots, in an
incursion into Tindale, walled up a school, and burnt it,
together with the children within it. As to the temper of
the feebler sex, one may have some idea of it from the
behaviour of the women of Carlisle, who repulsed the Scots
in an assault by arms of their own invention; namely, by
pouring hot water upon them from the top of the walls: or
from the lady who wiped in derision the places where the
stones from the enemies' engines had struck, with her
handkerchief: and indeed from many other circumstances of
female hardiness recorded in their history, and still more
in their traditions and old songs.
|
Lakes Guides menu.
