History of the house and race of Douglas and Angus

HOUSE OF DOUGLAS. jq*
Miand any thing that was in his power, so far as it could reach.
The captain desired him to send some hogsheads of the same
vrine, and some biscuit-bread, and promised him access when
he pleased: he further warned him, that he should come-
timely in the morning, for fear of the Scots, that did make
frequent onsets and incursions in those parts. The Lord of
Liddisdale being advertised hereof, chooseth out twelve of
his best men, and the same night goeth out to Walter Tower's
ship, and he and his men having borrowed the mariners ap-
parel, did put it on above their armour, and so went to the
castle, carrying the wine and victual with them. He had be-
fore placed the rest of his men as near as he could, that they
might be in readiness, upon a sign given them, to come to
the castle to his aid. Liddisdale himself, with Simon Frascr
and William Bullock, (say our writers, but his name was Sir
John Bullock) went a little before, and the rest followed a
certain space after. When they were let in within the bul-
wark, perceiving the keys of the castle hanging upon the
porter's arm, they slew him, and without noise opened the
gate, and presently gave the signal, by winding of a horn.
This sound gave warning both to his friends and enemies,
that the castle was taken: both made haste, the one to defend,
the other to pursue; but^the Scots having a steep hill to as-
cend, behoved to come forward the more sjowlyj for that
cause, lest their Lord should be excluded from his men, they
cast down the carriage in the gate to keep it open, and hav-
ing fought a sharp fight, at last they that were within gave
place: the captain with six more were taken, the rest were all
slain: and having thus won the castle, he made his brother
William Douglas* (say they, but should call him Archibald)
keeper and captain thereof.
This same year, or the next, 13 42, the 30th of March,
Alexander Ramsay took Roxburgh in Tiviotdale, and soon
after John Randulph was set at liberty in exchange for John
* Our Historian is right, for lie had a brother designed in chartars, IVHU-
$nus Doi'glas. senior, frater ejus.