Historical and genealogical memoirs of the House of Hamilton

40 HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL MEMOIRS
SIR DAVID DE HAMILTON,
LORD OF CADYOW.
sir david de In the records of the age he is designed " David Fitz- Walter Fitz-Gil-
iord'cf CAD70H. bert," and sometimes " David de Hamylton, miles, et Dominus de Cad-
yow."
He was a person of great consideration during the eventful reign of
David the Second, and, like his father Sir Walter, continued ever faith-
1343. ful to the interests and fortunes of that monarch. When the son of the
Bruce, on his return from France, (whither he had gone after the fatal
battle of Halidon Hill,) was excited, by the scenes of ruin and devastation
which on every side met his eye, to take severe revenge and retaliation on
the English, Sir David accompanied and served under him, when, for
nearly the space of two years, he carried fire and sword through the
northern counties of England. He accompanied him also the third year,
when he led a gallant and well-appointed army across the Tyne. As he
advanced towards York, he was met by the English (who, on the first
news of this invasion, had mustered their forces,) in the neighbourhood
of Durham.
The Scots at this time were much reduced in numbers, many of the com-
mon soldiers, according to their custom, when they had acquired sufficient
plunder, having returned to their own country. The knowledge of this
circumstance did not deter David from engaging the English ; and, with
a view to ascertain the true situation of their army, he sent out, on the
1346. morning of the 17th October, a chosen body of horse under Douglas, the
Knight of Liddlesdale, to reconnoitre, and also to procure a supply of
forage and provisions. He unexpectedly encountered the whole English
army on its march, and a hot conflict ensued, when the Scots, after the
loss of 500 men, and their leader being nearly captured, were driven back
upon their main body.