Letters Between James Ellis, Esq. & Walter Scott, Esq. [mainly on the Battle of Otterburn]

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Page 29 - Percy, Earl of Northumberland, had vowed to hunt for three days in the Scottish border, without condescending to ask leave from Earl Douglas, who was either lord of the soil, or lord warden of the Marches. Douglas would not fail to resent the insult, and endeavour to repel the intruders by force : this would naturally produce a sharp conflict...
Page 7 - Every one agreed to what Earl Douglas said. They made huts of trees, and branches, and fortified themselves as well as they could, placing their baggage and servants at the entrance of the marsh on the road to Newcastle, and driving the cattle into the marsh lands.
Page 31 - ... the representatives in parliament for that county, between the White Cross and a thorn tree, which stood at that time in Newgate Street, in Newcastle. The quarrel arose about some family matters at dinner, at the Black Horse inn, near the White Cross, which was then the best inn in Newcastle. Fenwick challenged the other to fight, and as they went out, being behind Forster, he stabbed him in that situation. This happened during the assizes. Fenwick was hanged on the 25th of September following,...
Page 28 - So much for the date of this old ballad : with regard to its subject, although it has no countenance from history, there is room to think it had originally some foundation in fact. It was one of the Laws of the Marches frequently renewed between the two nations, that neither party should hunt in the other's borders, without leave from the proprietors or their deputies.
Page 27 - And because the hideous road along by the Tyne, for the many and sharp turnings and perpetual precipices, was for a coach, not sustained by main force, impassable, his lordship was forced to take horse, and to ride most part of the way to Hexham.
Page 29 - There had long been a rivalship between the two martial families of Percy and Douglas, which, heightened by the national quarrel, must have produced frequent challenges and struggles for superiority, petty invasions of their respective domains, and sharp contests for the point of honour; which would not always be recorded in history. Something of this kind, we may suppose, gave rise to the ancient ballad of the Hunting a
Page 28 - A succession of two or three Jameses, and the long detention of one of them in England, would render the name familiar to the English, and dispose a poet in those rude times to give it to any Scottish king be happened to menton.
Page 6 - Sir Ralph Percy, sons of the earl of Northumberland. During their stay there, they had several sharp encounters at the barriers ; and Henry Percy, the celebrated Hotspur, having challenged Douglas to single combat, was unhorsed by his adversary, and lost his spear, which Douglas said, he would carry with him into Scotland. Percy threatened he should never take it out of Northumberland. Froissart says that it was his pennon which Percy lost in an affray at the barriers ; and that Douglas said —...
Page 14 - ... went round publicly to invite attendance at a deceased's funeral ; on such occasions a notice somewhat similar to the following was used : ' Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. John Robson is departed, son of Richard Robson that was. Company is desired to morrow at five o'clock, and at six he is to be buried. For him and all faithful people give God most hearty thanks.
Page 27 - Cheviot" says Hume of Godscroft truly, " seemeth indeed poetical, and a mere fiction, perhaps to stir up virtue; yet a fiction whereof there is no mention either in the Scottish or English chronicle.

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