STIRLING. — COMBAT. — THE FLYING FRIAR. 167 



king, as a solemn preliminary to the scene of bloodshed that was to follow. 

 This done, the signal was given for the rencontre. The rival knights 

 commenced with the lance, but the latter weapon was soon thrown aside 

 for the battle-axe, a more deadly instrument, and better suited for close 

 quarters. This was wielded with such effect by the Burgundians, that one 

 of the Scottish champions, little practised in its use, was laid prostrate 

 on the field; and the king, seeing the combat unequal, threw down his baton 

 as the signal to stay the combat. The surviving Douglas and Lalain had now 

 rushed upon each other, and presented more the appearance of a wrestle than 

 of a combat, in which skill, and not strength, was to decide. Of all their arms 

 a dagger only remained in the grasp of Douglas, but whose wrist was so firmly 

 clenched by his antagonist, that he could neither disengage his hand, nor use 

 his weapon. His left arm was pinioned in the same manner by the right of 

 Lalain, and thus, each struggling for the mastery, they whirled each other round 

 the lists for a considerable time, like mailed knights in a waltz. 



In the meantime, the younger Lalain and Halket, though both powerful men, 

 were unskilled in warding the axe, the blows from which soon crushed their 

 helmets, and shivered their weapons and mail. Meriadet, being attacked by 

 Halket's lance, parried the thrust so adroitly as to disarm his antagonist by a 

 blow from the butt-end of his axe ; and before the latter could disengage his own 

 weapon he was laid prostrate with his companion. The fall, however, was not 

 fatal; for on recovering strength he sprang to his feet, and renewed the combat; 

 but the struTo-le was now of short duration — the axe was again wielded Nvith 

 an effect which ended the conflict ; and, by the death of Douglas, added another 

 trophy to the Burgundians. At that period, the prowess of the Burgundian 

 chivalrj' was almost proverbial — a distinction, however, which, little more than 

 twenty years after this date, lost its imposing lustre in the disasters of Grandson, 

 Moral, and Nancj*. 



About fifty years later, a very different exhibition was made in the " Valley 

 of Stirling" by an Italian, who, pretending to great knowledge in the occult 

 science of alchemy, had flattered the Scottish sovereign James IV. into a 

 belief that, by a certain process, his majesty might obtain possession of the 

 philosopher's stone. In consequence of this, it is said the adventurer was 

 promoted to the abbey of Tungland, in Galloway ; and in acknowledgment 

 of the royal favour and confidence, resolved to exhibit a signal proof of his skill 

 as an aeronaut. For this purpose he had ample wings constructed, with which 

 he was to have made an aerial voyage from StirUng to the French capital. 

 When all was ready, he took his flight from the battlements of the castle ; but 



