LOCHFERGUS. 185 



Spared neither age nor sex, murdering infants in their cradles, 

 and other innocents at the breasts, with the mothers themselves, 

 thrusting them through with their lances, or the points of their 

 swords, and glutting themselves with the misery they inflicted." 

 They met the English army on Catton Moor, near Northallerton, 

 in 1138, and here the desperate and decisive battle was fought, 

 called the "Battle of the Standard." The Galwegians claimed 

 the honour of leading the van, notwithstanding the opposition of 

 the King and his advisers. "They commenced the attack," says 

 Hailes, " by rushing in a wedge-like shape on the enemy, with 

 savage vociferations, loud yells, and infuriated valour." Hove- 

 don says that "their war-cry was Albanich ! Albanich!" to which 

 the English retorted Vry ! Vry ! meaning the opprobrious 

 epithet, "Irish!" The onset was appalling, and they broke 

 through the ranks of the spearmen, 'but after the battle had raged 

 for nearly two hours they were reduced to a state of utter con- 

 fusion. Both their chiefs, Ulric and Dunvenald, were slain. 

 The English were victorious, and peace was concluded in 1139. 

 Fergus seems not to have been at this battle, which shows that he 

 had not yet been appointed ruler of Galloway, nor even a heredi- 

 tary prince, or he would have led the Gallovidian contingent. 



Fergus Pardoned by the King. 



It was about this time, however, that he once more made 

 friends with the King, and was appointed Lord of Galloway in 

 succession to Ulric and Dunvenald. The cunning ruse by which 

 he obtained the King's pardon for his former insurrection is well 

 worthy of record. I take the following facts from the History of 

 the Priory of St. Mary's erected on the Isle of Trahil, i.e., St. 

 Mary's Isle, Kirkcudbright: — "Fergus, Earl and Lord of Gallo- 

 way, having failed in his duty to His Majesty, and committed a 

 grievous fault, at which the King, evidently very angry, deter- 

 mined to put the law in force vigorously against him. At last, in 

 a change of habit, he repaired to Alwyn, the Abbot of the 

 Monastry of Holyrood, the King's Confessor and confidential 

 secretary, for advice and assistance. The Abbot compassionating 

 him, contrived that Fergus should assume the habit of a Canon 

 Regular, and thus, God directing, should, along with his brethren, 

 obtain the King's pardon for his offence, through .supplication 



