DOUGLAS 189 



around Glentrool, Douglas, weary of ever skulking 

 in hiding, resolved to strike one blow in the offen- 

 sive. Coming in disguise, with two companions 

 only, to Hazelside, on his own lands in Lanarkshire, 

 he was gladly received by Thomas Dickson, an old 

 retainer of his father. The English garrison had 

 earned plenty of ill-will in the neighbourhood, and 

 there was no difficulty in getting volunteers for a 

 plot to seize the castle. On Palm Sunday, 1307, 

 the garrison paraded and marched off to hear mass 

 at St. Bride's chapel, about a mile from the castle. 

 Douglas and his confederates, disguised as peasants, 

 crowded into the chapel behind the soldiers. The 

 service was proceeding quietly, when suddenly 

 some one cried out aloud, ' A Douglas ! ' In a 

 moment the soldiers were overpowered, half of 

 them slain, and the rest -bound as prisoners. Re- 

 turning to the castle, Douglas found it in charge 

 only of the porter and cook, the latter busy making 

 ready the soldiers' dinner. Having done full justice 

 to the welcome meal, the Scots pillaged the build- 

 ing, piled the stores and provisions which were 

 too heavy to remove, broached the wine-barrels, 

 beheaded their prisoners, and, tossing into the heap 

 the bodies of men and horses, set fire to it and 



