28 Anniversary Address. 



attempts to gain him over to his cause. Recovering his 

 liberty in 1335 he again engaged actively in the defence of 

 his country. In 1338 he surprised an English convoy on its 

 way to Hermitage, near Melrose, and following up his 

 advantage, gained possession of the fortress, which he supplied 

 with the English stores and garrisoned with his own men. 

 From this time he is known in history as the knight of 

 Liddisdale. The following year he recovered Edinburgh 

 castle through a daring stratagem, devised by his friend and 

 companion in arms, Sir William Bullock,* and from these 

 gallant deeds earned the proud title of the Flower of Chivalry. 

 Meanwhile the other Scottish leaders were not idle. Lord 

 William Douglas, nephew of the knight (afterwards the first 

 earl),f and as chief of the clan, now lord of Jedworth, sum- 

 moned his family retainers, the men of Teviotdale, and drove 

 the invaders from Jed and Ettrick forests, while Sir Alexander 

 Ramsay of Dalhousie, whose estates and influence lay in 

 Lothian and near Edinburgh, maintained himself at the head 

 of a band of followers in the neighbourhood of Roslin, 

 even when the English were in possession of the capital. 

 Issuing from his fastnesses he incessantly harassed the 

 English, carrying his ravages even across the Border, 

 and returning laden with booty. "His fame for chivalry 

 was so high that no Scottish youth was held worthy of esteem 

 unless he had proved his gallantry by riding for some time in 

 Ramsay's band. "J His crowning exploit was the surprise 

 of Roxburgh castle on Easter eve, the 30th March, 1342, 

 which he accomplished under the guidance of one Odo 

 of Ednam, a man intimately acquainted with the works. 

 Charmed with his gallantry, the young king, David II., who 

 had recently § returned from France, appointed him governor 



* Originally an English ecc'esia?tic, Bullock came to Scotland with Fdward 

 Baliol, and discarding his clerical character became a brave and enterprising 

 soldier. The knight of Liddisdale seduced him from his English allegiance, 

 and he attained to considerable distinction by his exploits in the cause of 

 Scotland. Godscroft, 71, 76. Tytler's Hist , II., 57, 61. Redpath, 322, 329. 



f Hailes Ann. II., 246. 



t Sir Walter Scott's Hist. I., 192 ; also Tyler II , 55, Chalmers Caled. 



§ On the 4th May, 1341. 



