The Swintons of that Ilk, by A. Campbell Swinton. 331 



with the loss of their gallant leader, the Earl of Douglas and 

 Mar.* The circumstances attending Sir John's death, fourteen 

 years later, on the fatal field of Homildon, are narrated both in 

 the older chronicles, and in the modern histories of Scotland. 

 " The English," we are told,f "advanced to the assault, and 

 Henry Percy" (the well known Hotspur) "was about to lead them 

 up the hill, when March caught his bridle, and advised him to 

 advance no further, but to pour the dreadful shower of English 

 arrows into the enemy. This advice was followed with the usual 

 fortune ; for in all ages the bow was the English weapon of 

 victory, and though the Scots, and perhaps the French, were 

 superior in the use of the spear, yet this weapon was useless 

 after the distant bow had decided the combat. * * * * The 

 Scots fell without fight, and unrevenged, till a spirited knight, 

 Swinton,{ exclaimed aloud, ' my brave countrymen ! what 

 fascination has seized you to-day that you stand like deer to be 

 shot, instead of indulging your ancient courage, and meeting 

 your enemies hand to hand? Let those who will, descend with 

 me, that we may gain victory, or fall like men.' This being 

 heard by Adam Gordon, between whom and Swinton there 

 existed an ancient deadly feud, attended with the mutual slaugh- 

 ter of many followers, he instantly fell on his knees before 

 Swinton, begged his pardon, and desired to be dubbed a knight 

 by him whom he must regard as the wisest and the boldest of 

 that order in Britain. The ceremony performed, Swinton and 

 Gordon descended the hill, accompanied only by a hundred men, 

 and a desperate valour led the whole body to death. Had a 

 similar spirit been shown by the Scottish army, it is probable 

 that the event of the day would have been different." This 

 incident is the foundation of Sir Walter Scott's drama already 

 referred to. But the scene of action is transferred from Homildon 



* One of the ballads on the battle, in Percy's Reliques (vol. i., p. 26), has 

 this verse: — 



" Swynton fayre fylde upon your pryde 



To battel make yow bowen ; 

 Syr Davy Scotte, Syr Walter Stewarde, 

 Syr Jhon of Agurstone.' ' 

 t Pinkerton's History of Scotland, vol. i., p. 73. See also Tytler, vol iii p 

 131. 



J Dr. Burton (History of Scotland, vol. iii., p. 83) calls him "a young 

 knight." Swinton must have been between forty and fifty years of age. 



IP 



