Clans Tartans History Travel ... Contact Us Wilson's Border Tales The Red Hall OR, BERWICK IN 1296. Treachery however, that to this day remains undiscovered, existed in the town; and, at an hour when the garrison thought not, the gates were deceitfully opened, and the English army rushed like a torrent upon the streets. Wildly the work of slaughter began. With the sword and with the knife, the inhabitants defended every house, every foot of ground. Mild mothers and gentle maidens fought for their thresholds with the fury of hungry wolves, and delicate hands did deeds of carnage. The war of blood raged from street to street, while the English army poured on like a ceaseless stream. Shouts, groans, the clang of swords, and the shrieks of women mingled together. Fiercer grew the close and the deadly warfare; but the numbers of the besieged became few. Heaps of dead men lay at every door, each with his sword glued to his hands by the blood of an enemy. Still the brave men stood in the midst of the conflagration, unquailed, hurling death upon her enemies; and, as the fire raged from room to room, they rushed to the roof of their Hall, discharging their last arrow on their besiegers, and waving their swords around their heads with a shout of triumph. There, also, stood the father, his daughter, and her lover, smiling and embracing each other in death. Crash succeeded crashthe flames ascended higher and higherand the proud building was falling to pieces. A louder crash followed, the fierce element surrounded the brave victimsthe gentle Isabella, leaning on her bridegroom was seen waving her slender hand in triumph round her headthe hardy band waved their swords and shouted | |
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