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DEL
A Fixture
And the Lockharts, Nigel, one of their ancestors. Sir Simon Locard brought the casket with the heart back to Scotland
"man's heart within a fetterlock" is the device on the Lockhart shield.
harrytheheid
A Fixture
The BATTLE of TEBA - Part 1 - With Slight Artistic License.
Robert the Bruce, Scotland’s Warrior King, died at Cardross, Dunbartonshire, on June 7, 1329, aged 54.
Lying on his deathbed he called for his foremost captains and loyal companions; Thomas Randolph the Earl of Moray, Gilbert Hay the Chamberlain, Angus Og MacDonald Lord of the Isles, Robert Keith the Earl Marichal, Walter Stewart husband of the dead Marjorie Bruce and father of the future King Robert II, then finally – the foremost Paladin of all – and his most devoted friend – arguably the finest soldier Scotland has ever produced throughout its long and illustrious history, Sir James Douglas, Lord of Douglasdale.
The Bruce commanded that his heart be carried on Crusade to Palestine, and laid at the Alter of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem - to atone for the sacrilegious murder of his bitter rival, John Comyn before the alter in Greyfriars Church, Dumfries, in 1306, and had resulted in Bruce’s excommunication by the Pope at Avignon.
Of course, there was never any doubt that Douglas would be allotted the task. Bruce’s heart was preserved, and placed in a casket attached to a golden chain which The Good Sir James then carried with him at all times.
Early in 1330, given a safe conduct by the youthful King Edward III of England, and accompanied by seven Knights, twenty Squires and sundry other Scottish Gentlemen, including members of the Sinclair, Cathcart, Stewart, Lockhart, Keith, Sampson, Fraser and Logan families; Douglas set sail for Sluys in Flanders on the first stage of the long journey to the Holy Land. On arrival they received news that Alfonso XI of Castile was leading a campaign against the Moors from the Kingdom of Granada. And so the company sailed south along the coast of France and on to southern Spain. Reaching the Castilian City of Seville, Douglas and his holy relic were received by King Alfonso with great honour.
The many foreign participants in the Reconquista of southern Spain flocked in their dozens to see one of the most renowned and illustrious warriors in all Christendom. Among them were several English Knights, who would have relished the chance to fight alongside the Black Douglas – for a change. One well esteemed French Knight couldn’t believe his eyes when Douglas made his appearance, his visage without a scratch after a lifetime of warfare. He just had to ask why his face remained unmarked.
With a slightly sardonic smile touching his lips, Sir James immediately replied, “Praise God that I always had strong hands with which to protect my face”. Of course, the company roared their approval at the Douglas’s laconic response.
Plans for the next stage of the campaign were completed and Douglas was appointed to command a mobile force of light cavalry, Knights, Squires and mounted Men- At-Arms. Their numbers were made up from various nationalities, Scots, English, French, plus a small contingent from the Hospitaller Order of St John.
The Saracen armies commanded by the Great Emir Osmin, were at Granada, around 200 miles to the east of Seville. Roughly halfway between was the small township of Teba, with el Castillo della Estrella, the Castle of the Stars, overlooking the region from its high crag above – and which had been captured by Osmin’s forces.
Retaking the castle was to be the next objective for the Castilian forces which accordingly marched eastward and occupied the town. Bringing siege engines up into the lines, they began to invest the citadel.
On receiving reports from his scouts, Osmin mobilized his forces. Advancing into the border region, they halted and made camp at the minor hamlet of Turron, a few miles away from Teba on the far side of the Almargen valley and the Guada Teba, the gorge and river that run just to the south of the town.
Despite the close proximity of the Moorish Army, bombardment of the castle continued – while enemy units of light horse archers skirmished with the Castilian troops whenever they made for the Guada Teba to obtain supplies of drinking water.
Intending to deal with these sporadic clashes, Alphonso ordered a body of men-at-arms to march east and defend the river crossings. On arrival at the fords, they reported seeing huge enemy troop movements around Turron – Osmin was preparing a massive, and imminent, onslaught against the Castilian lines which if successful would break the siege!
Alphonso held back the bulk of his forces to repel the main strike, but sent Douglas and his foreign Knights down to the Guada Teba to guard against any attempted assaults from the direction of the river. Sir James immediately observed significant numbers of enemy foot and horse-archers crossing at the river fords and deploying to launch a flank attack on the Castilian army. Shouting their battle cries, the entire company charged the Saracen ranks and forced them back across the sluggish waters. They hit them so hard that individual Knights were soon in sight of the Moorish camp itself.
Meanwhile, Osmin’s effort against the Castilian siege lines had been repulsed and determining to drive off the small force that was causing havoc at the Guada Teba, the Berber commander detached 5,000 of his warriors to attack the foreign Knights from the rear.
Douglas and several of his companions realized they were in danger of being cut off by the reinforced mass of enemy troops now swarming behind them. Swiftly rallying his men they smashed into the Saracen cavalry again, succeeding in cutting through – but then Sir James noticed that William Sinclair of Roslin wasn’t with them. Turning in the saddle, he could see Sinclair and a few other dismounted Crusaders struggling to hold off the enemy counter attacks.
To be continued....
Robert the Bruce, Scotland’s Warrior King, died at Cardross, Dunbartonshire, on June 7, 1329, aged 54.
Lying on his deathbed he called for his foremost captains and loyal companions; Thomas Randolph the Earl of Moray, Gilbert Hay the Chamberlain, Angus Og MacDonald Lord of the Isles, Robert Keith the Earl Marichal, Walter Stewart husband of the dead Marjorie Bruce and father of the future King Robert II, then finally – the foremost Paladin of all – and his most devoted friend – arguably the finest soldier Scotland has ever produced throughout its long and illustrious history, Sir James Douglas, Lord of Douglasdale.
The Bruce commanded that his heart be carried on Crusade to Palestine, and laid at the Alter of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem - to atone for the sacrilegious murder of his bitter rival, John Comyn before the alter in Greyfriars Church, Dumfries, in 1306, and had resulted in Bruce’s excommunication by the Pope at Avignon.
Of course, there was never any doubt that Douglas would be allotted the task. Bruce’s heart was preserved, and placed in a casket attached to a golden chain which The Good Sir James then carried with him at all times.
Early in 1330, given a safe conduct by the youthful King Edward III of England, and accompanied by seven Knights, twenty Squires and sundry other Scottish Gentlemen, including members of the Sinclair, Cathcart, Stewart, Lockhart, Keith, Sampson, Fraser and Logan families; Douglas set sail for Sluys in Flanders on the first stage of the long journey to the Holy Land. On arrival they received news that Alfonso XI of Castile was leading a campaign against the Moors from the Kingdom of Granada. And so the company sailed south along the coast of France and on to southern Spain. Reaching the Castilian City of Seville, Douglas and his holy relic were received by King Alfonso with great honour.
The many foreign participants in the Reconquista of southern Spain flocked in their dozens to see one of the most renowned and illustrious warriors in all Christendom. Among them were several English Knights, who would have relished the chance to fight alongside the Black Douglas – for a change. One well esteemed French Knight couldn’t believe his eyes when Douglas made his appearance, his visage without a scratch after a lifetime of warfare. He just had to ask why his face remained unmarked.
With a slightly sardonic smile touching his lips, Sir James immediately replied, “Praise God that I always had strong hands with which to protect my face”. Of course, the company roared their approval at the Douglas’s laconic response.
Plans for the next stage of the campaign were completed and Douglas was appointed to command a mobile force of light cavalry, Knights, Squires and mounted Men- At-Arms. Their numbers were made up from various nationalities, Scots, English, French, plus a small contingent from the Hospitaller Order of St John.
The Saracen armies commanded by the Great Emir Osmin, were at Granada, around 200 miles to the east of Seville. Roughly halfway between was the small township of Teba, with el Castillo della Estrella, the Castle of the Stars, overlooking the region from its high crag above – and which had been captured by Osmin’s forces.
Retaking the castle was to be the next objective for the Castilian forces which accordingly marched eastward and occupied the town. Bringing siege engines up into the lines, they began to invest the citadel.
On receiving reports from his scouts, Osmin mobilized his forces. Advancing into the border region, they halted and made camp at the minor hamlet of Turron, a few miles away from Teba on the far side of the Almargen valley and the Guada Teba, the gorge and river that run just to the south of the town.
Despite the close proximity of the Moorish Army, bombardment of the castle continued – while enemy units of light horse archers skirmished with the Castilian troops whenever they made for the Guada Teba to obtain supplies of drinking water.
Intending to deal with these sporadic clashes, Alphonso ordered a body of men-at-arms to march east and defend the river crossings. On arrival at the fords, they reported seeing huge enemy troop movements around Turron – Osmin was preparing a massive, and imminent, onslaught against the Castilian lines which if successful would break the siege!
Alphonso held back the bulk of his forces to repel the main strike, but sent Douglas and his foreign Knights down to the Guada Teba to guard against any attempted assaults from the direction of the river. Sir James immediately observed significant numbers of enemy foot and horse-archers crossing at the river fords and deploying to launch a flank attack on the Castilian army. Shouting their battle cries, the entire company charged the Saracen ranks and forced them back across the sluggish waters. They hit them so hard that individual Knights were soon in sight of the Moorish camp itself.
Meanwhile, Osmin’s effort against the Castilian siege lines had been repulsed and determining to drive off the small force that was causing havoc at the Guada Teba, the Berber commander detached 5,000 of his warriors to attack the foreign Knights from the rear.
Douglas and several of his companions realized they were in danger of being cut off by the reinforced mass of enemy troops now swarming behind them. Swiftly rallying his men they smashed into the Saracen cavalry again, succeeding in cutting through – but then Sir James noticed that William Sinclair of Roslin wasn’t with them. Turning in the saddle, he could see Sinclair and a few other dismounted Crusaders struggling to hold off the enemy counter attacks.
To be continued....
harrytheheid
A Fixture
The BATTLE of TEBA - Part 2 - With Slight Artistic License.
....Sir James called out to his nearest comrades and ten of them wheeled round. Quickly forming his companions into an arrowhead formation, Douglas held high his precious casket, shouting, “For God, St Andrew and Good King Robert”.
And now, yelling that most famous rallying cry of all, “A Bruce! A Bruce!” – the foreign Knights cheering along with their Scots comrades – the diminutive force had just enough time to achieve an outright gallop as they swept forward.
Fortunately, the ranks of Saracen horsemen did not ride out to engage them, content to remain immobile while the dismounted Christians to their rear were gradually cut down. Or perhaps more likely, they were rooted to the spot in utter astonishment as they awaited the impact of this suicidal charge of 11 against 5,000.
With a vicious crash – the shrieks of men and horses – the screech of steel against steel - an arrow striking sparks as it glanced harmlessly off his breastplate, the Douglas was through the first and second enemy lines. Reaching Sir William and his beleaguered comrades, and swinging the gold casket around his head, he rode on beating a clenched fist against his mounts flank to keep up the impetus of the charge.
“A Douglas! A Douglas!” he cried again and again.
The splendid charge now reduced to a stumbling canter, Douglas broke into the open. But the momentum was now gone. And immediately to the front, only 50 yards away was not another rearguard line, but a magnificent group of white robed sultans, emirs, caliphs and imams – with scores of green banners emblazoned with the great crescent symbol flying overhead.
Beyond them lay an empty plain – and escape.
A strange and fierce sensation now swept over Sir James. It had come to this at last – this then was how his story would end – as he had always known it would. The way was clear for a breakout, but that way was not for the Douglas.
As the Berber nobility spurred their mounts to close with him, he stood tall in his stirrups and swinging the casket....higher and higher – faster and faster – he plunged forward – to meet destiny.
With all his strength he hurled the glittering casket on its golden chain into the midst of the Moorish notables crying....
“LEAD ON BRAVE HEART!”
“Douglas follows or Douglas dies!”
“A Bruce! A Bruce!”
The Good Sir James, the Black Douglas, had departed from his last battlefield as he had lived his life, riding into History....
Into Legend....
To be continued
....Sir James called out to his nearest comrades and ten of them wheeled round. Quickly forming his companions into an arrowhead formation, Douglas held high his precious casket, shouting, “For God, St Andrew and Good King Robert”.
And now, yelling that most famous rallying cry of all, “A Bruce! A Bruce!” – the foreign Knights cheering along with their Scots comrades – the diminutive force had just enough time to achieve an outright gallop as they swept forward.
Fortunately, the ranks of Saracen horsemen did not ride out to engage them, content to remain immobile while the dismounted Christians to their rear were gradually cut down. Or perhaps more likely, they were rooted to the spot in utter astonishment as they awaited the impact of this suicidal charge of 11 against 5,000.
With a vicious crash – the shrieks of men and horses – the screech of steel against steel - an arrow striking sparks as it glanced harmlessly off his breastplate, the Douglas was through the first and second enemy lines. Reaching Sir William and his beleaguered comrades, and swinging the gold casket around his head, he rode on beating a clenched fist against his mounts flank to keep up the impetus of the charge.
“A Douglas! A Douglas!” he cried again and again.
The splendid charge now reduced to a stumbling canter, Douglas broke into the open. But the momentum was now gone. And immediately to the front, only 50 yards away was not another rearguard line, but a magnificent group of white robed sultans, emirs, caliphs and imams – with scores of green banners emblazoned with the great crescent symbol flying overhead.
Beyond them lay an empty plain – and escape.
A strange and fierce sensation now swept over Sir James. It had come to this at last – this then was how his story would end – as he had always known it would. The way was clear for a breakout, but that way was not for the Douglas.
As the Berber nobility spurred their mounts to close with him, he stood tall in his stirrups and swinging the casket....higher and higher – faster and faster – he plunged forward – to meet destiny.
With all his strength he hurled the glittering casket on its golden chain into the midst of the Moorish notables crying....
“LEAD ON BRAVE HEART!”
“Douglas follows or Douglas dies!”
“A Bruce! A Bruce!”
The Good Sir James, the Black Douglas, had departed from his last battlefield as he had lived his life, riding into History....
Into Legend....
To be continued
harrytheheid
A Fixture
The BATTLE of TEBA - Part 3 - With Slight Artistic License.
A weak and watery sun rose over the Almargen valley. High above the slow moving Guada Teba river vultures soared, as the survivors led by William Keith and Alan Cathcart searched the battlefield – a battlefield now deserted of all life.
Among the corpses of the enemy slain they came across the dead Sir Robert Logan and his brother Walter. Close by lay the lifeless bodies of Patrick Stewart, Andrew Fraser, and William Sinclair.
James Douglas was found lying face down in the midst of the bloody carnage, surrounded by a circle of dead Moors, laid low at last by five mortal wounds. As they moved him the gold casket with the heart of Bruce was found under his body.
Raising his eyes Keith perceived a group of six superbly mounted and richly dressed Moorish horsemen observing them impassively. Without warning, they dismounted and strode resolutely towards the surviving Knights. With a piercing, stare, the leader declared to Keith in broken English, “We would honor the mighty Warlord who rode against us”.
The Berber commander gave a barely perceptible nod to his companions, and then all six of the proud Moorish nobles lifted James Douglas on their shoulders and somberly bore him back to the Christian camp.
Laying the body down, the enemy commander regarded the dead Douglas thoughtfully for a moment, then they remounted and vanished as suddenly as they had appeared.
James Douglas’s final campaign had ended in a victory of sorts. Although el Castillo della Estrella fell to Alphonso’s triumphant Castilians just a few days after his death, the Battle of Teba was ultimately inconclusive. While the town itself remained secure in Christian hands, the debatable lands around the Almargen valley and Guada Teba river were to witness innumerable smaller clashes and skirmishes for the next hundred and fifty years.
The heart of the Bruce was carried back to Scotland and buried at Melrose abbey.
The body of Douglas was boiled and the flesh buried in some unmarked Spanish grave. His bones were buried in a ceremony of at the Kirk of St Bride in Douglasdale.
Archibald the Grim, brother of Sir James and the new Lord of Douglas subsequently added a crowned and blood red heart to the family crest and coat of arms.
The Castle of the Stars, now a derelict ruin, still broods over the picturesque little town of modern day Teba.
Links with Scotland, the Black Douglas and Teba still endure to this day in the form of re-enactments....
....and, err, "cultural exchanges"....
Standing proudly in the town square is a monument dedicated to almost inconceivable honor and valor.
Inscribed into its grey Scottish granite is the following testament;
SIR JAMES DOUGLAS most loyal comrade in arms of ROBERT the BRUCE, KING of SCOTS.
While on his way to present theHeart of Bruce at the church of the Most Holy Sepulchre Jerusalem the good Sir James turned aside to support King Alphonso XI capture the strategic Castle of the Stars Teba & was slain in battle August 25, 1330
THE END (for now - cos I've been working on an expanded diorama, which I hope to finish this year.
Cheers
H
A weak and watery sun rose over the Almargen valley. High above the slow moving Guada Teba river vultures soared, as the survivors led by William Keith and Alan Cathcart searched the battlefield – a battlefield now deserted of all life.
Among the corpses of the enemy slain they came across the dead Sir Robert Logan and his brother Walter. Close by lay the lifeless bodies of Patrick Stewart, Andrew Fraser, and William Sinclair.
James Douglas was found lying face down in the midst of the bloody carnage, surrounded by a circle of dead Moors, laid low at last by five mortal wounds. As they moved him the gold casket with the heart of Bruce was found under his body.
Raising his eyes Keith perceived a group of six superbly mounted and richly dressed Moorish horsemen observing them impassively. Without warning, they dismounted and strode resolutely towards the surviving Knights. With a piercing, stare, the leader declared to Keith in broken English, “We would honor the mighty Warlord who rode against us”.
The Berber commander gave a barely perceptible nod to his companions, and then all six of the proud Moorish nobles lifted James Douglas on their shoulders and somberly bore him back to the Christian camp.
Laying the body down, the enemy commander regarded the dead Douglas thoughtfully for a moment, then they remounted and vanished as suddenly as they had appeared.
James Douglas’s final campaign had ended in a victory of sorts. Although el Castillo della Estrella fell to Alphonso’s triumphant Castilians just a few days after his death, the Battle of Teba was ultimately inconclusive. While the town itself remained secure in Christian hands, the debatable lands around the Almargen valley and Guada Teba river were to witness innumerable smaller clashes and skirmishes for the next hundred and fifty years.
The heart of the Bruce was carried back to Scotland and buried at Melrose abbey.
The body of Douglas was boiled and the flesh buried in some unmarked Spanish grave. His bones were buried in a ceremony of at the Kirk of St Bride in Douglasdale.
Archibald the Grim, brother of Sir James and the new Lord of Douglas subsequently added a crowned and blood red heart to the family crest and coat of arms.
The Castle of the Stars, now a derelict ruin, still broods over the picturesque little town of modern day Teba.
Links with Scotland, the Black Douglas and Teba still endure to this day in the form of re-enactments....
....and, err, "cultural exchanges"....
Standing proudly in the town square is a monument dedicated to almost inconceivable honor and valor.
Inscribed into its grey Scottish granite is the following testament;
SIR JAMES DOUGLAS most loyal comrade in arms of ROBERT the BRUCE, KING of SCOTS.
While on his way to present theHeart of Bruce at the church of the Most Holy Sepulchre Jerusalem the good Sir James turned aside to support King Alphonso XI capture the strategic Castle of the Stars Teba & was slain in battle August 25, 1330
THE END (for now - cos I've been working on an expanded diorama, which I hope to finish this year.
Cheers
H
garyhiggins
A Fixture
Don't be meanI heard that it wasn't a heart in the casket but a silver groat hence the mass charge when it was thrown
Steve
garyhiggins
A Fixture
/Nice story, nice diorama
.
Best wishes, Gary.
.Best wishes, Gary.
Taken in the humerous way it was intended,but you guys have obviously never had a drinking session with us Jocks.Don't be mean
If you ever want to know where the misconception of the Scots being tight originated, just ask.I don't want to bore you unless you really want to know.
billyturnip
A Fixture
you guys have obviously never had a drinking session with us Jocks.
I have, once you've got 'em past the first hurdle of actually getting a round in it doesn't take long for them to get into the swing of things,
Roger.
garyhiggins
A Fixture
On one occasion (I was only 17), with the stupidity of youth, I tried to drink a Scottish lorry driver under the table---I lost very badly
Best wishes, Gary.
Best wishes, Gary.
Actually I live in Derbyshire, and when it comes to being tight here they are Water Tight. They would walk 10 miles to save a penny. So the grand title I would definatly give to them. Contrary to the popular belief I have never found the Scots to be tight, but they do love to give that impression more as an item of fun,rather than truth.
DEL
A Fixture
Some interesting stuff and some good laughs here.
If you read it send 2p to my PayPal account or I'll see you in court.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...vations-caledonia-gave-the-world-6289832.html
If you read it send 2p to my PayPal account or I'll see you in court.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...vations-caledonia-gave-the-world-6289832.html
I am on holiday in Cyprus at the moment,and last night I was talking to a Greek Cypriot restaurateur . He said he was moved to Paphos when Turkey invaded the island in 1974 , from what is now the Turkish Occupied Zone. He went on to talk about the EOKA troubles 1955-59. What was revealing was when he said, The trouble with you British,is that you never ever keep a promise.You don't know how to. That set me thinking, that should Scotland vote yes, I don't think they will get it. Delaying tactics will be used in the transfer, and everything will drag on to the point where further referendums will be held untill Westminster gets the result they want. The power doesn't lay with the people, it's still firmly entrenched with the Establishment. Very interesting days ahead I think, coupled with disappointment on both sides.
M
Mark S
Guest
I guess it's a matter of which Establishment that the power remains entrenched with which is the core of the concern for most people affected, the local establishment or otherwise.
Also I find the pathos of having to move to Paphos moving.
Now Waterman before considering how abusive and offensive you intend to be in response, please consider that as uncomfortable as you may find it, this is an international forum, and mere colonials such as myself are unfortunately permitted these days to express our simplistic ideas however idiotic and unrefined.
