by G. A. Henty
Chapter 2: Across The Border.
A most vigilant watch was kept up, for the next week, at Yardhope Hold.At night, three or four of the troopers were posted four or five milesfrom the hold, on the roads by which an enemy was likely to come;having under them the fleetest horses on the moor. When a week passedthere was some slight relaxation in the watch, for it was evident thatthe Bairds intended to bide their time for a stroke, knowing well thatthey would not be likely to be able to effect a surprise, at present.The outlying posts were, therefore, no longer maintained; but the dogsof the hold, fully a dozen in number, were chained nightly in a circlethree or four hundred yards outside it; and their barking would, atonce, apprise the watchers in the turrets on the walls of the approachof any body of armed men.
Two days later, Oswald started for his promised visit to theArmstrongs. It was not considered necessary that he should beaccompanied by any of the troopers, for Hiniltie lay but a few milesacross the frontier. In high spirits he galloped away and, ridingthrough Yardhope, was soon at Alwinton; and thence took the trackthrough Kidland Lee, passed round the head of the Usmay brook, alongthe foot of Maiden Cross Hill, and crossed the frontier at Windy Guile.Here he stood on the crest of the Cheviots and, descending, passedalong at the foot of Windburgh Hill; and by noon entered the tinyhamlet of Hiniltie, above which, perched on one of the spurs of thehill, stood the Armstrongs' hold. It was smaller than that of Yardhope,and had no surrounding wall; but, like it, was built for defenceagainst a sudden attack.
Adam Armstrong was on good terms with his neighbours across the border.Although other members of his family were frequently engaged in forays,it was seldom, indeed, that he buckled on armour, and only when therewas a general call to arms. He was, however, on bad terms with theBairds, partly because his wife was a sister of Forster's, partlybecause of frays that had arisen between his herdsmen and those of theBairds, for his cattle wandered far and wide on the mountain slopes tothe south, and sometimes passed the ill-defined line, beyond which theBairds regarded the country as their own. Jedburgh was but ten milesaway, Hawick but six or seven, and any stay after the sun rose wouldspeedily have brought strong bodies of men from these towns, as well asfrom his still nearer neighbours, at Chester, Abbotrule, and Hobkirk.
Oswald's approach was seen, and two of his cousins--Allan, who was alad of about the same age, and Janet, a year younger--ran out from thehouse to meet him.
"We have been expecting you for the last ten days," the formerexclaimed, "and had well nigh given you up."
"I hold you to be a laggard," the girl added, "and unless you can dulyexcuse yourself, shall have naught to say to you."
"My excuse is a good one, Janet. My father made a foray, a fortnightsince, into the Bairds' country, to rescue some of the cattle they haddriven off from our neighbours, some days before. There was a sharpfight, and Allan Baird was killed; and since then we have beenexpecting a return visit from them, and have been sleeping with ourarms beside us. Doubtless they will come someday, but as it is evidentthey don't mean to come at present, my father let me leave."
"In that case we must forgive you," the girl said. "Some rumours of thefray have reached us, and my father shook his head gravely, when heheard that another Baird had been killed by the Forsters."
"It was not only us," Oswald replied. "There were some of the Liddels,and the Hopes, and other families, engaged. My father was chosen aschief; but this time it was not our quarrel, but theirs, for we hadlost no cattle, and my father only joined because they had aided uslast time, and he could not hold back now. Of course, he was chosen aschief because he knows the country so well."
"Well, come in, Oswald. It is poor hospitality to keep you talkinghere, outside the door."
A boy had already taken charge of Oswald's horse and, after unstrappinghis valise, had led it to a stable that formed the basement of thehouse.
"Well, laddie, how fares it with you, at home?" Adam Armstrong said,heartily, as they mounted the steps to the main entrance. "We haveheard of your wild doings with the Bairds. 'Tis a pity that these feudsshould go on, from father to son, ever getting more and more bitter.But there, we can no more change a borderer's nature than you can stopthe tide in the Solway. I hear that it was well nigh a pitched battle."
"There was hard fighting," Oswald replied. "Three of our troopers, andeight or ten of the others were killed. My father was twice wounded,one of the Hopes was killed, and a Liddel severely wounded. But fromwhat they say, the Bairds suffered more. Had they not done so, therewould have been a hot pursuit; but as far as we know there was none."
"The Bairds will bide their time," Armstrong said gravely. "They aredour men, and will take their turn, though they wait ten years for it."
"At any rate they won't catch us sleeping, Uncle; and come they howeverstrong they may, they will find it hard work to capture the Hold."
"Ay, ay, lad, but I don't think they will try to knock their headsagainst your wall. They are more like to sweep down on a sudden, andyour watchman will need keen eyes to make them out before they arethundering at the gate, or climbing up the wall. However, your fatherknows his danger, and it is of no use talking more of it. What is doneis done."
"And how is your mother, Oswald?" Mistress Armstrong asked.
"She is well, Aunt, and bade me give her love to you."
"Truly I wonder she keeps her health, with all these troubles andanxieties. We had hoped that, after the meeting last March of theCommissioners on both sides, when the Lords of the Marches plightedtheir faith to each other, and agreed to surrender all prisonerswithout ransom, and to forgive all offenders, we should have had peaceon the border. As you know, there were but three exceptions named;namely Adam Warden, William Baird, and Adam French, whom the ScotchCommissioners bound themselves to arrest, and to hand over to theEnglish Commissioners, to be tried as being notorious truce breakers,doing infinite mischief to the dwellers on the English side of theborder. And yet nothing has come of it, and these men still continue tomake their raids, without check or hindrance, either by the Earl ofMarch or Douglas."
"There are faults on both sides, wife," her husband said.
"I do not deny it, gudeman; but I have often heard you say these threemen are the pests of the border; and that, were it not for them, thingsmight go on reasonably enough, for no one counts a few head of cattlelifted, now and again. It is bad enough that, every two or three years,armies should march across the border, one way or the other; but surelywe might live peaceably, between times. Did not I nearly lose you atOtterburn, and had you laid up on my hands, for well-nigh six months?"
"Ay, that was a sore day, for both sides."
"Will you tell me about it, Uncle?" Oswald asked. "My father cares notmuch to talk of it; and though I know that he fought there, he hasnever told me the story of the battle."
"We are just going to sit down to dinner, now," Adam Armstrong said,"and the story is a long one; but after we have done, I will tell youof it. Your father need not feel so sore about it; for, since the daysof the Bruce, you have had as many victories to count as we have."
After dinner, however, Armstrong had to settle a dispute between two ofhis tenants, as to grazing rights; and it was not until evening that hetold his story.
"In 1388 there were all sorts of troubles in England, and Francenaturally took advantage of them, and recommenced hostilities, and weprepared to share in the game. Word was sent round privately, and everyman was bidden to gather, in Jedburgh forest. I tell you, lad, I wentwith a heavy heart, for although men of our name have the reputation ofbeing as quarrelsome fellows as any that dwell on the border, I am anexception, and love peace and quiet; moreover, the children were butyoung, and I saw that the fight would be a heavy business, and I didnot like leaving them, and their mother. However, there was no help forit, and we gathered there, over 40,000 strong. The main body marchedaway into Cumberland; but Douglas, March, and Moray, with 300 spearsand 2000 footmen, including many an Armstrong, entered Northumberland.
"However, having laden ourselves with plunder from Durham, we sat downfor three days before Newcastle, where we had some sharp skirmisheswith Sir Henry and his brother, Sir Ralph Percy; and in one of thesecaptured Sir Henry's pennant.
"Then we marched away to Otterburn, after receiving warning from Percythat he intended to win his pennant back again, before we leftNorthumberland. We attacked Otterburn Castle, but failed to carry it,for it was strong and well defended. There was a council that night,and most of the leaders were in favour of retiring at once to Scotland,with the abundance of spoil that we had gained. But Douglas persuadedthem to remain two or three days, and to capture the castle, and not togo off as if afraid of Percy's threats. So we waited all the next day;and at night the Percys, with 600 spears and 8000 infantry, came up.Our leaders had not been idle, for they had examined the groundcarefully, and arranged how the battle should be fought, if we wereattacked.
"Having heard nothing of the English, all day, we lay down to sleep,not expecting to hear aught of them until the morning. It was amoonlight night, and being in August, there was but a short darknessbetween the twilights; and the English, arriving, at once made anattack, falling first on the servants' huts, which they took for thoseof the chiefs. This gave us time to form up in good order, as we hadlain down each in his proper position.
"A portion of the force went down to skirmish with the English infront, but the greater portion marched along the mountain side, andfell suddenly upon the English flank. At first there was greatconfusion; but the English, being more numerous, soon recovered theirorder and pushed us back, though not without much loss on both sides.
"Douglas shouted his battle cry, advanced his banner, fighting mostbravely; as did Sir Patrick Hepburn, but for whose bravery the Douglasbanner would have been taken, for the Percys, hearing the cry of 'aDouglas! a Douglas!' pressed to that part of the field, and bore usbackwards. I was in the midst of it, with ten of my kinsmen; and thoughwe all fought as became men, we were pressed back, and began to thinkthat the day would be lost.
"Then the young earl, furious at seeing disaster threaten him, dashedinto the midst of the English ranks, swinging his battle-axe and, for atime, cutting a way for himself. But one man's strength and courage cango for but little in such a fray. Some of his knights and squires hadfollowed him, but in the darkness it was but few who perceived hisadvance.
"Presently three knights met him, and all their spears pierced him, andhe was borne from his horse, mortally wounded. Happily the English wereunaware that it was Douglas who had fallen. Had they known it, theircourage would have been mightily raised, and the day would assuredlyhave been lost. We, too, were ignorant that Douglas had fallen, andstill fought on.
"In other parts of the field March and Moray were holding their ownbravely. Sir Ralph Percy, who had, like Douglas, charged almost aloneinto Moray's ranks, was sorely wounded and, being surrounded,surrendered to Sir John Maxwell. Elsewhere many captures were made byboth parties; but as the fight went on the advantage turned to ourside; for we had rested all the day before, and began the battle fresh,after some hours of sleep; while the English had marched eight leagues,and were weary when they began the fight.
"Sir James Lindsay and Sir Walter Sinclair, with some other knights whohad followed Douglas, found him still alive. With his last words heordered them to raise his banner, and to shout 'Douglas!' so thatfriends and foes should think that he was of their party. Theseinstructions they followed. We and others pressed forwards, on hearingthe shout; and soon, a large party being collected, resumed the battleat this point. Moray and March both bore their arrays in the directionwhere they believed Douglas to be battling, and so, together, wepressed upon the English so hardly that they retreated, and for fivemiles we pursued them very hotly. Very many prisoners were taken, butall of quality were at once put to ransom, and allowed to depart ongiving their knightly word of payment within fifteen days.
"It was a great victory, and in truth none of us well knew how it hadcome about, for the English had fought as well and valiantly as we didourselves; but it is ill for wearied men to fight against fresh ones.Never was I more surprised than when we found that the battle, whichfor a time had gone mightily against us, was yet won in the end.Methinks that it was, to a great extent, due to the fact that eachEnglishman fought for himself; while we, having on the previous dayreceived the strictest orders to fight each man under his leader, tohold together, and to obey orders in all respects, kept in ourcompanies; and so, in the end, gained the day against a foe as brave,and much more numerous, than ourselves."
"Thank you, Uncle Armstrong. I have often wondered how it was that thePercys, being three to one against you, were yet defeated; fighting ontheir own ground, as it were. 'Tis long, indeed, since we suffered sogreat a reverse."
"That is true enough, Oswald. In the days of Wallace and Bruce, weScots often won battles with long odds against us; but that was becausewe fought on foot, and the English for the most part on horseback--amethod good enough on an open plain, but ill fitted for a land ofmorass and hill, like Scotland. Since the English also took to fightingon foot, the chances have been equal; and we have repulsed invasionsnot so much by force, as by falling back, and so wasting the countrythat the English had but the choice of retreating or starving.
"There is reason, indeed, why, when equal forces are arrayed againsteach other, the chances should also be equal; for we are come of thesame stock, and the men of the northern marches of England, and thoseof Scotland, are alike hardy and accustomed to war. Were we but aunited people, as you English are, methinks that there would never havebeen such constant wars between us; for English kings would not havecared to have invaded a country where they would find but little spoil,and have hard work to take it. But our nobles have always been ready toturn traitors. They are mostly of Norman blood and Norman name, and nosmall part of them have estates in England, as well as in Scotland.Hence it is that our worst enemies have always been in our midst.
"And now it is time for bed, or you will be heavy in the morning; and Iknow that you intend starting at dawn, with the dogs, and have promisedto bring in some hares for dinner."
Not only Oswald and Allan, but Janet also was afoot early; and, aftertaking a basin of porridge, started for the hills, accompanied by fourdogs. They carried with them bows and arrows, in case the dogs shoulddrive the hares within shot.
Six hours later they returned, carrying with them five hares and abrace of birds. These had both fallen to Oswald's bow, being shot whileon the ground; for in those days the idea that it was unsportsmanliketo shoot game, except when flying, was unknown.
For a week they went out every day, sometimes with the dogs, but moreoften with hawks; which were trained to fly, not only at birds in theirflight, but at hares, on whose heads they alighted, pecking them andbeating them so fiercely with their wings, that they gave time for theparty on foot to run up, and despatch the quarry with an arrow.
Once or twice they accompanied Adam Armstrong, when he rode to some ofthe towns in the neighbourhood, and spent the day with friends of theArmstrongs there. For a fortnight, the time passed very pleasantly tothe English lad; but, at the end of that time, Adam Armstrong returnedfrom a visit to Jedburgh with a grave face.
"I have news," he said, "that your King Richard has been deposed; thatHenry, the Duke of Lancaster, having landed in Yorkshire, was
joined byPercy and the Earl of Westmoreland, and has been proclaimed king. Thiswill cause great troubles in England, for surely there must be manythere who will not tamely see a king dethroned by treasonablepractices; and another, having no just title to the crown, promoted tohis place.
"Such a thing is contrary to all reason and justice. A king has thesame right to his crown as a noble to his estates, and none may justlytake them away, save for treasonable practices; and a king cannotcommit treason against himself. Therefore it is like that there will bemuch trouble in England, and I fear that there is no chance of thetruce that concludes, at the end of this month, being continued.
"The fact that the two great northern lords of England are both, withtheir forces, in the south will further encourage trouble; and thepeace that, with small intermissions, has continued since the battle ofOtterburn, is like to be broken. Therefore, my lad, I think it bestthat you should cut short your visit, by a week, and you shall returnand finish it when matters have settled down.
"Here in Scotland we are not without troubles. Ill blood has arisenbetween March and Douglas, owing to the Duke of Ramsay breaking hispromise to marry the Earl of March's daughter, and taking Douglas'sgirl to wife. This, too, has sorely angered one more powerful thaneither Douglas or March--I mean, of course, Albany, who reallyexercises the kingly power.
"But troubles in Scotland will in no way prevent war from breaking outwith England. On the contrary, the quarrel between the two great lordsof our marches will cause them to loose their hold of the border men,and I foresee that we shall have frays and forays among ourselvesagain, as in the worst times of old. Therefore, it were best that youwent home. While these things are going on, the private friendshipbetween so many families on either side of the border must besuspended, and all intercourse; for maybe every man on either side willbe called to arms, and assuredly it will not be safe for one of eithernation to set foot across the border, save armed, and with a strongclump of spears at his back."
"I shall be sorry, indeed, to go," Oswald said, "but I see that iftroubles do, as you fear, break out at the conclusion of the peace, afortnight hence--"
"They may not wait for that," Adam Armstrong interrupted him. "A truceis only a truce so long as there are those strong enough to enforce it,and with Douglas and March at variance on our side, and Northumberlandand Westmoreland absent on yours, there are none to see that the truceis not broken; and from what I hear, it may not be many days before wesee the smoke of burning houses rising, upon either side of theborder."
"The more reason for my going home," Oswald said. "My father is notlikely to be last in a fray, and assuredly he would not like me to beaway across the border when swords are drawn. I am very sorry, but Isee that there is no help for it; and tomorrow, at daybreak, I willstart for home."
That evening was the dullest Oswald had spent, during his visit. Theprospect that the two nations might soon be engaged in anotherdesperate struggle saddened the young cousins, who felt that a longtime might elapse before they again met; and that in the meantime theirfathers, and possibly themselves, might be fighting in opposite ranks.Although the breaches of the truces caused, as a rule, but littlebloodshed, being in fact but cattle lifting expeditions, it was verydifferent in time of war, when wholesale massacres took place on bothsides, towns and villages were burned down, and the whole of theinhabitants put to the sword. Ten years had sufficed to soften thememory of these events, especially among young people, but each hadheard numberless stories of wrong and slaughter, and felt that, whenwar once again broke out in earnest, there was little hope that therewould be any change in the manner in which it would be conducted.
Oswald rode rapidly, until he had crossed the border. The truce wouldnot expire for another thirteen days, but the raiders might be at workat any moment; for assuredly there would be no chance of complaintsbeing made, on the eve of recommencement of general hostilities. He metno one on the road, until he reached the first hamlet on the Englishside. Here he stopped to give his horse half an hour's rest, and afeed. As he dismounted, two or three of the villagers came up.
"Have you heard aught, lad, of any gatherings on the other side of theborder?"
"None from where I came; but there was a talk that notices had beensent, through the southern Scottish marches, for all to be in readinessto gather to the banner without delay, when the summons was received."
"That is what we have heard," a man said. "We have made everything inreadiness to drive off our cattle to the fells; the beacons are allprepared for lighting, from Berwick down to Carlisle; and assuredly theScotch will find little, near the border, to carry back with them.
"You are the son of stout John Forster of Yardhope Keep, are you not? Isaw you riding by his side, two months since, at Alwinton fair."
"Yes, I was there with him."
"He will have hot work, if a Scotch army marches into Tynedale. TheBairds will be sure to muster strongly, and they won't forgive the lastraid on them; and whichever way they go, you may be sure that yourfather's hold will receive a visit."
"It was but a return raid," Oswald said. "The Bairds had been down ourway, but a short time before, and lifted all the cattle and horses thatthey could lay hands on, for miles round."
"That is true enough. We all know the thieving loons. But men rememberthe injuries they have suffered, better than those they have inflicted;and they will count Allan Baird's death as more than a set-off for ascore of their own forays."
"If we have only the Bairds to settle with, we can hold our wallsagainst them," Oswald said; "but if the whole of the Scotch army comeour way, we must do as you are doing, drive the cattle to the hills,and leave them to do what harm they can to the stone walls, which theywill find it hard work to damage."
"Aye, I have heard that they are stronger than ordinary; and so theyneed be, seeing that you have a blood feud with the Bairds. Well, theyare not like to have much time to waste over it, for our sheriff hasalready sent word here, as to the places where we are to gather whenthe beacon fires are lighted; and you may be sure that the Percys willlose no time in marching against them, with all their array; and theScots are like to find, as they have found before, that it is an easierthing to cross the border than it is to get back."
Late that evening, Oswald returned home. After the first greetings, hisfather said:
"It is high time that you were back, Oswald. Rumour is busy, all alongthe border; but for myself, though I doubt not that their moss trooperswill be on the move, as soon as the truce ends, I think there will notbe any invasion in force, for some little time. The great lords of theScotch marches are ill friends with each other; and, until the quarrelbetween Douglas and Dunbar is patched up, neither will venture to marchhis forces into England. It may be months, yet, before we see theirpennons flying on English soil.
"My brother Alwyn has been over here, for a day or two, since you wereaway. The Percys are down south, so he was free to ride over here. Hewants us to send you to him, without loss of time. He says that thereis a vacancy in Percy's household, owing to one of his esquires beingmade a knight, and a page has been promoted to an esquireship. He saidthat he spoke to Hotspur, before he went south, anent the matter; andasked him to enroll you, not exactly as a page, but as one who, fromhis knowledge of the border, would be a safe and trusty messenger tosend, in case of need. As he has served the Percys for thirty years,and for ten has been the captain of their men-at-arms; and has neverasked for aught, either for himself or his relations, Percy gave him afavourable answer; and said that if, on his return, he would presentyou to him, and he found that you were a lad of manners that would besuitable for a member of his household, he would grant his request;partly, too, because my father and myself had always been stanch men,and ready at all times to join his banner, when summoned, and to fightdoughtily. So there seems a good chance of preferment for you.
"Your mother is willing that you should go. She says, and truly enough,that if you stay here it will be but to engage, as I and my forebears
have done, in constant feuds with the Scots; harrying and beingharried, never knowing, when we lie down to rest, but that we may bewoke up by the battle shout of the Bairds; and leaving behind us, whenwe die, no more than we took from our fathers.
"I know not how your own thoughts may run in the matter, Oswald, butmethinks that there is much in what she says; though, for myself, Iwish for nothing better than what I am accustomed to. Percy would haveknighted me had I wished it, years ago; but plain Jock Forster I wasborn, and so will I die when my time comes; for it would alter mycondition in no way, save that as Jock Forster I can lead a raid acrossthe border, but as Sir John Forster it would be hardly seemly for me todo so, save when there is open war between the countries.
"It is different, in your case; You are young, and can fit yourself toanother mode of life; and can win for yourself, with your sword, abetter fortune than you will inherit from me. Besides, lad, I am likeenough, unless a Baird spear finishes me sooner, to live another thirtyyears yet; and it is always sure to lead to trouble, if there are twococks in one farmyard. You would have your notions as to how mattersshould be done, and I should have mine; and so, for many reasons, it isright that you should go out into the world. If matters go well withyou, all the better; if not, you will always be welcome back here, andwill be master when I am gone.
"What say you?"
"It comes suddenly upon me, Father; but, as I have always thought thatI should like to see something of the world beyond our own dales, Iwould gladly, for a time at least, accept my uncle's offer; which is arare one, and far beyond my hopes. I should be sorry to leave you andmy mother but, save for that it seems to me, as to you, that it wouldbe best for me to go out into the world, for a time."
"Then that is settled, and tomorrow you shall ride to Alnwick and see,at any rate, if aught comes of the matter.
"Do not cry, Wife. It is your counsel that I am acting upon, and youhave told me you are sure that it is best that he should go. It is notas if he were taking service with a southern lord. He will be but aday's ride away from us, and doubtless will be able to come over, attimes, and stay a day or two with us; and once a year, when times arepeaceable, you shall ride behind me, on a pillion, to see how things gowith him at the Percys' castle. At any rate it will be better, by far,than if he had carried out that silly fancy of his, for putting himselfin the hands of the monks and learning to read and write; which would,perchance, have ended in his shaving his crown and taking to a cowl,and there would have been an end of the Forsters of Yardhope.
"Now, put that cold joint upon the table, again. Doubtless the lad hasa wolf's appetite."
There was no time lost. The next day was spent in looking out hisclothes and packing his valise, by his mother; while he rode round thecountry, to say goodbye to some of his friends. The next morning, atdaybreak, he started; and, at nightfall, rode into the castle ofAlnwick, and inquired for Alwyn Forster. The two men-at-arms, who hadregarded his appearance, on his shaggy border horse, with scarceconcealed contempt; at once answered, civilly, that the captain wouldbe found in his room, in the north turret. They then pointed out to himthe stables, where he could bestow his horse; and, having seen some hayplaced before it, and a feed of barley, to which the animal was butlittle accustomed, Oswald made his way up the turret, to the room inwhich his uncle lodged.
The stately castle, and the beauty, as well as the strength, of thePercys' great stronghold, had in no small degree surprised, and almostawed the lad, accustomed only to the rough border holds. It wassituated on rising ground, on the river Aln; and consisted of a greatkeep, which dated back to the times of the Saxons; and three courts,each of which were, indeed, separate fortresses, the embattled gatesbeing furnished with portcullises and strong towers. Within the circuitof its walls, it contained some five acres of ground, with sixteentowers, the outer wall being surrounded by a moat.
The Percys were descended from a Danish chief, who was one of theconquerors of Normandy, and settled there. The Percy of the time cameover with William the Norman, and obtained from him the gift of largepossessions in the south of England, and in Yorkshire; and, marrying agreat Saxon heiress, added to his wide lands in the north.
One of the Percys, in the reign of Henry the Second, made a journey toJerusalem, and died in the Holy Land. None of his four sons survivedhim. His eldest daughter Maud married the Earl of Warwick; but, dyingchildless, her sister Agnes became sole heir to the broad lands of thePercys. She married the son of the Duke of Brabant, the condition ofher marriage being that he should either take the arms of the Percys,instead of his own; or continue to bear his own arms, and take the nameof Percy. He chose the latter alternative. Their son was one of thebarons who forced King John to grant the Magna Carta.
The Percys always distinguished themselves, in the wars against theScot; and received, at various times, grants of territory in thatcountry; one of them being made Earl of Carrick, when Robert the Bruceraised the standard of revolt against England.
Upon the other hand, they not unfrequently took a share in risingsagainst the Kings of England; and their estates were confiscated, for atime, by their taking a leading part in the action against PiersGaveston, the royal favourite.
It was in the reign of Henry the Second that the Percy of the timeobtained, by purchase, the Barony of Alnwick; which from that datebecame the chief seat of the family. The present earl was the first ofthe rank, having been created by Richard the Second. He was one of themost powerful nobles in England, and it was at his invitation thatHenry of Lancaster had come over from France, and had been placed onthe throne by the Percys, and some other of the northern nobles; and,as a reward for his service, the earl was created High Constable ofEngland.