**William Lord Soulis was a powerful chief in the south of Scotland.
He founded pretensions to the Scottish crown, on his descent from an
illegitimate daughter of Alexander II. Soulis was a traitor to his
country, and so notoriously wicked, that tradition endows him with the
power of infernal necromancy. His castle of Hermitage, in Teviotdale,
is still shown as the resort of malignant demons.-(1809.)
The earl started from his couch. "Lord Soulis! what is the occasion of
this unapprised visit?"
"The ensign of the liege lord of Scotland is my warrant!" replied he;
"you are my prisoner; and in the name of King Edward of England, I take
possession of this castle."
"Never!" cried the earl, "while there is a man's arm within it."
"Man and woman," returned Lord Soulis, "must surrender to Edward.
Three thousand English have seized three hundred of our insurgents on
Bothwell Moor. The castle is surrounded, and resistance impossible.
Throw down your arms!" cried he, turning to the clansmen, who thronged
round their chief; "or be hanged for rebellion against your lawful
sovereign!"
"Our lawful sovereign!" returned a young man who stood near him, "must
be the enemy of Edward; and to none else will we yield our arms!"
"Traitor!" cried the English commander, while with a sudden and
dreadful stroke of his battle-ax he laid the body of the generous Scot
a headless corpse at his feet.
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