Black Agnes - for Davel

[M]

Hi Davel

I found this one here:

www.lothene.demon.co.uk/others/womenscot.html

Black Agnes: Lady Agnes Randolph (A.D. 1300?-1369?), wife of Patrick the fourth earl of Dunbar and the second earl of March. In her youth, she fought for the Bruce, but is better remembered for the later defense of her castle. In 1334, Black Agnes daughter of the great Randolf, earl of Moray, successfully held her castle at Dunbar against the besieging forces of England's earl of Salisbury for over five months, despite the unusual number of engineers and elaborate equipment brought against her. After each assault on her fortress, her maids dusted the merlins and crenels, treating her foes and the dreadfuls seige as a tiresome jest.

She is celebrated in a folk song attributed to Salisbury:
"She kept a stir in tower and trench,
That brawling, boisterous Scottish wench,
Came I early, came I late
I found Agnes at the gate."
Sir Walter Scott said, 'From the record of Scottish heroes, none can presume to erase her.' "

She sounds a good match to Black Douglas!!

Michelle

[Dave]

Michelle,

Those were the days eh.

I think Randolph was like the third of the trio of nights of Bruce Douglas and Randolph?

But what the heck are merlins and crenels?

DaveL

[Dave]

sorry,

Knights

[M]

One knight stands? Or... with Agnes fighting with them.. no more lonely Knights? LOL

Ok, bad joke...

Back to Merlins and crenels. Good question, I wondered myself. I always thought a Merlin, other than being Arthur's right-hand man, was a bird.

Then I put "crenel" into the google dictionary. Got this..

cren·el ( P ) Pronunciation Key (krnl)
n.
An open space or notch between two merlons in a battlement or crenelated wall.

So not a merLIN - a merLON!

mer·lon ( P ) Pronunciation Key (mûrln)
n.
A solid portion between two crenels in a battlement or crenelated wall.

Although I can't see anyone dusting them, let alone a fierce woman like Black Agnes.

Michelle