Page:A tour through the northern counties of England, and the borders of Scotland - Volume II.djvu/30

[ 18 ] Margaret, unconquerable by disaster, after the loss of the battle of Towton, losing all regard for her own personal safety in her anxious care for her adherents, engaged George Douglas Earl of Angus in the desperate attempt of removing the garrison from Alnwick, in the face of the enemy's forces. Advancing with a large body of Scotch horse, he drew up in order of bat lie before the English, who immediately made arrangements for the conflict. Whilst they were entirely engaged in these preparations, Douglas drew up a select body of his stoutest troopers to a back gate, out of which the garrison issued; and each soldier mounting behind a horseman rode oil securely from the castle, concealed from the sight of the English by the intervening array. Douglas having effected his purpose drew off his forces in crood order, leaving the assailants at liberty to take possession of the deserted fortress.

In its present splendid state, fitted up at the immense expense of 200,000l. Almvick-Castle can afford but a faint idea of its appearance in the feudal ages; when it was dark and inconvenient, with everything contrived for security, and nothing done for the sake of elegance. Under its present highly improved form, however, it must be confessed, that everything has been made as congruous to ancient costume as possible; and all within and without