Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 8.djvu/216

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��The Armstrong Clan.

��ashes of his forefathers, is interred Will- iam Armstrong, of Sorby trees, who, to tlie great grief of the neighborhood, was shot without challenge or warning by the Rev. Joseph Smith, incumbent of Walton, Cumberland, on the night of Wednesday, the sixteenth day of April, 1 85 1, in the thirty-eighth year of his age."

The minister was slightly deranged, and died soon after his acquittal.

Here are buried Thomas Arm- strong, born as early as 16S9; also James, born 1705, and Archibald, born 1692, besides Walter and others of the name.

Leaving the cemetery, I reached Kirshopefoot, three miles away, and took tea at " Kirshop House," in Eng- land, with William Armstrong, Esq., and his interesting wife, who are the hospitable proprietors. He is a laird, or large landowner, and well educated, and about the only representative of the Armstrongs in this locality.

Arrived at Langholm in the even- ing, and saw the sword of " Gilnockie " Armstrong in the museum.

On May 7, went by rail to Gilnockie station, and from thence to the spot where his castle or mansion stood, which was pointed out on the east bank of the Esk.

Three hundred and fifty-five years " have joined the years beyond the flood " since the grounds were trod by " Gilnockie " Armstrong, and which the border chief shall see " never again." The site is plainly visible at the right of the highway, on a bold, high precipice impending over the river. There is the mound with its rough and uneven surface, with the deep depressions which mark the basement, and the ditches about three sides of his fort. The latter were filled with water to

��prevent the entrance of his foes, while from the rear of the fort, if hard pressed, he could escape down the steep embankment to the river.

The spot is green with ferns and carpeted with clinging mosses. The tall trees, in which the birds were singing merrily, furnished abundant shade, while the flowing, murmuring waters of the river Esk made sweetest music.

In plain view, but on the opposite side of the river in an open field, is the ''Hollows Tower." Its walls of stone are solid and substantial and of con- siderable thickness. It was erected previous to 1525, and stone steps lead to its summit. Here Johnnie Arm- strong, the redoubtable chief of the Scottish border, gathered wild and ad- venturous spirits about him, living in sumptuous state, and ready at all times for a raid into England, or against a hostile clan to rescue friends or to punish enemies. To show " the irony of fate " the castle is no longer used for human habitation, but in it was a pen in which several dogs were confined.

This clan had many places of strength in these parts, such as Sark, Kinmont, Hollgreen, Hollis, Mumby- hirst, the Castle of Harelaw, Irving Castle near Langholm, Whitehaugh, Mangerton, Puddington, Hilles, and others ; yet Gilnockie Hall, or the home at the Hollows just described, was the strongest of all.

It may be stated here, that the clan Armstrong, in its palmiest days, in 1528, with its adherents, numbered upward of three thousand horsemen. The disruption of the clan was in 1530. In 1537 three hundred of them were under English protection, and later six hundred and thirty of them and their retainers are mentioned as havinsi been

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