Lay of the Last Minstrel

Ladye Margaret [Scott], of Brank some Hall, the “flower of Teviot,” was beloved by Baron Henry, of Crans town, but a deadly feud existed between the two families. One day an elfin page allured Ladye Margaret’s brother (the heir of Brank some Hall) into a wood, where he fell into the hands of the Southerners. At the same time an army of 3000 English marched to Brank some Hall to take it, but, hearing that Douglas, with 10,000 men, was on the march against them, the two chiefs agreed to decide the contest by single combat. The English champion was Sir Richard Musgrave, the Scotch champion called himself Sir William Deloraine. Victory fell to the Scotch, when it was discovered that “Sir William Deloraine” was in reality Lord Crans town, who then claimed and received the hand of Ladye Margaret, as his reward.—Sir W. Scott, Lay of the Last Minstrel (1805).