Collating details on the legends which lie beneath the dark reputation of the foreboding Border strongholds. Images and words shall paint a thousand pictures.
wonderful stuff lady Camelot Lace.
I can hardly wait to see it all unfold here.
it is your ideas and your inspiration that will bring Camelot and medieval history to life.
Another view from the church yard
Hermitage Castle
William de Soulis lived from about 1280 to about 1320. From 1318 to 1320 he was Lord of Hermitage and he was a man so deeply unpopular that there are two quite separate tales told of his demise.
Whichever way you look at it, William de Soulis seems to have been an unpleasant man, even by the standards of his many unpleasant contemporaries. You can take your pick between the stories of how he met his end. One is rather ordinary and, probably, historically accurate. The other combines deeply evil deeds, supernatural horror, and an especially gruesome but fitting end for the villain. The second version is based largely on a ballad popular in the Borders in the 1700s, which may have been based on earlier folk stories.
As background, the de Soulis family had been connected with forbidding Hermitage Castle in Liddesdale, close to the English border, since 1249, when Nicholas de Soulis built a wooden castle here. In 1318, his descendant, William de Soulis, became Lord of Hermitage. It is unlikely that the original wooden castle had yet been replaced in stone, but today's Hermitage Castle is an oppressive and chilling place that gives credence to even the most fanciful of the stories concerning William do Soulis.
But first, the boring, historical bit. Border lords at the time were always having to look closely at whether their interests were best served by siding with the English or the Scots, and it seems that in 1320 William de Soulis took part in an English-inspired plot to kill the Scottish king, Robert the Bruce. It failed, and the participants were rounded up, with de Soulis being imprisoned inDumbarton Castle, where he subsequently died.
The second version takes a little longer to tell. William de Soulis was a huge and physically powerful man, and when he became Lord of Hermitage in 1318 he rapidly demonstrated a deep vein of cruelty that quickly had him loathed by all who came into contact with him. Stories began to circulate that he practiced the Black Arts, kidnapping local children and using their blood in dark rituals at Hermitage Castle. During these rituals, de Soulis would summon up his familiar, Robin Redcap. A redcap, also known as a powrie or dunter, is a type of evil goblin, typically found in British folklore in ruined castles along the border between England and Scotland. Once summoned they roam the area, killing travellers and residents in order to keep fresh the bloodstains on the redcap's hat: because if these stains dry, the redcap dies. Redcaps are very quick, despite their metal-bound boots and the heavy pike they carry, and the only way to escape one is to quote a passage from the Bible at it, whereupon it loses a tooth. Robin Redcap was especially feared, and after being summoned by de Soulis committed many evil deeds in the lands around Hermitage.
But William de Soulis himself was equally capable of terrorising his neighbours. One day in 1320 he kidnapped a young Armstrong woman and tried to return with her to Hermitage Castle. When her father tried to stop him, de Soulis killed him on the spot. However, by now a crowd had gathered, and de Soulis was on the verge of being lynched when Alexander Armstrong, the Laird of Mangerton, intervened, calming the crowd and advising de Soulis to return to Hermitage without his captive. De Soulis was far from grateful, instead developing a hatred for someone who, as his social inferior, had demonstrated the power to influence the crowd and save de Soulis's life. De Soulis therefore invited Alexander Armstrong to a banquet at Hermitage, and when he arrived, stabbed him in the back.
Complaints about de Soulis's activities were frequently reaching the ears of King Robert the Bruce himself, and when he was told of this latest outrage, Bruce, in exasperation, cried "Soulis! Soulis! Go boil him in brew!" Needing no further invitation, the locals overpowered de Soulis, using a specially forged chain to bind him, as ordinary ropes could not contain his supernatural powers, and took him to the summit of Nine Stane Rig. It was believed that de Soulis could not be killed by ordinary means, so instead he was boiled in molten lead in a cauldron suspended above a large fire. When news reached the king that his words were being taken literally, he sent soldiers to Hermitage: but it was too late, and they were only able to report back what had happened.
Take your pick which story you prefer, but both end in de Soulis's death; both end with the confiscation by the Crown of Hermitage Castle; and both end without evoking much sympathy for William de Soulis
William de Soulis
The Soulis family were associated with Hermitage Castle from the 13th century. Of a long line of mean officials, William Soulis excelled. He became the Lord of Hermitage in 1318.
He was a giant of a man and quickly became loathed by his vassals on whom he inflicted all sorts of humiliating and oppressive acts. He enjoyed power and ruthlessly exploited his position at the expense of anyone who came his way.
He took a delight in inflicting pain and misery on his people.
He was indeed an evil man.
Known as the Wizard, he was said to be in league with the devil and indulged in all kinds of black magic and witchcraft.
One day, in 1320, Lord de Soulis, took a fancy to a young lady, an Armstrong, who lived nearby. To satisfy his passions, he planned to seize her regardless of her wishes. Used to having his own way he brought terror to any woman in whom he took an interest.
Riding to her home he was confronted by her father who was determined to defend his daughter, even against a powerful figure such as Soulis.
Not being used to having his desires frustrated, de Soulis struck out at the man and killed him.
The local people had witnessed the incident, and Soulis would have been slain by the infuriated mob and he was forced to abandon his prize and flee for his life.
He would certainly have been killed but for the intervention of Alexander Armstrong, the Laird of Mangerton, who, arriving on the scene in the nick of time, restrained the crowd, and escorted de Soulis back to Hermitage.
De Soulis, safe at home, felt no gratitude to the man who had saved his life. Indeed, he was offended that a man whom he regarded as his social inferior could so control his people and save his life.
Brooding over these thoughts, he sent an invitation to Alexander, inviting him to a banquet at Hermitage to demonstrate his appreciation and thank him for his help.
But on arriving at the castle Alexander was attacked and murdered by De Soulis, stabbing Alexander in the back.
His grieving friends bore away his body to be buried at Ettleton Cemetery. It was nightfall when they rested by the roadside at the foot of the hill below the graveyard.
Next morning Alexander was laid to rest, and later, by the roadside, beneath the cemetery, a cross was erected, the Milnholm Cross, to mark the event and passing of a respected and much loved laird.
His long suffering people made countless complaints to officials which became so frequent that eventually they reached the ears of the king himself.
Exasperated by the constant barrage of complaints, the king, in despair, clasped his head in his hands and cried out 'Soulis! Soulis! Go boil him in brew!'
That was all that was needed, an order from the king himself!
Soulis was overpowered and taken to Nine Stane Rig, high up in the hills by a Druid circle. There, a huge cauldron and fire had been prepared and the Lord Soulis was wrapped in lead and placed in the cauldron where he was boiled to his death.
When he discovered that the Borderers had taken him literally the king dispatched officials hastily to Liddesdale. They were too late to save De Soulis and arrived in time to witness the cauldron with Soulis inside 'supping his own broth.'
The story or De Soulis being boiled in molten lead was derived from an 18th century ballad written by an obscure author.
A good story indeed, except from Soulis's viewpoint, but unlikely to be true. There is evidence to believe that Soulis, in fact, died while in captivity in Dumbarton Castle. He had been guilty of a conspiracy against Robert Bruce.
Lady Lace
I loved it! Thanks for sharing!
Very formative although as you say have read about it years ago! Great to recall
Blessings
Lady Lace would love to read more from you
I live only 35 miles from Hermitage and it is a magnificent place.Sitting in the Scottish borders its easy to see how,especialy on dark wild days how mysterious it is.
Wonderful pictures thank you!
I love reading Lady Laces history
This is an exciting thread
Awesome
