DUCHESS OF DUNBAR

Agnes, Duchess of Dunbar and March, was alone in Dunbar Castle in January 1338 with her servants and guards when the English attacked. This raid, under the command of William Montagu, the 1st Earl of Salisbury, was intended to help take the throne from David Bruce on behalf of Edward Balliol. Instead they were thwarted by a woman who appears to have had no fear. Wishing to attack the castle more powerfully, the Earl of Salisbury had constructed a certain engine called a Sow, and brought it up the walls of Dunbar Castle. Which, when Black Agnes saw it, she said to the Earl Montagu, “Montagu, for all the power that thou may, ere long time pass, I shall gar they Sow farrow against her will.” And with that, she made a very large “engine” in the Castle, flinging huge stones, which flying night and day from the walls, shattered the said Sow and almost all who were within it; breaking the heads of many, and forcing them to give up the attack. She also captured the siege gear with their engines and provisions.