The honoured guests at a banquet held at Alnwick Castle were the Lord of Widdrington
and his beautiful daughter Isabel. Sir Bertram of Bothal one of Earl
Percy's knights and he was in love with Isabel. According to the custom of
the time at the feast Sir Bertram promised Isabel he would perform a deed
worthy of marrying her. When the Earl Percy led his knights into Scotland
to fight his enemy the Earl Douglas Sir Bertram saw his chance. Sir
Bertram fought well in the bloody battle but when a Scottish sword struck
his helmet from his head, he was badly wounded. Very badly injured he was
taken to Wark Castle, where he asked for a message be sent to Isabel to
come to him.
As the weeks
past while he recovered Isabel had still not arrived, so when he could
ride again he and his brother set off for Isabel's home. When they arrived
they were told Isabel had left as soon as she had received the message,
her family thought she was safe with Sir Bertram. When it was realized
that Isabel had been kidnapped a huge search party set out to look for her
and going their separate ways the two brothers joined the search.
Wandering the countryside Sir Bertram tried to find news of Isabel, when a
travelling monk told him of a beautiful princess, being held in a tower of
a remote castle.
Sir Bertram
felt sure the monk was right as the castle was the home of a Scottish
Chieftain, a long time admirer of Isabel. After his long journey to the
castle Sir Bertram could not enter, so he sheltered in a cave nearby to
watch. Tired and exhausted he finally saw Isabel in the window of the
tower, knowing he had found his love he fell into an exhausted sleep.
Strange noises woke Sir Bertram and he was horrified to see a figure in a
highland costume, helping Isabel down a rope ladder and onto a horse. Sir
Bertram brandishing his sword ran to attack his hated Scottish enemy
yelling, "Die traitor, Die. Let my lady go." With that Sir
Bertram knocked the man to the ground with a terrible blow to the
head.
Isabel
recognized Sir Bertram's voice and was terrified, she ran between the two
men shouting, "Stop, wait, its your own brother." But it was too
late, Sir Bertram had swung his sword and before he could stop he had
killed his brother and Isabel. So grief stricken was he, he could neither
feel anything or move as he lay next to their bodies. He eventually
recovered, at least physically, and gave to the poor all his wealth and
lands.
With Earl
Percy's permission and his own hands, Sir Bertram built a Hermitage beside
the River Coquet, where he lived out his life in solitude. In the chapel
is an alter tomb upon which the effigy of a beautiful lady lies with her
hands raised in prayer. At her feet a hermit kneels his left hand to his
heart as if in sorrow.
