That wons not far frae Woodhouselee.'"

No light matter was it to harry that corbie's nest. Carlisle Castle was
a strong castle, strongly garrisoned, and to make a raid on an English
town was a bold attempt indeed. But fear was a thing unknown to the
Border reivers, and the flower of them rode with Buccleuch that
night--close on his horse's heels Wat o' Harden, Walter Scott of
Goldielands, and Kinmont's own four stalwart sons--Jock, Francie,
Geordie, and Sandy. As the dark night hours wore on, sleet and wind were
reinforced by a thunderstorm.

"And when we left the Staneshaw-bank,
The wind began full loud to blaw,
But 'twas wind and weet, and fire and sleet,
When we came beneath the castle wa'."

When the besiegers reached the castle they found some of the watch
asleep, and the rest sheltering indoors from the storm. The outside of
the castle was left to take care of itself. It was dismaying to find the
scaling ladders too short to be of any use, but a small postern gate was
speedily and quietly undermined. Drifting sleet, growling thunder, and
the wails of the wind drowned all sounds of the assault, and soon there
was no further need for concealment, for the lower court of the castle
was theirs. The guard started up, to find sword-blades at their throats;
two of them were left dead, and the rest were speedily overpowered.
Buccleuch, the fifth man in, gave the command to proclaim aloud their
triumph:

"'Now sound out trumpets!' quoth Buccleuch;
'Let's waken Lord Scroope right merrilie!'