University of Virginia Library

At the battle of Salado in 1340, Alfonzo defeated Alboacen, the King of Morocco, and slew 200,000 of the infidels. Vide Mariana's History of Spain, book xvi. chap. iv.

“Considerable succours came to him (at the siege of Algezira) from England, France, and Navarre. From England the Earls of Derby and Salisbury.” Mariana, book xvi. chap. v.

For the interesting account of the dying injunctions of Robert Bruce, King of Scotland, and of the bequest of his heart to the gallant Lord James Douglas, to be embalmed, and deposited by him at the Holy Sepulchre, the reader is referred to Johnes's Froissart, vol. I. chapter xx.

Douglas, on his voyage to Jerusalem, hearing that Alfonzo was waging war against the Saracen King of Granada, landed at Valentia, and joined the Spanish host. The issue of the combat is thus related by Lord Hailes in the Annals of Scotland, anno 1330. “The detached troops fought with equal advantage, and the Moorish cavalry fled. Douglas with his companions, eagerly pursued the Saracens. Taking the casket from his neck, which contained the heart of Bruce, he threw it before him, and cried, ‘Now pass thou onward, as thou was wont, and Douglas will follow thee, or die!’ The fugitives rallied: surrounded and overwhelmed by superior numbers, Douglas fell, while attempting to rescue Sir William St. Clair of Roslin, who shared his fate. Robert, and Walter Logan, both of them knights, were slain with Douglas. His friend, Sir William Keith, having had his arm broke, was detained from the battle. His few surviving companions found his body in the field, together with the casket, and reverently conveyed them to Scotland. The remains of Douglas were interred in the sepulchre of his fathers, in the church of Douglas, and the heart of Bruce was deposited at Melros.”