The defence of Dunbar Castle by Agnes Randolph — called Black Agnes for her dark complexion — is one of the great stories of the Wars of Independence. The Earl of Salisbury besieged the castle with the latest English siege equipment. Agnes had her ladies ostentatiously dust the battlements with white handkerchiefs after each bombardment, as if the damage was merely dirty. When Salisbury threatened to hang her brother Patrick unless she surrendered, Agnes replied that his death would make her heir to his title. After five months Salisbury gave up in disgust. Black Agnes had become one of Scotlands great heroines.
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