Sir John Swinton, 14th of that Ilk

Sir John fully justified the trust placed in him, through his conduct in a series of campaigns and particularly at Noyon (between Amiens and Paris) when he fought his way single-handed into the town.

Legend says he was the hero who, according to Jean Froissart, leaped the barrier gates at Noyon and for love of the fray fought the chivalry of France for more than an hour "alone against them all" - "giving many grand strokes with his lance."

The gallant bearing and heroic death of the Lord of Swinton, at the fatal battle of Homildon on 14 September 1402, have afforded a subject for the poetic genius of Scott, and are the materials on which he founded the drama of "Haledon Hill".

Robert the Great, sensible of this at the battle of Bannockburn, ordered a prepared detachment of cavalry to rush among the English archers at the commencement, totally to disperse them, and stop the deadly effusion.

The ceremony performed, Swinton and Gordon descended the hill, accompanied by only one hundred men, and a desperate valour led the whole body to death.