Once persuaded of this, larger numbers gathered round his banner, and his fortunes henceforth began steadily to rise.
Lord Clifford had rebuilt Douglas Castle, making it larger and much stronger than before, and had committed it to the charge of Captain Thirlwall, with a strong garrison.

Douglas took a number of his retainers, who had now joined him in the field, and some of these, dressing themselves as drovers and concealing their arms, drove a herd of cattle within sight of the castle toward an ambuscade in which Douglas and the others were laying in ambush.
The garrison, seeing what they believed a valuable prize within their grasp, sallied out to seize the cattle.

When they reached the ambuscade the Scots sprang out upon them, and Thirlwall and the greater portion of his men were slain.

Douglas then took and destroyed the castle and marched away.

Clifford again rebuilt it more strongly than before, and placed it in charge of Sir John Walton.