he remained not long."-SPOTTISWOODE'S History | their hail gear out of their buiths or chops, and tranof the Church of Scotland, pp. 414, 416, Ed. 1677. Scott of Satchells, in the extraordinary poetical performance, which he has been pleased to entitle ▲ History of the Name of Scott, (published 1688,) dwells, with great pleasure, upon this gallant achievement, at which, it would seem, his father had been present. He also mentions, that the Laird of Buccleuch employed the services of the younger sons and brothers only of his clan, lest the name should have been weakened by the landed men incurring forfeiture. But he adds, that three gentlemen of estate insisted upon attending their chief, notwithstanding this prohibition. These were, the Lairds of Harden and Commonside, and Sir Gilbert Elliot of the Stobbs, a relation of the Laird of Buccleuch, and ancestor to the present Sir William Elliot, Bart. In many things Satchells agrees with the ballads current in his time, from which, in all probability, he derived most of his information as to past events, and from which he sometimes pirates whole verses, as noticed in the annotations upon the Raid of the Reidswire. In the present instance, he mentions the prisoner's large spurs, (alluding to the fetters,) and some other little incidents noticed in the ballad, which were, therefore, probably well known in his days. All contemporary historians unite in extolling the deed itself as the most daring and well-conducted achievement of that age. "Audax facinus, cum modica manu, in urbe manibus et multitudine oppidanorum munita, et callidæ audaciæ, vix ullo obsisti modo potuit."-JOHNSTONI Historia, Ed. Amstæl. p. 215. Birrel, in his gossiping way, says, the exploit was performed "with shouting and crying, and sound of trumpet, puttand the said toun and countrie in sic ane fray, that the like of sic ane wassaladge was never done since the memory of man, no not in Wallace dayis."-BIRREL'S Diary, April 6, 1596. This good old citizen of Edinburgh also mentions another incident, which I think proper to insert here, both as relating to the personages mentioned in the following ballad, and as tending to show the light in which the men of the Border were regarded, even at this late period, by their fellow-subjects. The author is talking of the King's return to Edinburgh, after the disgrace which he had sustained there, during the riot excited by the seditious ministers, on December 17, 1596. Proclamation had been made, that the Earl of Mar should keep the West Port, Lord Seaton the Nether-Bow, and Buccleuch, with sundry others, the High Gate. "Upon the morn at this time, and befoir this day, there was ane grate rumour and word among the tounes-men, that the Kinges M. sould send in Will Kinmonde, the common thieffe, and so many southlande men as sould spulyie the toun of Edinburgh. Upon the whilk, the haill merchants tuik sportit the same to the strongest hous that was in the toune, and remained in the said hous, thair, with thameselfis, thair servants, and luiking for nothing bot that thaye sould have been all spulyeit. Sic lyke the hail craftsmen and commons convenit themselfis, their best guidis, as it wer ten or twelve householdes in ane, whilk wes the strongest hous, and might be best kepit from spuilyeing or burning, with hagbut, pistolet, and other sic armour, as might best defend themselfis. Judge, gentil reader, giff this was playing." The fear of the Borderers being thus before the eyes of the contumacious citizens of Edinburgh, James obtained a quiet hearing for one of his favourite orisons, or harangues, and was finally enabled to prescribe terms to his fanatic metropolis. Good discipline was, however, maintained by the chiefs upon this occasion; although the fears of the inhabitants were but too well grounded, considering what had happened in Stirling ten years before, when the Earl of Angus, attended by Home, Buccleuch, and other Border chieftains, marched thither to remove the Earl of Arran from the King's councils: the town was miserably pillaged by the Borderers, particularly by a party of Armstrongs, under this very Kinmont Willie, who not only made prey of horses and cattle, but even of the very iron grating of the windows.-JOHNSTONI Historia, p. 102, Ed. Amstæl. -MOYSE'S Memoirs, p. 100. The renown of Kinmont Willie is not surprising, since, in 1587, the apprehending that freebooter, and Robert Maxwell, natural brother to the Lord Maxwell, was the main, but unaccomplished, object of a royal expedition to Dumfries. Rex. . . . Robertum Maxvallium ... et Gulielmum Armstrangum Kinmonthum latrociniis intestinis externisque famosum, conquiri jubet. Missi e ministerio regio qui per aspera loca vitabundos persequuntur, magnoque incommodo afficiunt. At illi latebris aut silvis se er ipiunt."-JOHNSTONI Historia, p. 138. About this time, it is possible that Kinmont Willie may have held some connexion with the Maxwells, though afterwards a retainer to Buccleuch, the enemy of that tribe. At least, the Editor finds, that, in a bond of manrent, granted by Simon Elliot of Whytheuch, in Liddesdale, to Lord Maxwell, styled therein Earl of Morton, dated February 28, 1599, William Armstrong, called Will of Kinmond, appears as a witness.-SYME'S MSS. According to Satchells, this freebooter was descended of Johne Armstrong of Gilnockie. (See Ballad, p. 392 vol. i.)—Est in juvencis, est et in equis, patrum virtus. In fact, his rapacity made his very name proverbial. Mas James Melvine, in urging reasons against subscribing the act of supremacy, in 1584, asks ironically, "Who shall take order with vice and wickedness? The court and The Bishop is, in this last particular, rather inaccurate. Buceleuch was indeed delivered into England, but this was done in consequence of the judgment of commissioners of both nations, who met at Berwick the same year. And his delivery took place, less on account of the raid of Carlisle, than of a second exploit of the same nature, to be noticed hereafter. bishops? As well as Martine Elliot, and Will of Kinmont, with stealing upon the Borders!"-CALDERWOOD, p. 168. liam Selby, master of the ordnance at Berwick, and accordingly gave himself into his hands. Sir Robert Ker was about to do the same, when a pistol was discharged by one of his retinue, and the cry of treason was raised. Had not the Earl of Home been present, with a party of Mersemen, to preserve order, a dread the English commissioners returned in dismay to Berwick, much disposed to wreak their displeasure on Buccleuch; and he, on his side, mortally offended with Cessford, by whose means, as he conceived, he had been placed in circumstances of so much danger. Sir Robert Ker, however, appeased all parties, by delivering himself up to ward in England; on which occasion he magnanimously choose for his guardian Sir Robert Carey, Deputy-warden of the East Marches, notwithstanding various causes of animosity which existed betwixt them. The hospitality of Carey equalled the generous confidence of Cessford, and a firm friendship was the consequence. Buccleuch appears to have remained in England from October, 1597, till February, 1598.- JOHNSTONI Historia, p. 231.-SPOTTIS WOODE, ut supra. According to ancient family tradition, Buccleuch was presented to Elizabeth, who, with her usual rough and peremptory address, demanded of him, "how he dared to undertake an enterprise so desperate and presumptuous?" This affair of Kinmont Willie was not the only occasion upon which the undaunted keeper of Liddesdale gave offence to the haughty Elizabeth. For, even before this business was settled, certain of the Eng-ful tumult would probably have ensued. As it was, lish Borderers having invaded Liddesdale, and wasted the country, the Laird of Buccleuch retaliated the injury by a raid into England, in which he not only brought off much spoil, but apprehended thirty-six of the Tynedale thieves, all of whom he put to death.SPOTTISWOODE, p. 450. How highly the Queen of England's resentment blazed on this occasion, may be judged from the preface to her letter to Bowes, then her ambassador in Scotland. "I wonder how baseminded that King thinks me, that, with patience, I can digest this dishonourable* ***. Let him know, therefore, that I will have satisfaction, or else***** " These broken words of ire are inserted betwixt the subscription and the address of the letter.-RYMER, vol. xvi. p. 318. Indeed, so deadly was the resentment of the English, on account of the affronts put upon them by this formidable chieftain, that there seems at one time to have been a plan formed (not, as was alleged, without Elizabeth's privity) to assassinate Buccleuch.―RYMER, vol. xvi. p. 107. The matter was at length arranged by the commissioners of both nations in Berwick, by whom it was agreed that delinquents should be delivered up on both sides, and that the chiefs themselves should enter into ward in the opposite countries till these were given up, and pledges granted for the future maintenance of the quiet of the Borders. Buccleuch and Sir Robert Ker of Cessford (ancestor of the Duke of Roxburghe) appear to have struggled hard against complying with this regulation; so much so, that it required all James's authority to bring to order these two powerful chiefs. —RYMER, vol. xvi. p. 322.—SPOTTISWOODE, p. 448. -CAREY'S Memoirs, p. 131, et sequen.-When at length they appeared, for the purpose of delivering themselves up to be warded at Berwick, an incident took place, which nearly occasioned a revival of the deadly feud which formerly subsisted between the Scotts and the Kers. Buccleuch had chosen, for his guardian, during his residence in England, Sir Wil "What is it," answered the undaunted chieftain, "what is it that a man dares not do?" Elizabeth, struck with the reply, turned to a lord in waiting; "With ten thousand such men," said she, "our brother of Scotland might shake the firmest throne of Europe." Luckily, perhaps, for the murderess of Queen Mary, James's talents did not lie that way. The articles, settled by the commissioners at Berwick, were highly favourable to the peace of the Border. They may be seen at large in the Border Laws, p. 103. By article sixth, all wardens and keepers are discharged from seeking reparation of injuries, in the ancient hostile mode of riding, or causing to ride, in warlike manner against the opposite March; and that under the highest penalty, unless authorized by a warrant under the hand of their Sovereign. The mention of the word keeper alludes obviously to the above-mentioned reprisals, made by Buccleuch, in the capacity of keeper of Liddesdale. Such traits of generosity illuminate the dark period of which we treat. Carey's conduct on this occasion almost alones for the cold and unfeeling policy with which he watched the closing moments of his benefactress, Elizabeth, impatient till remorse and sorrow should extort her last sigh, that he might lay the foundation of his future favour with her successor, by carrying him the first tidings of her death.-CAREY's Memoirs, p. 172, et sequen. It would appear that Sir Robert Ker was soon afterwards committed to the custody of the Archbishop of York; for there is extant a letter from that prelate to the lord-treasurer, desiring instructions about the mode of keeping this noble hostage. "I understand," saith he, "that the gentleman is wise and valiant, but somewhat haughty here, and resolute. I would pray your lordship, that I may have directions whether he may not go with his keeper in my company, to sermons; and whether he may not sometimes dine with the council, as the last hostages did; and, thirdly, whether he may sometimes be brought to sitting to the common-hall, where he may see how careful her Majesty is that the poorest subject in her kingdom may have their right, and that her people seek remedy by law, and not by avenging themselves. Perhaps it may do him good as long as he liveth."-STRYPE'S Annals, ad annum 1597. It would appear from this letter, that the treatment of the hostages was liberal; though one can hardly suppress a smile at the zeal of the good bishop for the conversion of the Scottish chieftain to a more Christian mode of thinking than was common among the Borderers of that day. The date is February 25, 1597, which is somewhat difficult to reconcile with those given by the Scottish historians. Another letter follows, stating, that Sir Robert, having been used to open air, prayed for more liberty for his health's sake, "offering his word, which, it is said, he doth chiefly regard, that he would be true prisoner.”—STRYPE, ibid. The Salkeldes, or Sakeldes, were a powerful family in Cumberland, possessing, among other manors, that of Corby, before it came into the possession of the Howards, in the beginning of the seventeenth century. A strange stratagem was practised by an outlaw, called Jock Græme of the Peartree, upon Mr. Salkelde, Sheriff of Cumberland ; who is probably the person alluded to in the ballad, as the fact is stated to have happened late in Elizabeth's time. The brother of this freebooter was lying in Carlisle jail for execution, when Jock of the Peartree came riding past the gate of Corby Castle. A child of the sheriff was playing before the door, to whom the outlaw gave an apple, saying, “Master, will you ride?" The boy willingly consenting, Græme took him up before him, carried him into Scotland, and would never part with him, till he had "And have they e'en ta'en him, Kinmont Willie, Withouten either dread or fear? And forgotten that the bauld Buccleuch Can back a steed, or shake a spear? "O were there war between the lands, I would slight Carlisle castell high, "But since nae war's between the lands, And yet the Kinmont freed shall be!" He has call'd him forty Marchmen bauld, I trow they were of his ain name, Except Sir Gilbert Elliot, call'd The Laird of Stobs, I mean the same. He has call'd him forty Marchmen bauld, There were five and five before them a', Wi' hunting-horns and bugles bright: And five and five came wi' Buccleuch, Like warden's men, array'd for fight. And five and five, like a mason gang, That carried the ladders lang and hie; his brother safe from the gallows. There is no historical ground for supposing, either that Salkelde, or any one else, lost his life in the raid of Carlisle. In the list of Border clans, 1597, Will of Kinmonth, with Kyrstie Armestrange, and John Skynbanke, are mentioned as leaders of a band of Armstrongs called Sandies Barnes, inhabiting the Debateable Land. 3 Haribee is the place of execution at Carlisle. 4 The Liddel-rack is a ford on the Liddel. 5 Hostelrie-Inn.-6 Lawing-Reckoning.-7 Basnet-Helmet. 8 Curch-Coif.-9 Lightly-Set light by. 10 Low-Flame. Splent on spauld—Armour on shoulder. "Where be ye gaun, ye hunters keen?" Quo' fause Sakelde; come tell to me!" "We go to hunt an English stag, Has trespass'd on the Scots countrie." "Where be ye gaun, ye marshal men?" Quo' fause Sakelde; come tell me true!""We go to catch a rank reiver, Has broken faith wi' the bauld Buccleuch." "Where are ye gaun, ye mason lads, Wi' a' your ladders, lang and hie?" "We gang to herry a corbie's nest, That wons not far frae Woodhouselee." "Where be ye gaun, ye broken men?" And the nevir a word of lear had he. "Why trespass ye on the English side? Row-footed outlaws, stand!" quo' he; The nevir a word had Dickie to say, Sae he thrust the lance through his fause bodie. Then on we held for Carlisle toun, And at Staneshaw-bank the Eden we cross'd; And when we reach'd the Staneshaw-bank, We crept on knees, and held our breath, And sae ready was Buccleuch himsell He has ta'en the watchman by the throat, "Now sound out, trumpets!" quo' Buccleuch; "Let's waken Lord Scroope right merrilie!"Then loud the warden's trumpet blew O wha dare meddle wi' me? 5 Then speedilie to wark we gaed, And raised the slogan ane and a', That put a thousand in sic a stear! 6 Wi' coulters, and wi' forehammers, Where Willie o' Kinmont he did lie. And when we cam to the lower prison, 66 "O I sleep saft, 7 and I wake aft; It's lang since sleeping was fley'd 'frae me! Gie my service back to my wife and bairns, And a' gude fellows that spier for me.” Then Red Rowan has hente him up, The starkest man in Teviotdale"Abide, abide now, Red Rowan, 10 Till of my Lord Scroope I take farewell. "Farewell, farewell, my gùde Lord Scroope! My gude Lord Scroope, farewell!" he cried"I'll pay you for my lodging maill, 19 When first we meet on the Border side."Then shoulder high, with shout and cry, We bore him down the ladder lang; At every stride Red Rowan made, I wot the Kinmont's airns play'd clang! "O mony a time," quo' Kinmont Willie, "I have ridden horse baith wild and wood; But a rougher beast than Red Rowan I ween my legs have ne'er bestrode. "And mony a time," quo' Kinmont Willie, "I've prick'd a horse out oure the furs; But since the day I back'd a steed, And a thousand men on horse and foot, Cam wi' the keen Lord Scroope along. Buccleuch has turned to Eden Water, Even where it flow'd frae bank to brim,' And he has plunged in wi' a' his band, And safely swam them through the stream. He turn'd him on the other side, And at Lord Scroope his glove flung he"If ye like na my visit in merry England, In fair Scotland come visit me!" All sore astonish'd stood Lord Scroope, DICK O' THE COW. This ballad, and the two which immediately follow it in the collection, were first published, 4784, in the Hawick Museum, a provincial miscellany, to which they were communicated by John Elliot, Esq. of Reidheugh, a gentleman well skilled in the antiquities of the Western Border, and to whose friendly assistance the Editor is indebted for many valuable communications. These ballads are connected with each other, and appear to have been composed by the same author. The actors seem to have flourished, while Thomas Lord Scroope, of Bolton, was Warden of the West Marches of England, and governor of Carlisle castle; which offices he acquired upon the death of his father, about 1590, and retained till the union of the crowns. Dick of the Cow, from the privileged insolence which he assumes, seems to have been Lord Scroope's jester. In the preliminary dissertation, the reader will find the Border custom of assuming nommes de guerre particularly noticed. It is exemplified in the following ballad, where one Armstrong is called the Laird's Jock, (i. e. the laird's son Jock,) another Fair Johnie, a third Billie Willie, (Brother Willie,) etc. The Laird's Jock, son to the Laird of Mangertoun, appears, as one of the men of name in Liddesdale, in the list of the Border Clans, 1597. Dick of the Cow is erroneously supposed to have been the same with one Ricardus Coldall, de Plumpton, a knight and celebrated warrior, who died in 1462, as appears from his epitaph in the church of Penrith.―NICHOLSON'S History of Westmoreland and Cumberland, vol. ii. p. 408. This ballad is very popular in Liddesdale; and the reciter always adds, at the conclusion, that poor Dickie's cautious removal to Burgh under Stanemore, did not save him from the clutches of the Armstrongs; for that, having fallen into their power several years after this exploit, he was put to an inhuman death. The ballad was well known in England so early as 1596. An allusion to it likewise occurs in PARROT'S Laquei Ridiculosi, or Springes for Woodcocks; London, 1613. "Owenus wondreth since he came to Wales, |