Mowe, here mentioned, was the only gentleman of note killed in the skirmish on the Scottish side.

For Gretein kend na gude be ill.-P. 163. v. 2. Graden, a family of Kerrs.

Beanjeddart, Hundlie, and Hunthill.-P. 163. v. 3.

Douglas of Beanjeddart, an ancient branch of the house of Cavers, possessing property near the junction of the Jed and Tiviot.

Hundlie. Rutherford of Hundlie, or Hundalee, situated on the Jed, above Jedburgh.

Hunthill.-The old tower of Hunthill was situated about a mile above Jedburgh. It was the patrimony of an ancient family of Rutherfords. I suppose the person, here meant, to be the same who is renowned in tradition by the name of the Cock of Hunthill. His sons were executed for march-treason, or border-theft, along with the lairds of Corbet, Greenhead, and Overton, A. D. 1588.—Johnston's History, p. 129.

But auld Badreule had on a jack.-P. 164. v. 1.

Sir Andrew Turnbull of Bedrule, upon Rule Water. This old laird was so notorious a thief, that the principal gentlemen of the clans of Hume and Kerr refused to sign a bond of alliance, to which he, with the Turnbulls and Rutherfords, was a party; alleging, that their proposed allies had stolen Hume of Wedderburn's cattle. The authority of Morton, however, compelled them to digest the affront. The debate (and a curious one it is) may be seen at length in Godscroft, Vol. I. p. 221. The Rutherfords became more lawless after having been deprived of the countenance of the court, for slaying the nephew of Forman, archbishop of St Andrews, who had attempted to carry off the heiress of Rutherford. This lady was afterwards married to James Stuart of Traquair, son to James, Earl of Buchan, according to a papal bull, dated 9th November, 1504. By this lady a great estate in Tiviotdale fell to the family of Traquair, which was sold by James, Earl of Traquair, ford

high-treasurer of Scotland, in consequence of the pecuniary difficulties to which he was reduced, by his loyal exertions in favour of Charles I.

Gude Ederstane was not to lack.-P. 164. v. 1.

An ancient family of Rutherfords; I believe, indeed, the most ancient now extant. The family is represented by Major Rutherford of Edgerstane. His scat is about three miles distant from the field of battle.

Nor Kirktoun, Newtoun, noble men !-P. 164. v. 1.

The parish of Kirktoun belonged, I believe, about this time, to a branch of the Cavers family; but Kirkton of Stewartfield is mentioned in the list of border clans in 1597.

Newtoun. This is probably Grinyslaw of Little Newtoun, mentioned in the said roll of border clans.

KINMONT WILLIE.

In the following rude strains, our forefathers commemorated one of the last, and most gallant atchievements, performed upon the border. The reader will find, in the subjoined extract from Spottiswoode, a minute historical account of the exploit; which is less different from that contained in the ballad than might perhaps have been expected.

Anno, 1596.-" The next year began with a trouble in "the borders, which was like to have destroyed the peace "betwixt the two realms, and arose upon this occasion. "The Lord Scroop being the warden of the west marches "of England, and the laird of Bacleuch having the "charge of Liddesdale, they sent their deputies to keep a

day of truce, for redress of some ordinary matters.— "The place of meeting was at the Dayholme of Kershop, "where a small brook divideth England from Scotland, "and Liddesdale from Bawcastle. There met, as deputy "for the laird of Bacleuch, Robert Scott of Hayninge;

"and for the Lord Scroop, a gentleman within the west "wardenry, called Mr Salkeld. These two, after truce "taken and proclaimed, as the custom was, by sound of "trumpet, met friendly, and upon mutual redress of such wrongs as were then complained of, parted in good "terms, each of them taking his way homewards. Mean"while it happened, one William Armstrong, commonly "called Will of Kinmonth, to be in company with the "Scottish deputy, against whom the English had a quar"rel, for many wrongs he had committed, as he was in"deed a notorious thief. This man, having taken his leave "of the Scots deputy, and riding down the river of Liddel "C on the Scottish side, towards his own house, was pur"sued by the English, who espied him from the other side "of the river, and, after a chase of three or four miles, "taken prisoner, and brought back to the English depuwho carried him away to the castle of Carlisle. "The laird of Bacleuch complaining of the breach of "truce (which was always taken from the time of meet❝ing, unto the next day at sun-rising), wrote to Mr Sal“keld, and craved redress. He excused himself by the "absence of the Lord Scroop. Whereupon Bacleuch sent "to the Lord Scroop, and desired the prisoner might be "set at liberty, without any bond or condition, seeing he "was unlawfully taken. Scroop answered, that he could "do nothing in the matter, it having so happened, with"out a direction from the queen and council of England, considering the man was such a malefactor.

"ty,

"Bacleuch, loth to inform the king of what was done, "lest it might have bred some misliking betwixt the "princes, dealt with Mr Bowes, the resident ambassador "of England, for the prisoner's liberty; who wrote very "seriously to the Lord Scroop in that business, advising "him to set the man free, and not to bring the matter to

a farther hearing. But no answer was returned: the "matter thereupon was imparted to the king, and the queen of England solicited by letters to give direction "for his liberty; yet nothing was obtained; which Ba"cleuch perceiving, and apprehending both the king, and "himself as the king's officer, to be touched in honour, "he resolved to work the prisoner's relief, by the best means he could.

"And, upon intelligence that the castle of Carlisle, "wherein the prisoner was kept, was surprisable, he em60 ployed some trusty persons to take a view of the pos

tern gate, and measure the height of the wall, which "he meant to scale by ladders, and, if those failed, to "break through the wall with some iron instruments, "and force the gates. This done, so closely as he could, "he drew together some two hundred horse, assigning the

place of meeting at the tower of Morton, some ten "miles from Carlisle, an hour before sun-set. With this

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company, passing the water of Esk, about the falling, "two hours before day, he crossed Eden beneath Carlisle bridge (the water, through the rain that had fallen, be"ing thick), and came to the Sacery, a plain under the