J. F. Campbell Collection > Minstrelsy of the Scottish border > Volume 1

XXVI INTRODUCTIOX.
exercised a most uncontroulecl domination in Dum-
fries-shire. Even the power of the Earl of Angus
was exerted in vain against the banditti of Liddes-
dale, protected and bucklered by this mighty chief.
Repeated complaints are made by the English re-
sidents, of the devastation occasioned by the depre-
dations of the Elliots, Scots, and Armstrongs, con-
nived at and encouraged by Maxwell, Buccleuch,
and Fairnihirst. At a convention of Border com-
missioners, it was agreed that the King of England,
in case the excesses of the Liddesdale freebooters
were not duly redressed, should be at liberty to
issue letters of reprisal to his injured subjects, grant-
ing " power to invade the said inhabitants of Lid-
" desdale, to their slaughters, burning, heirships,
" robbing, reifing, despoiling, and destruction, and
deavouring to catch a glance from the implacable monarch.
He sat down at the gate, weary and exhausted, and asked for
a draught of water. Even this was refused by the royal at-
tendants. The King afterwards blamed their discourtesy ;
but Kilspindie was obliged to return to France, where he died
of a broken heart ; the same disease which afterwards brought
to the grave his unrelenting sovereign. Even the stern Henry
VHI. blamed his nephew's conduct, quoting the generous say-
ing, "A King's face should give grace," — Godscroft, vol. II.
p. 107.