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

Cxlvi APPENDIX, NO. II.
The first thing I did after my retoume, was to ask jus-
tice for the wrong hee had done me ; but I could get
none. The Borderers, seeing our disagreement, they
thought the time wished for of them was come. The
winter being beganne, their was roades made out of
Scotland into the East March, and goods were taken
three or four times a-weeke. I had no other meanes
left to quiet them, but still sent out of the garrison
horsemen of Berwick, to watch in the fittest places for
them, and it was their good hap many times to light
upon them, with the stolen goods driving before them.
They were no sooner brought before mee, but a jury
went upon them, and being found guilty, they were fre-
quently hanged ; a course which hath been seldom used,
but I had no way to keep the country quiet but so to
do ; for, when the Scotch theeves found what a sharp
course I tooke with them, that were found with the
bloody hand, I had in a short time the country more
quiet. All this while wee were but in jest as it were,
but now beganne the greate quarrell betweene us.
" There was a favorite of his, a greate theife, called
Geordie Bourne. This gallant, with some of his asso-
ciates, would, in a bravery, come and take goods in the
East March. 1 had that night some of the garrison abroad.
They met with this Geordie and his fellows, driving
of cattle before them. The garrison set upon them, and
with a shott killed Geordie Bourne's unckle, and hee
himselfe, bravely resisting till he was sore hurt in the