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

118 IMINSTllELSY OF
His place of residence (now a roofless tower) was at the
Hollows, a few miles from Langholm, where its ruins
still serve to adorn a scene, which, in natural beauty, has
few equals in Scotland. At the head of a desperate band
of free-booters, this Armstrong is said to have spread
the terror of his name almost as far as Newcastle, and
to have levied black mail, or protection and forbearance
money, for many miles around. James V., of whom
it was long remembered by his grateful people that he
made the " rush-bush keep the cow," about 1529, un-
dertook an expedition through the Border counties, to
suppress the turbulent spirit of the Marchmen. But,
before setting out upon his journey, he took the pre-
caution of imprisoning the different Border chieftains,
who were the chief protectors of the marauders. The
Earlof Bothwell was forfeited, and confined in Edinburgh
castle. The Lords of Home and Maxwell, the Lairds of
Buccleuch, Fairniher st, and Johnston, with many others,
were also committed to ward. Cockbum of Henderland,
and Adam Scott of Tushielaw, called the King of the
Border, were publicly executed. — Lesley, p. 430. The
King then marched rapidly forward, at the head of a fly-
ing army of ten thousand men, through Ettrick Forest
and Ewsdale. The evil genius of our Johnie Armstrong,
or, as others say, the private advice of some courtiers,
prompted him to present himself before James, at the
head of thirty-six horse, arrayed in all the pomp of Bor-
der chivalry. Pitscottie uses nearly the words of the
ballad, in describing the splendour of his equipment,
t