Kirkpatrick of Closeburn

OF CLOSEBUEN. 3o
we returned, seized about 2000 sheep, 200 kye and oxen, and 40 or 50 horses, mares
and colts, and brought the same towards Dumfries. The country beyond the water of
Dee gathered, and came to a place called the Forehead Ford. So we left all our sheep,
and put our worst horsed men before the nowte and nags, and sent 30 of the best horsed
to preeke at the Scots, if they should come over the water, and I to abide with the
standard in their relief, which the Scots perceiving came not over, so that we passed
quietly that night to Dumfries, leaving the goods in safety with men and good watch.
In the morning we repaired to the goods a mile beyond Dumfries, of intent to have
divided and dealt the booty. But some claimed this cow, and some that nag, to be
under assurance. [That is, assured to their owners by reason of their having come in
and given pledges.] Above all, one man of the Laird of Empsfielde came amongst the
goods, and would needs take one cow, saying he would be stopped by no man ; insomuch
that one Thomas Taylor, called Tom with his bow, being one of the garrison and being
charged with the keeping of the goods, struck the said Scotsman on the head with his
bow, so that the blood ran down over his shoulders. Going to his master there and
crying out, his master went with him to the Master Maxwell. The Master Maxwell
came with a great rout after him, and brought the man with the bloody head to me,
saying with an earnest countenance, ' Is this think you well, both to take our goods
and thus to shed our blood ?' I considering the matter at the present to be two for one,
thought best to use him and the rest of the Scots with good words, and gentle and fair
speeches, for they were determined even there to have given us an onset, and to have
taken the goods from us. So that I persuaded them to stay themselves, and the goods
should be all stayed, and none dealt till the next morrow ; and then every man to come
that had any claim, and upon proof it should be redressed. And thus willed every man
quietly for that time to depart. Upon this we all agreed, and so we left the goods
in safe keeping, and came to Dumfries about one of the clock in the afternoon, giving
every one of the garrison secret warning to put on their jacks, and bridle and saddle
their horses, and to meet me immediately at the bridge end. And so they did. I
sent 42 men for the goods, and to meet me at a ford a mile above the town, where- we
brought the goods over, and so came by Lochmaben, and divided them that night, and
brought them to Canonby, where we remained before. And thus with wiles we beguiled
the Scots."