Rutherfurds of that Ilk, and their cadets

XXXV1U
stood marvellous strong in a great wode, Lord Surrey-
told Henry VIII.), and Hunthylle, and brunt and de-
faced their castills and all the housys about them." In
1 5 75, at the battle of the Red-Swyre," Stout Hunthill"
was there " with his nine sons him about," when
The Ruthirfurds with gret renown,
Convoyed the town of Jethart out,
All boldly foucht that day.
In 1588 King James came with a large force to
compel the Laird of Hunthill's sons, the Laird of
Ormiston's sons, and the Laird of Greenhead's sons
to " enter themselves prisoners into England," as
they could not make reparation for the injuries done
by them to the English. John "the Cock" is said
to have married secondly a daughter of Ker of
Greenhead. What became of six of his sons is
uncertain. Sir Walter Scott says that they were
executed by King James VI. 's orders. 1 If they
went into England, no more appears to have been
heard of them. Thomas, his second son, succeeded
him, and John, called Master John in deeds, Sheriff-
Depute of Roxburghshire, and Richard of Little-
heuch, are the only three whose names appear sub-
sequently, except William's, the eldest son, who was
alive in 1592 ; as it appears that on 28th Septem-
ber in that year Andro Ker of Phairnihirst, John
Ruthirfurd of Hunthill, and William Ruthirfurd,
apparent of Hunthill, were denounced rebels for
not appearing " to answer twiching the treason-
able resett, and intelligence had betwix them and
Frauncis, sumtyme Erll of Bothuill." He may
have been judicially murdered at one of these
assizes, and suffered "Jethart justice " with his
brothers. At all events he died before his father,
for the second son succeeded. Much importance,
however, cannot be attached to the correctness
1 Minstrelsy of Scottish Border. Ed. 1833, vol. ii., p. 29.