Series 3 > Warrender papers > Vol. 19

THE WARRENDER PAPERS
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to prepare the way for international brotherliness by the
establishment of peace and concord among his subjects of
the Scottish marches.
The Warrender Papers tell us what the former ‘ custome
was ’ upon a ‘ daye of treuce,’ when ‘ officeris or deputyes
kept thair meeting, mead mutuall redress of such vrongis
as had occurred befoir that tyme, and sinderet in verrye
good termis ’ (No. XCIII). This same document also
shows us how precarious was the stability of law upon the
Borders, and what strange conceptions might be held as
to the responsibilities of office and the nature of public
service. It was asserted as ‘ the verrye truth ’ that the
English deputy thought ‘ to doo good service by the seasing
of such an notorious offender [as Kinmont Willie] . . .
to the plaine braech of the treuces,’ and to carry him
prisoner from a Warden’s meeting to the Castle of Carlisle.
On his side, Buccleuch, the Scottish Warden, ‘ being
loath to informe the king of the mater least the sam
might have bred some mistakking betwixt the princes,’
thought good to take upon himself the burden of negotia¬
tions ; and when these failed, ‘ finding his Majesties honour
tuitched so apparentlye to the world, he did resolve him
selff to seeck the releeff of the prisoner by the meanes
whairby it was performed.’
The story of how he achieved his purpose by the
‘ surpryzing of Carlill casle ’ is told more vigorously than
grammatically, and with a dramatic effect worthy of the
ballad tale. We can share in the relief of the Scotsmen
‘ that it hapned to fall to be verrye dark in that hind-
night and a litle mistie,’ when they were lurking with
their ladders at the foot of the wall ‘ whillest the sentinellis
war in the top of the wall above them looking over, and
crying and speaking one to an uther.’ Buccleuch stands
in the succession of Gideon and the primitive heroes with
his simple strategy to encourage his own men, ‘ and to