* * * * *

Because to all men it may appear,
The freebooter he is a volunteer;
In the muster rolls he has no desire to stay;
He lives by purchase, he gets no pay.

* * * * *

It's most clear a freebooter doth live in hazard's train;
A freebooter's a cavalier that ventures life for gain:
But, since King James the Sixth to England went,
Ther has been no cause of grief;
And he that hath transgress'd since then,
Is no _Freebooter_, but a _Thief_.

_History of the name of Scott_.

The inhabitants of the inland counties did not understand these subtle
distinctions. Sir David Lindsay, in the curious drama, published by
Mr Pinkerton, introduces, as one of his _dramatis personae, Common
Thift_, a borderer, who is supposed to come to Fife to steal the Earl
of Rothes' best hackney, and Lord Lindsay's brown jennet. _Oppression_
also (another personage there introduced), seems to be connected with
the borders; for, finding himself in danger, he exclaims,--

War God that I were sound and haill,
Now liftit into Liddesdail;
The Mers sowld fynd me beiff and caill,
What rack of breid?

War I thair lyftit with my lyfe,
The devill sowld styk me with a knyffe,
An' ever I cum agane in Fyfe,
Till I were deid.--

_Pinkerton's Scotish Poems_, Vol. II p. 180.

Again, when _Common Thift_ is brought to condign punishment, he
remembers his border friends in his dying speech:

The widdefow wardanis tuik my geir,
And left me nowthir horse nor meir,
Nor erdly gud that me belangit;
Now, walloway! I mon be hangit.

* * * * *

Adew! my bruthir Annan thieves,
That holpit me in my mischevis:
Adew! Grossars, Niksonis, and Bells,
Oft have we fairne owthreuch the fells:
Adew! Robsons, Howis, and Pylis,
That in our craft hes mony wilis:
Littlis, Trumbells, and Armestranges;
Adew! all theeves, that me belangis;
Baileowes, Erewynis, and Elwandis,
Speedy of flicht, and slicht of handis:
The Scotts of Eisdale, and the Gramis,
I half na time to tell your namis.

_Ib_. p. 156.

When _Common Thift_ is executed (which is performed
upon the stage), _Falset_ (Falsehood), who is
also brought forth for punishment, pronounces
over him the following eulogy:

Waes me for thee, gude Common Thift!
Was never man made more honest chift,
His living for to win:
Thai