rd of Buccleuch, made a 'roade' with 300 horse into the
West March at two of the clock in the after-noon, with a trumpet and
gydon, and spoiled the country about Bewcastle in warlike manner till
sun-set. The trumpet was my Lord Bothwell's, and the goods was carried to
Armitage at my Lord Bothwell's officers' commandment. So as I have just
cause to think that this 'roade' was done by my Lord Bothwell's
appointment, and I am sure he durst not have done it without the King's
privity, I will not say commandment."[61]

These are only a few of many illustrations of a similar kind which may be
found scattered through the pages of the "State Papers," and while we must
be careful not to accept such statements as in every instance worthy of
absolute credence, yet the circumstances would seem to warrant our
regarding them, in many cases at least, as well founded. When the King and
his lieutenants thus secretly connived at, and encouraged, the
depredations of the reivers, we need hardly wonder that they engaged in
the work of plundering with an almost total absence of compunction.

Had the sphere of their operations been always strictly confined to the
English Border, the likelihood is that neither King, nor Regent, would
have sought to "daunton" them. But there were times when it was difficult
for the Scottish reivers to earn a decent livelihood by harassing and
spoiling "the auld enemy," owing to the watchfulness and strength of those
dwelling within the opposite Marches; and as there was a danger of their
talents becoming feeble through disuse, they naturally turned their
attention to their own more wealthy neighbours and friends. That there is
"honour among thieves" is a proposition that is sometimes called in
question; but we find that the spirit of a really helpful friendship
occasionally manifested itself in curious ways. When a family, or clan,
contemplated a raid upon a neighbour's property, it was customary to
secure the assistance of the thieves on the opposite Border. In
"Pitcairn's Criminal Trials" there are numerous allusions to the
prosecutions of famous Scottish reivers for the inbringing of Englishmen
to assist them in the work of plunder. This was one of the offences
charged against Cockburn of Henderland, and which, no doubt, weighed
heavily with his judges in consigning him to the gallows.

When the reivers thus turned their attention to their own countrymen, and
with the assistance of English allies began to d