acquair, to DIMOLEIS
and cause to be dimoleist and cassin doun to the ground, _the place and
houssis of_ TYNNEIS, quhilkis pertenit to James Stewart sumtyme of
Tynneis; as alswa, the lyke pouer and commissioun, expres bidding and
charge, to Walter Scott of Gouldielandis and Mr Iedeon Murray, conjunctlie
and seuerallie, to dimoleis and caus be dimoleist and cassin doun to the
ground, _the placeis, houssis, and fortalices of_ HARDEN _and_ DRYHOIP,
pertening to Walter Scott of Harden, quha, with the said James Steuart,
wes arte and parte of the lait tresonabill fact, perpetrat aganis his
hienes awin persone at Falkland: And that the foirsaidis personis caus the
premisses be putt in execution with all convenient expeditioun in signne
and taikin of the foirsaidis uthiris personis tressounable and unnaturall
defection and attemptat, committit be thame in manner foirsaid. As thay
will ansuer to his hienes upon thair obedience."[102]

This was a severe blow to the laird of Harden, but he doubtless bore it
with that fine philosophical indifference for which he was distinguished.
The motto of the Harden family, "We'll hae moonlight again," breathes the
spirit of optimism, and indicates that the reverses of fortune were never
regarded as irreparable. Hope sprang eternal in the Harden breast!

But Auld Wat was never disposed to linger unduly, even when courting the
smile of the capricious Goddess. He believed in himself, and relied mainly
for his good fortune on his own energy and skill. He was a man of the
world--keen, subtle, far-seeing, energetic--never allowing the grass to
grow under his feet. He believed in taking time by the forelock--in making
hay while the sun shone. Rarely did he ever miss a favourable opportunity
of increasing "his goods and gear." And his reiving was carried on in no
paltry or insignificant fashion. He was a man of large ideas, and he
carried them out on a splendid scale. For example, we find that in 1596 he
ran a day foray into Gilsland, and carried off "300 oxen and kye, a horse
and a nag." This was a large addition to make to his stock, and one cannot
help thinking that the "dell" in front of Harden castle, where he kept his
captured nowte, must have often been unduly crowded. But then it ought be
remembered that the demands on his hospitality were numerous and not
always easily met. He had a numerous body of retainers, as was befitting a
man of his position, who had to be kept in "horse meat and man'