.

"And, finally, I CONDEMN thaim perpetualie to the deip pit of hell, to
remain with Lucifeir and all his fallowis, and thair bodeis to the
gallowis of the Burrow Mure, first to be hangit, syne revin and ruggit
with doggis, swyne and utheris wyld beists, abhominable to all the warld.
And thir candillis gangis frae your sicht, as mot[128] thair saulis gang
fra the visage of God, and thair gude fame fra the warld, quhill thai
forbeir thair oppin synnys foirsaidis and ryse frae this terribill
cursing, and mak satisfaction and pennance."[129]

XV.

THE TRIUMPH OF LAW.

'Tis 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,
There's been no cause of grief or discontent,
And he that hath transgressed the law since then,
Is no freebooter but a thief from men.

SATCHELL.

When we turn our attention to the study of the causes which ultimately
resulted in the abolition of Border reiving, we find that this desirable
end was brought about, to a considerable extent at least, by a change of
environment. Conditions were gradually created which made the old system
not only undesirable, but unnecessary, both from a political and economic
point of view. An important step was taken when Buccleuch, at the
instigation of "the powers that be," drafted off large numbers of the
"broken men" to the Belgic wars. In the campaigns which were then being
conducted in the Low Countries, these hardy, valiant Borderers no doubt
gave a good account of themselves; but, so far as can be ascertained, few
of them ever returned to "tell the tale." Still more drastic measures
were adopted in order to get rid of the Graemes, who inhabited the
Debateable land, and whose depredations had provoked a bitter feeling of
resentment on both sides of the Border. It seemed hopeless to expect any
improvement in their habits so long as they were allowed to remain where
they were, and so they were banished from the country, shipped across the
channel to the Emerald Isle, where it is to be hoped they found a
congenial sphere, and sufficient scope for their abilities. Perhaps in
course of time they settled down to a more orderly, if less exciting, mode
of life than that to which they had hitherto been accustomed.

But, notwithstanding the removal of these lawless men from the Borders, it
was found that those wh