dopts a new policy--Incurs the displeasure of the
reivers--Inaugurates a new era in Border history--Appears
before the Queen 220-236

XIII.

MINIONS OF THE MOON.

The kindly feeling with which the more famous reivers
regarded--Auld Wat of Harden--At the "Raid of Falkland"--
The consequences of this episode--Carries off 300 oxen
and kye, a horse and a nag, from Gilsland--Large demands
on his hospitality--"Wat o' Harden's coo!"--The sow-backed
hay stack--Destroys the town of Bellinghame--Marries Mary
Scott of Dryhope--His son slain by one of the Scotts of
Gilmanscleuch--The feast of spurs--Goes in pursuit of the
Captain of Bewcastle--Revenge!--Willie Scott--His raid on
Elibank--Taken prisoner--"Muckle-mou'd Meg"--Priest or
hangman--A wise choice. "Jock o' the Syde"--Prisoner in
Newcastle--Rescued by his friends--Pursued by the English--
Make good their escape.--"Christie's Will"--Two delicate
colts--Lord Traquair--Lord Durie kidnapped--Scott's account
of the incident--Description of balladist--Christie's Will
carries important papers to Charles I.--Entrapped at
Carlisle on his return--Spurs his horse over parapet of
bridge.--Willie of Westburnflat--Tried at Selkirk--Breaks
in pieces the oaken chair--Threatens to clear the court--
Dissuaded by his friends--Executed in due form of law--
Armstrong's good-night 237-266

XIV.

UNDER THE BAN.

State of the Borders--Decadence of Romanism--A strong hand
needed--The Celtic Church--Its influence permanent--The
Scots indifferent to fulminations of their spiritual
superiors--Excommunicatio major--Excommunicatio minor--
Monition of Cursing by Archbishop of Glasgow 267-279

XV.

THE TRIUMPH OF LAW.

"Broken men" drafted off to Belgic wars--Graemes banished to
Ireland--Buccleuch invested with arbitrary powers--Thieves
executed without ceremony--The Union of the Crowns--The
effect highly beneficial--Firm hand laid on the ring-leaders
of Border strife--New spirit infused into the
administration--The name _Middleshires_ substituted for
_Borders_--The law impartially administered--A happy era--
Parochial system of education--Schools before the
Reformation--Educational condition of the Borders--John
Knox's scheme--Beneficial results--Teaching and influence of
the Church--Religious state of the Borders--Decision of the
Commission--Difficulties in the way--Thomas Boston-