Chapter 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--The unploughed field--Victory achieved 280-298

XVI.

THE HARVEST OF PEACE.

Great changes effected in habits and character of the people--Easily explained--"Broken men" expatriated--How reiving was regarded--Border ethics--Right to rob the English--Statistics of crime--The Tweed Act--A hard school--Grim and dour--Services rendered by Borderers-- Great feature of Border life--Birthplace of poetry--The old ballads--A priceless inheritance--James Thomson, the author of "The Seasons"--Sir Walter Scott--Hogg--Leyden-- Burns probably sprung from a Border stock--The name "Burness"--A Western Mecca--Rural population decreasing-- Conclusion 299-310