LocKERBIE IN ITS ORIGIN. 163 
teen thousand of its inhabitants and burned the town, traversed 
the country as far north as Elgin, hoisted the red flag with the 
three gold leopards on every stronghold, and garrisoned with 
English every town and castle, that the bitter feelings of enmity 
and hatred were first inculcated, which were in after years and 
for centuries to cause such devastation and desolation all along 
the Borders. After the proud and brutal monarch had gone 
back to England, poor Scotland lay stunned by the swift and 
crushing blow which had struck her down. Nearly all the nobles 
and leading men in the country had been forced to swear 
allegiance. Wasted by the ravishes of war, the country suffered 
miserably from famine. Bands of cruel and broken men, bitter 
of heart and fierce at the abhorred oppression of the Southron, 
hunted in the forests and mountains living by the chase, and 
when the chance offered plundering the provision convoys of the 
English. By thousands of cottage hearths in the dismal winter 
following brave men in shame and sorrow bemoaned to each 
other over the untold miseries and the galling scorn which their 
native land had to endure. It was from this time onwards— 
and who can blame her ?—that Scotland viewed England as her 
bitterest enemy ; and then began between the two countries that 
system of perpetual robbery and murder which continued 
unabated for centuries. I simply mention this in passing to 
recall to you the fact that this system of plunder and reprisal, 
which ultimately attained such an extraordinary development, 
did not always exist, and that during the time with which we 
are dealing the Borders enjoyed for the most part a state of com- 
parative calm and repose. No doubt there were wars between 
the two countries, but these were infrequent. Abundant warning 
was given, and the necessary preparations made for the preser- 
vation of life and property. During the reign of Lockard, 
therefore, at least comparatively speaking, the little village 
flourished and its inhabitants enjoyed prosperity and peace. 
Money was a commodity scarce, in fact almost unknown, and 
perhaps it was well. The avaricious passion for accumulating 
Was practically impossible. | Each lived by the fruits of his 
handiwork, and the produce was perishable. If one had too 
much, rather than waste, his less fortunate neighbour would be 
welcome to a share. The whole farming operations were 
carried on on a system of co-operation. Their purpose of living 
