The Ballad of Kinmont Willie. i293 



the same to the value of 2000£ sterling, and slew 10 men."^ 

 Let us remember that in the reign of Elizabeth, when these 

 exploits were performed, there never was, formally, any war 

 between England and Scotland ! 



Favoured by Buccleuch, the Keeper of Liddesdale, Arm- 

 strong was long able to defy his English foes. At length, in 

 1596, while returning with three or four in his company from a 

 meeting with Thomas Salkeld of Corby, deputy of the English 

 Warden, and Robert Scott of Haining, deputy of Buccleuch, held 

 on a day of truce at Kershope, he was seized by " Fause Sal- 

 kelde " and taken to Carlisle. Though he merited the doom 

 which seemed to await him, his capture was a treacherous action, 

 and was a violation of Border law. The Keeper of Liddesdale, 

 therefore, wrote to Salkeld, and afterwards to Scrope, demanding 

 the release of the prisoner. Receiving no satisfactory reply, he 

 assembled two himdred men, including Willie's four sons, and 

 vowed that he would rescue his retainer, though he well knew 

 that Carlisle Castle was a place of great strength, with a powerful 

 garrison. Riding from Teviotdale, Buccleuch and his men rested 

 and were equipped among the Grahams — the relatives of Kin- 

 mont's wife — and afterwards, on a dark and stormy night, they 

 proceeded to Carlisle to make their "proude attempte." That 

 attempt proved highly successful. Having forded the Eden, 

 which was flooded, the Scots came to " The Sacray,"^ and halted 

 on the right bank of the Caldew, where they all dismounted. 

 Leaving part of his small force behind — doubtle^ss to cover his 

 line of retreat — Buccleuch advanced with the rest. To quote the 

 account of the enforcing of the castle sent by Scrope to Burghley, 

 the Scots " did come armed and appointed with gavlockes and 

 crowes of iron, hand peckes, axes, and skaihnge lathers, unto 

 an outewarde corner of the base courte of this castell, and to the 

 posterne dore of the same, which they undermyned speedily and 

 quietly, and made themselves possessores of the base courte, 

 brake into the chamber where Will of Kinmont was, carried him 

 awaye, and in their discoverie lefte for deade two of the watchmen 

 and hurte a servante of myne, one of Kinmonte's kepers, and 



5. Calendar of Border Papers, Vol. I., 314. 



6. Now called " The Sauoeries," a name said to be derived from 

 the willows which once grew there. 



