83 
One of the latest and most stirring deeds in the tale of this 
Border History, and one, too, so immediately connected with this 
district, that I ought not to omit it, is that related in the ballad 
of Kinmont Willie, an incident that took place in the close of the 
16th century, in the days of Queen Elizabeth. William Armstrong, 
of Kinmont—said to be a descendant of our friend of Gilnockie— 
was a noted Border chieftain, and not with the best of reputations. 
A pamphleteer of the day arguing against subscribing the oath of 
supremacy, in 1584, asks ironically, “‘Who shall take order with 
vice and wickedness? The court and bishops? As well ask 
Mautin Elliot and Will of Kinmont to take order with stealing 
upon the Borders!” This Will of Kinmont had been seized by 
Mr. Sakeld—“the fause Sakelde,” as the ballad styles him—the 
deputy of Lord Scrope, who was then the Warden of the Marshes— 
at a meeting which had been held, as usual, for the purpose of 
settling mutual disputes, on the banks of the river Liddell, near 
the Kershope Foot. He was carried offin spite of all remonstrance 
as to the illegality of the seizure, and lodged in the castle of 
Carlisle, where no doubt he would soon have been “justified,” to 
use the term that was in vogue on the other side of the Border— 
i.é. hanged first and tried after—a sort of justification which has 
perhaps escaped the notice of our theologians. The news was 
carried to Buccleugh, who was vested with the office of Warden on 
the Scottish side. He was vastly indignant. 
And have they ta’en him, Kinmount Willie, 
Against the truce of Border tide, 
And forgotten that the bold Buccleugh 
Is keeper here on the Scottish side? 
He accordingly assembles his followers an hour before the sunset, 
at the rendezvous of the Woodhouselee, “carrying ladders long 
and hie,” and leads them straight to Carlisle town— 
Then on we held to Carlisle town, 
At Staneshaw bank the Eden we crossed ; 
The water was great and mickle of spait, 
But never a man or a horse we lost. 
The dark and stormy night—the ascent of the Castle wall 
