74 
I ride on my fléet-footed gray, 
My sword hanging down by my knee ; 
I ne’er was afraid of a foe, 
Then wha daur meddle wi’ me? 
On one occasion a French trooper in the English army con- 
quered all in single combat, but was overpowered in the general 
melee, and was found to be a woman of gigantic stature and great 
beauty. 
The agrarians—called mosstroopers, freebooters, or border 
reivers—differed from the others in that they were made up of 
the most disreputable of all classes. They were governed by no 
law but their own sweet will, swore allegiance to no king, sub- 
mitted to no restraint. Many of them were outlaws of both 
nationalities, living amongst the swamps and fastnesses peculiar to 
the borders, where they could not be followed—for the training of 
their ponies was so extraordinary that they could traverse miles of 
moss and bog with the greatest ease where their pursuers would be 
utterly lost. They often shod their horses backwards, so as to 
throw their pursuers off the scent, would issue from their lairs in 
the gloaming, and, choosing especially a moonlight night, would be 
back with their booty and safely ensconced in their strongholds 
before the sun rose. On one occasion, when being pursued, they 
sent their pursuers a cow, which they had stolen, telling them they 
would need some beef before they got back. 
On special occasions the whole would merge and mingle, the 
clans receiving help from the reivers, the barons from the clans» 
and the king from the barons, for their own special behoof. There 
was a portion of the borders, never properly defined, but supposed 
to be eight miles by four, called the Debatable land, to which 
neither country laid claim. It was a kind of “ No man’s land,” or 
“Any man’s land.” Both Scotch and English could depasture 
their cattle on it during the day, but had to withdraw them at 
night. This debatable land became a source of mighty mischief, 
and the favourite refuge of desperadoes, who, if taken, could claim 
that they were Scotch or English, as it might suit their purpose. 
The King of Scotland once gave a favourite cow to a friend in 
