78 
If an over-charge was made, a middle man was called in to 
decide, and all matters of dispute were referred to an equal 
number from each side of the border. 
The wardens, during truce, received bills of charge against 
offenders. 
I have before me a list of fifty, from which I have taken the two 
following :— 
“‘ Martinmas, 1587. The poor widow, and the inhabitants of the 
town of Temmin, complain upon the Lord of Mangerton for the 
murder of John and Willie Tweddell, and Davie Bell; the carrying 
away of 12 men and too oxen, and insight— £400.” 
“Lord Maxwell complains upon Walter Graeme, of Netherby, 
for burning 800 onsets, 800 kine, 300 horses, and 3000 sheep, ~ 
prisoners and ransomers— £500 sterling.” 
Occasionally bad blood would prevail at a truce, and end in 
blows. On one occasion, June 7th, 1575, at Reedswire, the two 
wardens bandied irritating expressions so loudly that the forces fell 
upon each other, and great slaughter ensued. 
But besides these laws and agreements as between the opposite 
marches, they had others which applied only to themselves. For 
example, when imminent and great danger impended, all the 
beacons and torches had to be lighted their full size, the slogan” 
was sounded, and every man capable of bearing arms had to 
muster at the appointed place. ‘Those who could afford horses 
and bloodhounds were bound to bring them, and the enemy pur- 
sued in what was called “ Hot trod” and general “Hue and cry,” 
and no man had to slacken pace until his work was done. 
The border laws were salutary in times of peace, but utterly 
powerless in times of war. In fact, the borderers chafed under 
times of peace. The wolf, the eagle, and the vulture are not more 
delighted with the carnage of battle than were those mosstroopers 
during the national and feudal struggles, for then they were 
encouraged, rather than otherwise, in their freebooting excursions, 
and the great barons themselves gloried in it. So much so, indeed, 
that during the greater part of the sixteenth century raiding and 
reiving—burning, plundering, and murder—hanging, drawing and 
