83 
They now decided to throw themselves on the clemency of the 
king, and went to London for the purpose. The king commanded 
them all to be hanged, but William had with him his boy. The 
queen, who was struck with the manly bearing of the men, and the 
beauty and innocence of the boy, begged for a respite, which was 
reluctantly granted. On a given day a great archery competition 
was to be held in the presence of king and queen, and the three 
outlaws, of whose skill as archers the king had heard, were ordered 
to attend it. The arrows flew so wide of the mark that they made 
sport of it, and they were commanded to shoot. Cloudslie set up 
a hazel stick, measured 120 paces, and split the-hazel with the first 
arrow, to the amazement of the king and queen and all present. 
When the applause had subsided, Cloudslie took his boy, and 
placing him 120 paces distant, put an apple on his head. The 
king told him if he hurt the boy all three should be hanged at 
once. He now drew his bow, and took aim, whilst many of the 
people wept with excitement and fear. Away the arrow sped and 
split the apple in two halves, whilst the boy was untouched. 
The amazement and excitement of the onlookers now knew no 
bounds. The king exclaiming, “ God forbid he should ever shoot 
at me,” summoned them to his presence and granted them a free 
pardon. He made William the head instructor in archery and 
rider of his Northern border, and the other two his personal 
attendants. The queen commanded William to send for his wife 
and other two children, all of whom were promoted to positions 
of honour in the Royal household. 
To give a recital of all the raids and reives ; the battles, burnings 
and butcheries ; the wondrous exploits, and deeds of daring that 
mark the history of this and adjacent counties, from the battle of 
~ Dunmail Raise to the massacre of Solway Moss; from Macbeth 
of Dunstanaine to Belted Will of Naworth Castle, would fill a 
book ; but when we think of Bannock Burn and Hallidon Hill, 
Neville’s Cross and Otterburn, Flodden Field and Solway Moss, 
what a holocaust of human beings have been offered to the god of 
war! What rivers of blood have flowed at the command of 
covetousness, prejudice, passion and pride! 
