16 FALCONRY IN BERWICKSHIRE. 



hawking, and it is in her reign that we first hear of the 

 gun being used in Scotland to kill wild-fowl, " quhair- 

 throw, the Noblemen of the Eealme, can get na pastime 

 of balking and hunting like as has bene in times by-past." 

 The destruction to sport, "be occasion foresaid," seems to 

 have been considered so serious, that on the 29 th of May 

 1551 the Scottish Parliament passed the following Act — 

 " Anent them that schuttis with gunnis at Deare and Wilde- 

 fowle " : — " The samin daye, for-sa-meikle as it was devised, 

 statute, and ordained of before, that nane of Our Soveraine 

 Ladies Leiges, sulde take upon hande to schutte with Halfe- 

 hag, Quivering, or Pistolet, at Deare, Eae, Wilde-beasts, or 

 Wilde-fowles, under the paine of death : Notwithstanding 

 Our Soveraine Ladies Leiges daylie and continuallie in- 

 contrair the tenour of the Actes maid thereupon, incurrand 

 the paines conteined in the samin, schuttis with the Halfe- 

 hag, Culvering, and Pistolette, at the saidis Wilde-beastes 

 and Wilde-fowles, quhair-throw the Noblemen of the Eealme, 

 can get na pastime of balking an hunting, like as has bene 

 had in times by-past, bee reason that all sik Wilde-beastes 

 and Wilde-fowles ar exiled and banished, be occasion foresaid, 

 etc : It is ordained that nane of Our So v. Ladies Leiges, of 

 quhat-sumever degree hee be of, take upon hande to schutte 

 with Halfe-hag, Colvering, or Pistolet under the paine of death 

 and confiscation of all their u-udes. The taker sail have the 

 escheit of the persones gudes hee apprehendis and sail be 

 rewarded utherwaies, as accordis for his laboures." ^ 



On the 20th of June 1555 another Act was passed 

 " Anent the slaying of wilde-beasts, wilde-fowles, balking 

 and hunting," whereby it was enacted that " na man take 

 in hand to ryde or gang in their nichbouris corne in 

 balking or hunting, fra the Feast of Pasche unto the 



^ The Laios and Acts of Parliament made by the Kings and Queen of Scotland. 

 Collected by Sir Tlioiuati Murray of Gleiulook : Eilinburgh, 1681, }>. 142. 



