Local Documents, Cockbw) nspath, 1389. 287 



fuel and storage of the said castle, and as may suffice for all those dwelling 

 therein, and that the sale of the remainder of the coals may he availahle to 

 relieve the said John of the expenses incurred in the search for such mines. 

 Witness the king at Westminster, 14th December, [1384]. By hrief of Privy 



V. COCKBUBNSPATH, 1389.— Numbers of the Border Flocks in 

 early times. 



Safe Conducts and Protections for the Shepherds and Sheep of the 

 Countess of March and Mary Heryng, (Rot. Scot. vol. ii., p. 99. 

 13 Richard II.) 



The king to all and singular his admirals to whom, &c, Greeting. Know 

 that we of our special favour, at the entreaty of our beloved and faithful 

 cousin, Henry de Percy, the son, have granted to the Countess of March of 

 Scotland, that she may have power to send two shepherds of Scotland with 

 one thousand sheep to Colbrandspath to pasture them there and for five miles 

 round, when it shall please the said Countess during the three years next 

 following. Desirous of providing for their security in this particular, we 

 have taken these shepherds with the sheep aforesaid, in their coming towards 

 the places mentioned, in their continuance there, and in pasturing the sheep, 

 as well as in returning thence to their own localities, into our safe and secure 

 conduct, and our special protection and defence. And therefore we enjoin 

 that the said shepherds with the said sheep, in coming towards the foresaid 

 places, & during their continuance, and in the feeding of the sheep, & pro- 

 ceeding thence afterwards to their own localities, you will maintain, protect 

 and defend, not bringing upon them, nor as far as in you lies permitting to 

 be brought, any injury, molestation, damage, violence, arrestment, obstruc- 

 tion, or gravamen, whatsoever. And if any one makes any attachment of 

 them, or does to them any injury, let it be corrected and reformed without 

 delay. Provided always that if we in our own proper person with our army, 

 before the end of the said three years, pass over into Scotland, then for the 

 time when we are thus personally present with our aforesaid army, our pre - 

 sent letters shall have no strength or virtue. To continue in force for the 

 aforesaid three years. 



Witness the king at Westminster 12th July [1389]. By brief of Privy Seal. 



Letters of a like tenor of safe conduct hath Mary Heryng with two shep- 

 herds and 600 sheep, to last a corresponding period. 



The king as above. By brief of Privy Seal. 



These protections were granted during a three years truce, consequent on 

 the battle of Otterburn. 



