Notices concerning Oxnam Water. By J. Hardy. 103 



your honour ; [referring fco a previous communication] ; I caused my two 

 gnyds to stay at the said house all Friday last, and caused George Pyll to 

 ride with me that morning to Farnehurst where I found therle of Wesmor- 

 lande not secretly kept, but walking before the gates openly, and seven of 

 his servants standing by, and that I sawe after in the house, these are 

 their names, Anthony Welbery, John Welbery, Thomas Watson, Henry 

 Bidle, John Bidle, Tryps and Schaw." The letter in which he discloses 

 his intelligence is of great length. (Sadler's State Papers and Letters by 

 Clifford, vol. ii. pp. 109-125. Edinr. 1809). Not content with this, he 

 bribes Pyle to hunt out the refugees and learn who were their recipients. 

 " Sir, I hyred one to ride in Liddesdale to bring me true word what gentle- 

 man is remayning there, or with whom they are receaved. I also hired 

 my oste. George Pill to ride into Tyvedale and into the Marshe and Low- 

 dyan, and to bring me knowledge, not upon report, but of so many as he 

 can se." (lb. p. 124). 



There is an earlier mark set upon George Pyle, shewing him in the 

 character of a brawler, and involved in a charge of " slaughter," previous 

 to becoming an English spy. 



July 31st, 1572. " William Ker of Ancrum, John Home, sone naturale 

 to Johune Home of Cransfcane, Wm. Henslie [Ainslie] of Fawlay, Jok 

 Pyle of the Raw, George Pyle his bruder, George Pyle in Mylneheuch, 

 Andro Hall of the Sykis, and Jok Hall, callit Perseis Jok. 



" Richard Rutherford, provost of Jedburgh, wes unlawit for non -reporting 

 of lettres dewlie excecute and indorsat purchest be the kin and freindis 

 of umquhile James Henrye, burges of Jedbnrch, and James Mitchell, and 

 (be) the provest himself, and the baillies, connsale, and commontie of the 

 said bnrch, to tak souertie of William Ker, etc., to underly the law, for 

 art and pairt of the slauchter of the saidis persones, committit the xv day 

 of Junij last bipast ; viz : in the pane of £100 for the said Williame Ker, 

 100 markis for the said Johnne Home, and 40 pundis for ilk ane of reman- 

 ent persones foresaidis." (Pitcairn's Criminal Trials, Part I. (James VI.) 

 pp. 36, 37.) 



George Pyle in Milheuch appears in the list of Border riders on the 

 Middle Marches made up in 1597. (Sadler's Letters, &c, ii. p. 119, Note). 



QUARREL. 

 A quarrel that took its origin at Swinside at a drunken bout, ended 

 disastrously after a fight with swords at what is called Berchope (Birch- 

 hope), within half a mile of Jedbuigh, on the 9th of July, 1674. Robert 

 Ker of Horsliehill, Charles Ker of Abbotrule, William Ker of Newton, and 

 their servants, Andrew Rutherfoord of Townhead of Jedburgh, and James 

 Douglas, brother to Sir William Douglas of Cavers, had dined at the 

 farmer's house at "Swanside," where " all the company had drank freely." 

 In riding home in the evening they called at the house of John Ker, at 

 Berchope, in their way to Jedburgh ; and immediately Rutherford and 

 Douglas galloped on in front, and then alighted and drew their swords. 

 Donglas received "a mortal wound with a small aword through the arm. 



