434 Notes on Branxholme. By W. Eliott Lockhart. 



The Borderers generally acted as light cavalry, hence their 

 name of prickers, or hoblyers, though they occasionally fought 

 on foot, as was the case at the battle of Pinkie. 



In the battle of Melrose also, on the 25th July 1526, Buc- 

 cleuch's men fought on foot, and the fact of his having been in 

 the same dress as his men, stood him in good stead later, and 

 also enabled the king in his anxiety to befriend him, to state, 

 when granting him a pardon for having come forward at Melrose 

 at his own request, and to relieve him from the domination of 

 Angus, that, 



" The said Walter come to Melros bot at his command, and in 

 takyn therof lie come bot in ane leclderin cote, and ane blak bonet on his 

 heid, and that the said Walter offerit him reddy to obey the massouris 

 that come to him, and to fulfill the Kingis command in all puntis, and to 

 remove hame and stale his folkis, or byd with his Grace at his plesure." 1 



The reverse picture to this, is the fate of Johnnie Armstrong of 

 Gilnockie, who, on the occasion of the king's expedition to the 

 Border in 1529, met him with 24 able gentlemen, well horsed 

 and richly apparelled, trusting that in respect of his free offer 

 of his person, he would obtain the king's favour. Instead of 

 this, the king seeing him and his men so gorgeous in their ap- 

 parel, with so many brave men under a tyrant's command, ba<h- 

 take him out of his sight, saying, " What wants that knave that 

 a king should have ?" Johnnie, with all his retinue, was there- 

 upon hanged upon growing trees near Caerlenrig chapel. 2 



By an Act of Parliament 1540, the dress and equipments of 

 Barons and their lieges are laid down with great minuteness. 3 



An unfortunate result of the battle of Melrose, was that in 

 consequence of the death of the laird of Cessford, at the hands 

 of one of Buccleuch's men, a deadly feud ensued between the 

 Scotts and Kerrs, under which several lives were lost, and which 

 in spite of " Bonds of alliance" or " Feud staunching," "Contracts 

 of marriage," and other attempts to put an end to it, lasted for 

 many years. 



On the 30th August, 1531, a raid was made by certain 

 Englishmen of Gillesland and Tynedale, assisted by Simon 

 Armstrong "the Laird," and Clement Crosar from Liddes- 

 dale, in which Buccleuch was captured. James V. sent an 

 ambassador to Henry VIII. to complain, and in reply Carlisle 

 Herald was directed to say : — 



1 Scotts of Buccleuch, n., p. 151-2. 2 Pitscottie, p. 226. 

 3 Acts Parliament of Scotland, vol. n.. p. 362. 



