454 Notes on Branxholme. By W. Eliott Lockhart. 



As was to be expected, Queen Elizabeth was highly incensed ; 

 she regarded the enterprise as an indignity offered to England, 

 and insisted that Buccleuch should be delivered up. The king 

 and his council, on the other hand, supported the defence set up 

 by Buccleuch, that Kinmount Willie had been captured during a 

 day of truce, and detained unlawfully by Lord Scroope, against 

 all law and order, and that his rescue had not been made till all 

 applications for redress had failed ; but he offered to refer the 

 matter to commissioners, and to make redress if need be, to the 

 full satisfaction of Her Majesty's honour. 



Several letters passed between the king and queen, and active 

 negociations were carried on, through Sir Wm. Bowes, the. 

 Queen's representative at the Scottish Court. 



Buccleuch was warded by the king at St Andrews during 

 August and September ; but in spite of the greatest pressure from 

 the queen, coupled with threats to withdraw the allowance she 

 had made to him for some years, King James remained firm, 

 and Buccleuch was not given up, and 1 towards the end of the 

 year, the queen had so far relented as to agree to the appoint- 

 ment of commissioners, who met at Berwick early in April 1597. 

 But while they were sitting, matters were still further complicated 

 by raids made by Buccleuch and Cessford into Tynedale, on the 

 10th, 11th, and 17th April. Buccleuch was accused on this 

 occasion, of having forfeited his " lawful trodd " by fire raising ; 

 also that he had committed great ravages, on the Holy 

 Sabbath ; and within the last three years, had laid waste the 

 countries of Tindale, Bewcastle, and Gillisland, and slain nearly 

 100 persons. His defence was that the fray had been brought 

 to him, and that he had merely followed the chase of thieves of 

 Tynedale, the slaughter committed being only of said thieves 

 taken " red hand," and that on their refusal to give up the stolen 

 goods, an entry had been forced by firing the doors, by which 

 means the houses were burnt beyond his purpose. 2 



Again the king supported Buccleuch, assuring Bowes that he 

 would not deny justice, but hoped the queen would be satisfied 

 by his punishing his wardens himself. 



1 Cal. State Papers, Scotland, Eliz., vol. n., pp. 709-43 (vols. 52, 58-61) ; 

 Eegister Privy Council, Scotland, vol. v., pp. 178, 191, 290, 298-300, 323-5, 

 761-2; Scotts of Buccleuch, vol. i., pp. 186-220 (from State Papers and 

 Harleian MSS). 



2 Scotts of Buccleuch, vol. i., p. 211 (from Harleian MSS.) 



