Report of the Meetings for 1893. 221 



secure as far as possible the tranquillity of the country during 

 his absence (in France), the Duke of Albany took with him as 

 hostages the eldest sons of several noble families. At the same 

 time he committed the care of the Borders — always the most 

 turbulent part of the country, to the chivalrous and brilliant 

 la Bastie, who "was even more distinguished as a warrior and 

 statesman than as a champion in the lists, and from whom he 

 had no reason to apprehend any partiality based upon ties of 

 blood. It is in every way likely that he received the title of 

 Lieutenant of the Governor, and was charged with the invidious 

 and delicate task of transmitting to the Eegent, during his 

 absence, reports upon the principal Border chiefs. The friends 

 and vassals of the Earl of Home — a race familiar with slaughter 

 and who looked upon revenge as a sacred duty — had never 

 forgiven the Duke of Albany the execution of that powerful 

 and popular rebel ; and they resolved to take the first opportunity 

 to avenge upon la Bastie the crime of his master. That oppor- 

 tunity was soon afforded. La Bastie, as Warden of the Marches, 

 established his headquarters in the Castle of Dunbar, and 

 exerted himself with indefatigable ardour to repress disorder. 

 . . . . His enemies soon conceived the idea of making his 

 courageous activity the instrument of his ruin. A conspiracy 

 was formed against him by Home of Wedderburn and other 

 chiefs of the Border ; and, to blind their victim to their purpose, 

 they made a feint of besieging the Tower of Langton. Hearing 

 of this outrage, la Bastie, followed by some French cavaliers, 

 hastily proceeded to the scene of disorder, and immediately 

 found himself surrounded by implacable enemies. Divining the 

 fate which awaited him, he put spurs to his horse, and, thanks 

 to the wonderful swiftness of the animal, it seemed for a moment 

 as if he might escape, when his ignorance of the country led 

 him into a bog. Every effort to reach firm ground only made 

 him sink the deeper ; in vain he strove to extricate himself ; in 

 vain he besought his pitiless foes by their honour as knights, 

 and in the name of charity for which the house of Arces was 

 famous, to spare his life, and admit him to ransom ; insult and 

 raillery were their only response ; and throwing themselves upon 

 him, John and Patrick Home, the young brothers of the laird 

 of Wedderburn, despatched him. Wedderburn himself, in- 

 toxicated by a vengeance so complete, however long-delayed, cut 

 off the head of his victim, attached it by its flowing tresses to his 



