It was a foul deed, foully done. The King was no doubt determined, as it is said, to "make the rush bush keep the cow," and perhaps to a certain extent he succeeded, as some time after this, Andrew Bell kept ten thousand sheep in Ettrick Forest, and they were as safe as if they had been pasturing in Fife or the Lothians. But the murder of Armstrong in no way daunted the other members of that notable clan. Many of them took refuge on the English side of the Border, and for years waged a successful predatory warfare against their _quondam_ Scottish neighbours. In 1535, for example, we find that "Christopher Armstrong, Archibald his son, Ingram Armstrong, Railtoun, Robert and Archibald Armstrong there, John Elwald, called _Lewis John_, William, son of Alexander Elwald, and Robert Carutheris, servants to the laird of Mangerton; John Forrestare, called _Schaikbuklar_, Ninian Gray his servant, Thomas Armstrong in Greneschelis, _Lang Penman_, servant of one called _Dikkis Will_. Thomas Armstrong of Mangerton, and Symeon Armstrong, called _Sim the Larde_" and several others, were denounced rebels, and their whole goods escheated for not underlying the law for having stolen from John Cockburn of Ormiston seventy "drawand oxen" and thirty cows; and for art and part of traitorously taking and carrying off three men-servants of the said John, being the keepers of the said castle, and "detaining them against their will for a certain space;" and further "for art and part of the Stouthreif from them of their clothes, whingars, purses and certain money therein."[89] Indeed the depredations of the clan after the execution of Gilnockie were on the most extensive scale. On the 21st February, 1536, Symon Armstrong was "convicted of art and part of the theft and concealment of two oxen from the laird of Ormistone, furth of the lands of Craik, and a black mare from Robert Scott of Howpaslot, furth of the lands of Wolcleuche; committed during the time he was in the King's ward, about Lammas 1535. _Item_, of art and part of the theft and concealment of five score of cows and oxen from the said laird of Ormistone, stolen furth of the said lands of Craik; committed by _Evil-willit Sandie_, and his accomplices, in company with Thomas Armstrong, _alias Greneschelis_, and Robert Carutheris, servants of the said Symon, and certain Englishmen, at his command, common Thieves and Traitors, on July 27, 1535. _Item_, of art and part of the traitorous _Fire-raising_ and _Burning of the Town of Howpaslot_; And of art and part of the Theft and Concealment the same time of sixty cows and oxen belonging to Robert Scott of Howpaslot and his servants; committed by Alexander Armstrong, in company with Robert Henderson, _alias Cheyswame_,[90] Thomas Armstrong, _alias_ Grenescheles, his servants, and their accomplices, common Thieves and Traitors, of his causing and assistance, during the time he was within the King's ward, upon October 28, 1535. _Item_, of art and part of the theft and