The answer of the English commissioners to this indictment indicates, at least, the grounds on which Scrope regarded himself as justified in undertaking this invasion of Liddesdale. The reasons adduced are plausible, if not always convincing. "It is no novelty," they say, "but an ancient custom, for the English warden to assist his opposite, and the keeper of Liddesdale, to ride on and 'herrie' such thieves, and on occasion to do so at his own hand.... Buccleuch, besides (1) surprising the second fortress of the Queen's Border; (2) slaying 24 of her subjects, including 16 of her soldiers; (3) has bound himself with all the notorious riders in Liddesdale, Eskdale, and Ewesdale, and after asserting that he paid 'out of his own purse' half of the sworn bill of Tyndale of L800, which the King commanded him to answer, joined himself with the Ellotts and Armstrongs, to plunder Tyndale for demanding the balance, slaying in their own houses 7 of the Charletons and Dodds the chief claimants. And being imprisoned by the King, he made a sporting time of it, hunting and hawking, and on his release did worse than ever, maintaining his 'coosens' Will of Hardskarth, Watt of Harden, &c., to murder, burn, and spoile as before. The people under his charge, Ellotts, Armstrongs, Nicksons, &c., have of late years murdered above 50 of the Queen's good subjects, many in their own houses, on their lawful business at daytime--as 6 honest Allandale men going to Hexham market, cut in pieces. For each of the last 10 years they have spoiled the West and Middle Marches of L5000. In short, they are intolerable, and redress being unattainable, though repeatedly demanded by the Queen and warden, the justifiable reprisal ordered by her Majesty in necessary defence of her own Border, cannot in equity be called an invasion, but rather 'honourable and neighbourlike assistance,' to maintain the inviolable amitie between the princes and realms, against the proud violaters thereof in eyther nation.... To conclude--this action of the Lord Scrope's is to be reputed and judged a 'pune,' an ancient Border tearme, intending no other than a reprisall, which albeit of late years her Majesty's peacable justice hath restrained." There is much in a name. This invasion of Liddesdale, resulting in the burning of numerous homesteads, the slaughter of many women and children, accompanied by barbarities of the most revolting description, is euphoniously described by the commissioners as "honourable and neighbourlike assistance." The women and bairns, who were led in leashes like so many dogs, were no doubt duly grateful to my Lord Scrope and his minions for their kindly attentions! The absurdity of such a verdict is surely unique.