‘Of Liddesdale the common thieves Sae pertly steals now and reaves, That nane may keep Horse, nolt, or sheep, For their mischieves. They plainly through the country rides, I trow the meikle De’il them guids, Where they onset, Ay in their gait, There is nae yett, Nor door, them bides. Thae thieves that steals and turses[40] hame Ilk ane of them has ane to-name,[41] _Will of the Laws_, _Hab of the Shaws_; To mak bare wa’s, They think nae shame. They spulyie puir men of their packs, They leave them nought on bed nor balks,[42] Baith hen and cock, With reel and rock, The _Laird’s Jock_ All with him taks. They leave not spendle, spoon, nor spit, Bed, bolster, blanket, sark, nor sheet; John of the Park Rypes[43] kist and ark; For all sic wark He is right meet. He is weel-kenned, _Jock of the Syde_, A greater thief did never ride. He never tires For to break byres; O’er muir and mires, O’er guid ane guide.... Of stouth[44] though now they come good speed, That nother of God nor men has dread, Yet or[45] I die, Some shall them see Hing on a tree, While[46] they be dead.’[47] If it was at this time, as is likely, that Sir Richard wrote these verses, he might well calculate on the vigour of the Regent while prophesying sad days for the Border men. ‘... there was ane proclamation [October 10], to meet the Regent in Peebles upon the 8 of November next, for the repressing of the thieves in Annandale and Eskdale; but my Lord Regent thinking they wald get advertisement, he prevented the day, and came over the water secretly, and lodged in Dalkeith; this upon the 19 day [October]; and upon the morrow he departed towards Hawick, where he came both secretly and suddenly, and there took thirty-four thieves, whom he partly caused hang and partly drown; five he let free upon caution; and upon the 2nd day of November, he brought other ten with him to Edinburgh, and there put them in irons.’--_Bir._ We have some trace of these men in the Lord Treasurer’s accounts as inmates of the Tolbooth of Edinburgh. On the 30th of November, thirty-two pounds are paid to Andro Lindsay, keeper of that prison, for the furnishing of meat and drink to Robert Elliot, alias _Clement’s Hob_, and Archy Elliot, called _Archy Kene_. On the same day, twenty-three pounds four shillings are disbursed for a month’s board in the same black hotel, for ‘Robert Elliot, called _Mirk Hob_; Gavin Elliot, called _Gawin of Ramsiegill_; Martin Elliot, called _Martin of Heuchous_; Robert Elliot, son to _Elder Will_; Robert Elliot, called the _Vicar’s Rob_; Robert Elliot, called _Hob of Thorlieshope_; Dandy Grosar, called _Richardtoncleucht_; and Robert Grosar, called _Son to Cockston_.’ [Sidenote: 1567.]