But as this did not suit the views of the abbot, he carried off by force the intended bride, and married her, at Stirling, to Alexander Erskine, a brother of the laird of Balgony, a relation and follower of his own.  From this marriage sprung the Erskines of Shielfield.  This exploit of the abbot revived the feud betwixt him and the Halliburtons, which only ended with the dissolution of the abbey.—­MS. History of Halliburton Family, penes editorem.]

The reformation was late of finding its way into the border wilds; for, while the religious and civil dissentions were at the height in 1568, Drury writes to Cecil,—­“Our trusty neighbours of Teviotdale are holden occupied only to attend to the pleasure and calling of their own heads, to make some diversion in this matter.”  The influence of the reformed preachers, among the borders, seems also to have been but small; for, upon all occasions of dispute with the kirk, James VI. was wont to call in their assistance. Calderwood, p. 129.

We learn from a curious passage in the life of Richard Cameron, a fanatical preacher during the time of what is called “the persecution,” that some of the borderers retained to a late period their indifference about religious matters.  After having been licensed at Haughhead, in Teviotdale, he was, according to his biographer, sent first to preach in Annandale.  “He said, ’how can I go there?  I know what sort of people they are.’  ‘But,’ Mr. Welch said, ’go your way, Ritchie, and set the fire of hell to their tails.’  He went; and, the first day, he preached upon that text, Home shall I put thee among the children, &c.  In the application he said, ’Put you among the children! the offspring of thieves and robbers! we have all heard of Annandale thieves.’  Some of them got a merciful cast that day, and told afterwards, that it was the first field meeting they ever attended, and that they went out of mere curiosity, to see a minister preach in a tent, and people sit on the ground.” Life of Richard Cameron[47].

[Footnote 47:  This man was chaplain in the family of Sir Walter Scott of Harden, who attended the meetings of the indulged presbyterians; but Cameron, considering this conduct as a compromise with the foul fiend Episcopacy, was dismissed from the family.  He was slain in a skirmish at Airdsmoss, bequeathing his name to the sect of fanatics, still called Cameronians.]

Cleland, an enthusiastic Cameronian, lieutenant-colonel of the regiment levied after the Revolution from among that wild and fanatical sect, claims to the wandering preachers of his tribe the merit of converting the borderers.  He introduces a cavalier, haranguing the Highlanders, and ironically thus guarding them against the fanatic divines: