not stirre from him till his execution the next morning; for, after I had heard his own confession, I was resolved no conditions should save his life:  and so tooke order, that at the gates opening the next morning, hee should be carried to execution, which accordingly was performed.  The next morning I had one from Sir Robert Kerr for a parley, who was within two miles staying for mee.  I sent him word, “I would meet him where hee pleased, but I would first know upon what termes and conditions.”  Before his man was retourned, hee had heard, that in the morning, very early, Geordie Bourne had been executed.  Many vowes hee made of cruell revenge, and retourned home full of griefe and disdaine, and, from that time forward still plotted revenge.  Hee knew the gentlemen of the country were altogether sacklesse, and to make open road upon the march would but shew his malice, and lay him open to the punishment due to such offences.  But his practice was how to be revenged on mee, or some of mine.

“It was not long after that my brother and I had intelligence, that there was a great match made at footeball and the chiefe ryders were to be there.  The place they were to meet at was Kelsy, and that day, wee heard it, was the day for the meeting.  Wee presently called a counsaile, and after much dispute it was concluded, that the likeliest place hee was to come to, was to kill the scoutes.  And it was the more suspected, for that my brother, before my coming to the office, for the cattaile stolne out of the bounds, and as it were from under the walles of Barwicke, being refused justice (upon his complaint,) or at least delaid, sent off the garrison into Liddisdale, and killed there the chiefe offender, which had done the wrong.

“Upon this conclusion, there was order taken, that both horse and foote should lye in ambush, in diverse parts of the boundes, to defend the scoutes, and to give a sound blow to Sir Robert and his company.  Before the horse and foote were sett out with directions what to do, it was almost darke night, and the gates ready to be lockt.  Wee parted, and as I was by myselfe comeing to my house, God put it into my mind, that it might well be, hee meant destruction to my men, that I had sent out to gather tithes for mee at Norham, and their rendezvous was every night to lye and sup at an ale-house in Norham.  I presently caused my page to take horse, and to ride as fast as his horse could carry him, and to command my servants (which were in all eight) that, presently upon his coming to them, they should all change their lodging, and go streight to the castle, there to lye that night in strawe and hay.  Some of them were unwilling thereto, but durst not disobey; so altogether left their ale-house, and retired to the castle.  They had not well settled themeselves to sleep, but they heard in the town a great alarm; for Sir Robert and his company came streight to the ale-house, broke open the doors, and made enquiry for my servants.  They were answered, that by my command they were all in the castle.  After they had searched all the house, and found none, they feared they were betrayed, and, with all the speede they could, made haste homewards again.  Thus God blessed me from this bloody tragedy.