“All the whole march expected nightly some hurt to be done; but God so blessed mee and the government I held, as, for all his fury, hee never drew drop of blood in all my march, neither durst his theeves trouble it much with stealing, for fear of hanging, if they were taken.  Thus wee continued a yeare, and then God sent a meanes to bring thinges to better quiet by this occasion.

“There had been commissioners in Barwicke, chosen by the queene and king of Scottes, for the better quieting of our borders.  By their industry they found a great number of malefactors guilty, both in England and Scotland; and they tooke order, that the officers of Scotland should deliver such offenders, as were found guilty in their jurisdictions, to the opposite officers in England, to be detained prisoners, till they had made satisfaction for the goods they had taken out of England.  The like order was taken with the wardens of England, and days prefixed for the delivery of them all.  And in case any of the officers, on either side, should omit their duties, in not delivering the prisoners at the dayes and places appointed, that then there should a course be taken by the soveraignes, that what chiefe officer soever should offend herein, he himself should be delivered and detained, till he had made good what the commissioners had agreed upon.

“The English officers did punctually, at the day and place, deliver their prisoners, and so did most of the officers of Scotland; only the Lord of Bocleuch and Sir Robert Kerr were faultie.  They were complained of, and new dayes appointed for the delivery of their prisoners.  Bocleuch was the first, that should deliver; and hee failing entered himselfe prisoner into Barwicke, there to remaine till those officers under his charge were delivered to free him.  He chose for his guardian Sir William Selby, master of the ordinance at Barwicke.  When Sir Robert Kerr’s day of delivery came, he failed too, and my Lord Hume, by the king’s command, was to deliver him prisoner into Barwicke upon the like termes, which was performed.  Sir Robert Kerr (contrary to all men’s expectation) chose mee for his guardian, and home I brought him to my own house, after hee was delivered to mee.  I lodged him as well as I could, and tooke order for his diet, and men to attend on him, and sent him word, that (although by his harsh carriage towards mee, ever since I had that charge, he could not expect any favour, yet) hearing so much goodness of him, that hee never broke his word, if hee should give mee his hand and credit to be a true prisoner, hee would have no guard sett upon him, but have free liberty for his friends in Scotland to have ingresse and regresse to him as oft as hee pleased.  He tooke this very kindly at my handes, accepted of my offer, and sent me thankes.