d, in the streets of Edinburgh, by his hereditary
enemies, the Kerrs, anno 1552.]

[Footnote 18: The jest of James VI. is well known, who, when a
favourite cow had found her way from London, back to her native
country of Fife, observed, "that nothing surprised him so much as her
passing uninterrupted through the Debateable Land!"]

In 1557, a new war broke out, in which rencounters on the borders
were, as usual, numerous, and with varied success. In some of these,
the too famous Bothwell is said to have given proofs of his courage,
which was at other times very questionable[19]. About this time the
Scottish borderers seem to have acquired some ascendency over their
southern neighbours.--_Strype_, Vol. III. p. 437--In 1559, peace was
again restored.

[Footnote 19: He was lord of Liddesdale, and keeper of the Hermitage
castle. But he had little effective power over that country, and was
twice defeated by the Armstrongs, its lawless inhabitants.--_Border
History_, p. 584. Yet the unfortunate Mary, in her famous Apology,
says, "that in the weiris againis Ingland, he gaif proof of his
vailyentnes, courage, and gude conduct;" and praises him especially
for subjugating "the rebellious subjectis inhabiting the cuntreis
lying ewest the marches of Ingland."--_Keith_, p. 388. He appears
actually to have defeated Sir Henry Percy, in a skirmish, called the
Raid of Haltweilswire.]

The flame of reformation, long stifled in Scotland, now burst forth,
with the violence of a volcanic eruption. The siege of Leith was
commenced, by the combined forces of the Congregation and of England.
The borderers cared little about speculative points of religion; but
they shewed themselves much interested in the treasures which passed
through their country, for payment of the English forces at Edinburgh.
Much alarm was excited, lest the marchers should intercept these
weighty protestant arguments; and it was, probably, by voluntarily
imparting a share in them to Lord Home, that he became a sudden
convert to the new faith[20].

[Footnote 20: This nobleman had, shortly before, threatened to spoil
the English east march; "but," says the Duke of Norfolk, "we have
provided such sauce for him, that I think he will not deal in such
matter; but, if he do fire but one hay-goff, he shall not go to Home
again without torch-light, and, peradventure, may find a lanthorn at
his own house."]

Upon the arrival of the ill-fated Mary in her native country, she