But, on the middle and western marches, the inhabitants were
unrestrained moss-troopers and cattle drivers, knowing no measure of
law, says Camden, but the length of their swords. The sterility of
the mountainous country, which they inhabited, offered little
encouragement to industry; and, for the long series of centuries,
which we have hastily reviewed, the hands of rapine were never there
folded in inactivity, nor the sword of violence returned to the
scabbard. Various proclamations were in vain issued for interdicting
the use of horses and arms upon the west border of England and
Scotland[31].

[Footnote 31: "Proclamation shall be made, that all inhabiting within
Tynedale and Riddesdale, in Northumberland, Bewcastledale, Willgavey,
the north part of Gilsland, Esk, and Leven, in Cumberland; east
and west Tividale, Liddesdale, Eskdale, Ewsdale, and Annesdale, in
Scotland (saving noblemen Footnote: and gentlemen unsuspected of
felony and theft, and not being of broken clans, and their household
servants, dwelling within those several places, before recited), shall
put away all armour and weapons, as well offensive as defensive,
as jacks, spears, lances, swords, daggers, steel-caps, hack-buts,
pistols, plate sleeves, and such like; and shall not keep any horse,
gelding, or mare, above the value of fifty shillings sterling,
or thirty pounds Scots, upon the like paid of
imprisonment."--_Proceedings of the Border Commissioners_,
1505.--_Introduction to History of Cumberland_, p. 127.]

The evil was found to require the radical cure of extirpation.
Buccleuch collected under his banners the most desperate of the border
warriors, of whom he formed a legion, for the service of the states of
Holland; who had as much reason to rejoice on their arrival upon the
continent, as Britain to congratulate herself upon their departure. It
may be presumed, that few of this corps ever returned to their native
country. The clan of Graeme, a hardy and ferocious set of freebooters
inhabiting chiefly the Debateable Land, by a very summary exertion
of authority, was transported to Ireland, and their return prohibited
under pain of death. Against other offenders, measures, equally
arbitrary, were without hesitation pursued. Numbers of border riders
were executed, without even the formality of a trial; and it is even
said, that, in mockery of justice, assizes were held upon them after
they had suffered. For these acts of tyranny, see _Johnston_,