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Page 178:-
The rest of Mr Bell's names, and many others, I shall leave
out, being a dry subject for strangers.
All this would not quiet the turbulent spirit of the
borderers, they frequently quarrelled, and fought terrible
fierce battles at foot-ball matches, huntings, &c.; and
Guthrie, p.106, tells of a terrible battle in the borders,
fought about a lark's nest and two dogs.
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But the Grames were the most troublesome of any, wherefore
King James issued a proclamation in the first year of his
reign, as follows:
BY THE KING.
FORASMUCH as all our subjects in the North parts, who have
felt the smart of the spoils and outrages done upon them at
our first entry into this kingdom, by divers borderers, but
especially by the Grames, cannot be ignorant what care we
have had, that punishment should be done upon the offenders,
having for that purpose, to our charge, maintained our
forces to apprehend them, and Commissioners to try them
according to the law; by whose travel, namely of our cousin
the Earl of Cumberland, our Lieutenant there, with the
assistance of other Commissioners, things are brought to
that point, that the offenders are all in our mercy, and do
all, (but specially the Grames) confess themselves to be no
meet persons to live in those countries, and therefore have
humbly besought us that they might be removed to some other
parts, where, with our gracious favour, they hope to live
and become new men, and to deserve our mercy. Although, we
do confess, we have rather inclined to this course of mercy,
as a thing more agreeable to our nature, than the taking of
so much blood, as would be shed if we should leave them to
the just censure of the law; nevertheless, lest our good
subjects, seeing no such execution presently follow of our
said commission, should make other construction thereof than
is cause, we have thought good to make known to them, that
this course, for the present, proceeding from no alteration
of our former detestation of such injury, nor from want of
care and affection to our good subjects oppressed by such
heinous offenders, but only for lack of means to provide
presently for the transplantation of the Grames elsewhere,
to the intent their lands may be inhabited by others of good
and honest conversation: We have thought it not amiss, for
better effecting thereof, and for ease of the persons, to
dismiss the vulgar sort of them, retaining their heads and
principals for pledges, not only to be answerable for their
forthcoming when they shall be called for, but for their
good behaviour also in the mean season. Of all which our
resolutions, we require all persons to take notice, and to
comfort themselves with full assurance, that they shall find
the effects at all times of our promises in all things
tending to the weal of our people.
Given at Wilton the fourth day of December, in the first
year of our reign of England, France, and Ireland, and of
Scotland the 37th.
Accordingly, in the year 1606, the Grames were sent into
Ireland, and the sum of 408l. 19s. 9d.
was raised in Cumberland and Westmorland for their
transplantation, which, however, Sir Ralph Sidley executed
for L.300, August 30th 1606.
In less than twelve months the most of them got back again.
Mr Bell gives account of the expences of carrying them the
second time, their names and sum given to each, &c.
dated the 30th August 1607. They got back again, and were
transplanted the third time, which was 11th September 1607;
so it does not appear that they were
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