The Border Law. and mounted on small, but active and hardy horses, they repaired at evenfall. The laird and some superior henchmen wore also sleeves of mail and steel caps; all had long lances, swords, axes, and in later times such rude firearms as were to be had. In the mirk night the reivers crossed the Border; and to do this unseen was no easy matter. The whole line from Berwick to Carlisle was patrolled by setters and searchers, watchers and overseers, having sleuthhounds to track the offender. Many folk held lands by the tenure of cornage, and by blowing horns must warn the land of coming raids. Where the frontier line was a river the fords were carefully guarded; those held idle were staked up. Narrow passes were blocked in divers ways, so that a chief element in border craft was the knowledge of paths and passes through moorland and moss, and of nooks and coigns of security deep in the mountain glens. Our party crosses in safety and makes to one of those hidden spots, as near as may be to the scene of action. Here it rests and refreshes itself during the day, and next night it swoops down on its appointed foray. The chief quest was ever cattle which were eatable and portable. But your moss-trooper was not particular. He took everything in side and outside house and byre, and many lists of liftings are preserved whereof one notes a shroud and children's clothes. A sleuth hound was a choice prize. Thus, Scott of Harden, homing from a raid with "a bow of kye and a bassen'd (brindle) bull," passed a trim haystack. He sighed as he thought of the lack of fodder in his own glen; and "Had ye but four feet ye should not stand long there," he muttered as he hurried onwards. Not to him, not to any rider, was it given to tarry by the way; for in truth the Dalesmen were not the folk to sit down under outrage. The warder, looking from the Scots gate of Carlisle Castle, saw the red flame leaping forth into the night from burning homestead or ham
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let, and was quick to warn the countryside that a reiving expedition was afoot. Even though the prey were lifted unobserved, that only caused a few hours' delay, and soon a considerable body, carrying a lighted piece of turf on a spear, as a sign, was instant in the invader's trace. The following of the fray was called " hot-trod," and was done with hound and horn, and hue and cry. Certain privileges attached to the " hottrod." If the offender was caught redhanded he was executed, or, if thrift got the better of rage, he was held to ransom. As early as 1276 a curious case is reported from Alnwick, of a Scot attacking one Semanus, a hermit, and taking his clothes and one penny! Being presently seized, the culprit was beheaded by Semanus in person, who thus recovered his goods and took vengeance of his wrong. A later legend illustrates the more than summary justice that was done. The warden's officers having taken a body of prisoners, asked my lord his pleasure. His lordship's mind was "ta'en up wi' affairs o' the State," and he wished the whole set hanged for their un timely intrusion. Presently he was horrified to find that his imprecations had been taken as literal commands, and literally obeyed. Even if the reivers gained their own border, the law of hot-trod permitted pursuit within six days of the offense. The pursuer, how ever, must summon some reputable man of the district entered to witness his proceed ings. Nay, the inhabitants generally must assist him — at least, the law said so. But if all failed, the " Leges Marchiarum" had still elaborate provisions to meet his case. He had a shrewd guess who were his assailants. The more noted moss-men were "henspeckle folk." The very fact that so many had the same surname caused them to be distinguished by what were called " tonames," based on some physical or moral characteristic,which even to-day photographs the wearer for us. Such were Eddie Greatlegs, Jack Half-lugs, Red-neb Hob, Little
