When the Captain
reached Howpasley on Borthwick water, he would be observed by the men
of Scott of Howpasley, the Grieves, who could send a rider some six
miles to warn Branksome.
We get the same information as to the perils of the Captain's path from
the places marked on Blaeu's map of 1600-54. There are Hollhouse and
Thornythaite, Armstrong towers, and the active John Armstrong of
Langholm can come at a summons.
It seems to be a great error to suppose that the route chosen for the
Captain by Colonel Elliot could lead him into anything better than a
death-trap. I must insist that it would have been madness for a
Captain of Bewcastle to ride far through Armstrong country, deep into
Buccleuch's country, and return on another line through Scott, and near
Elliot, and through Armstrong country--and all for no purpose but to
steal ten cows in remote Selkirkshire!
Here I may save the reader trouble, by omitting a great mass of detail
as to the deplorable condition of Bewcastle itself in 1580-96. Sir
Simon, the Captain, declares himself old and weary.
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