"He found only empty houses;" he
"sought a prey" in vain; he let his men straggle, and returning
homeward, with some fifteen companions, he was ambushed by the
Armstrongs near Bewcastle, was refused shelter by a Graham, was taken
prisoner, and was sent to Buccleuch at Branksome. On 15th July he came
home under a bond of 200 pounds for ransom. {106a} As every one did,
in his circumstances, the Captain made out his Bill for Damages. It
was indented on 28th April 1597. We learn that John (Armstrong) of
Langholm, Will of Kinmont (not Liddesdale men), and others, who took
him, are in the Captain's debt for "24 horses and mares, himself
prisoner, and ransomed to 200 pounds, and 16 other prisoners, and
slaughter." The charges are admitted by the accused; the Captain is to
get 400 pounds. {106b}
In my opinion this capture of the Captain of Bewcastle and others,
poetically handled, is, with other incidents, the basis of the ballad.
Colonel Elliot says that the incident "is no proof that a Captain of
Bewcastle was not also taken or killed at some other place or at some
other time.
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