As you know, there were but three exceptions named;
namely Adam Warden, William Baird, and Adam French, whom the Scotch
Commissioners bound themselves to arrest, and to hand over to the
English Commissioners, to be tried as being notorious truce breakers,
doing infinite mischief to the dwellers on the English side of the
border. And yet nothing has come of it, and these men still continue to
make their raids, without check or hindrance, either by the Earl of
March or Douglas."
"There are faults on both sides, wife," her husband said.
"I do not deny it, gudeman; but I have often heard you say these three
men are the pests of the border; and that, were it not for them, things
might go on reasonably enough, for no one counts a few head of cattle
lifted, now and again. It is bad enough that, every two or three years,
armies should march across the border, one way or the other; but surely
we might live peaceably, between times. Did not I nearly lose you at
Otterburn, and had you laid up on my hands, for well-nigh six months?"
"Ay, that was a sore day, for both sides."
"Will you tell me about it, Uncle?" Oswald asked. "My father cares not
much to talk of it; and though I know that he fought there, he has
never told me the story of the battle.
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