1.2. The description of the east, west, and middle borders of Scotland, with the most notable townes and flouds thereof. The second Chapter.

The description of the east, west, and middle borders of Scotland, with the most notable townes and flouds thereof. The second Chapter.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 _THe Picts had sometimes the principall and most fer|tile part of that countrie, which now is vnder the regi|ment of the Scots, and after they had continued in the same by the space of 1171 yeares, ioined in maner in perpetuall league with the Scots, and mainteining mutuallie the warres sometimes with the Britains and Romans, and somtimes also tarring with their Scotish neighbours, at the last they fell into extreme hatred one of another, till it was brought to passe by the diuine prouidence, that the said Picts were ouerthrowne, their name extinguished, and the king|dome vnited vnto that other of the Scots for euer|more. After this time furthermore, although the Scots haue béene verie oftentimes assailed with most dangerous and terrible wars, and oftentimes inuaded by enimies from diuers regions, yet such hath beene the fauour of almightie God towards them, that still they flourish and reteine their estate inuiolate.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Whatsoeuer we haue generallie spoken of Al|bion, that is chieflie to be vnderstood of the Scots, and farre greater, especiallie among the Scots, as they call them in the high land, as people that haue lesse to doo with forreine merchants, and therefore are lesse delicate, and not so much corrupted with strange bloud and aliance. Hereby in like sort it commeth to passe, that they are more hard of con|stitution of bodie, to beare off the cold blasts, to watch better, and absteine long, whervnto also it ap|peareth that they are bold, nimble, and thereto more skilfull in the warres. As for their faith and promise, they hold it with greatest constancie, as Hector hath set downe. Towards the Almaine sea, I find, that Scotland hath the Mers, sometime the most plenti|ous region of the Picts for their march, which so long as the said people did inhabit it, was called Deera, or Dere; but after their expulsion, it was named Mers, that is to say, the marches or limits of their countrie. In processe of time also the Scots exten|ded their bounds euen vnto the Twéed, which now diuideth Northumberland from the Mers.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 On the other side of the countrie towards the west, sundrie small bournes descend from the Cheri|ot hilles, and other mounteines lieng thereabout in|to the Solue, diuiding Cumberland from Annan|dale, and so being brought into one chanell, they fall togither into the Irish ocean, & stand for the bounds of Scotland vpon that halfe of the countrie. The Cheriot hilles are in like sort taken for the middle marches of the region, which with certeine small brookes that fall from the same, doo separate both the countries, whereby their limits are knowne. The Mers hath vnder marches at seuerall places (whi|ther it is extended) as sometime the Germane sea, sometime east Louthian, sometime the Twéed, and sometime the Forth, and among manie strong holds and castels, that stand vpon the borders, is the towne and castell of Barwike in time past called Ordolucium, as the inhabitants are called Ordoluci (if Hector be not deceiued.)

Compare 1577 edition: 1 The Twéed springeth out from a meane head, and after his augmentation with other small waters that fall into the same, it descendeth with a large course into the Almaine sea. Beyond the Twéed, to the middle march vnder the Cheriot hilles lieth T [...]|uidale, that is to say, the vale of Tiffe: beyond it is Eskedale, or the vale of Eske, of a riuer so called that runneth through the same: ouer against E [...]|dale on the other side lieth Eusdale, so named of the riuer Eus that passeth thereby, and falleth into the water of Annand: but Tif and Elke doo run into the Twéed: furthermore, on the west side ouer a|gainst the Irish sea, lieth Annandale, wherevnto the Annand water giueth denomination, which mar|cheth sometimes without the bounds of N [...]sdale, where all the three riuers aforesaid, that is to say, Eus, Annand and Sulway descend togither in one bottome into the Irish seas.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 In Annandale is a loch or lake named Lochma|ben, fiue miles in length and foure in bredth, not onlie verie full of fish, but of such kind as few men are acquainted with. Beside this lake also there is a castell of the same name, builded of purpose to re|streine the furious dealing of théeues which doo great hurt in those quarters. For not onlie in Annandale, but in all the dales or vales afore rehearsed, are ma|nie strong théeues, which often spoile the countrie, and exercise much cruell slaughter vpon such as in|habit there, in anie troublous time. These robbers (because the English doo border vpon their drie mar|ches, and are their perpetuall enimies) doo often make forceable rodes into the English bounds, for their better maintenance and sustentation, or else EEBO page image 9 they pilfer priuilie from them, as men leading in the meane season a poore beggerlie and verie miserable life. In the time of peace also, they are so invred to theft and rapine, that they cannot leaue off to steale at home: and notwithstanding that they be often ve|rie sore handled therefore, yet they thinke it praise|woorthie to molest their aduersarie, as they call the truer sort, whereby it commeth to passe, that manie rich and fertile places of Scotland lie wast and void of culture for feare of their inuasion.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Not far from the Sulwaie (a water where great plentie of fish is to be had) are manie quicke-sands, and those so perilous that no man may well go ouer the same, but with great difficultie and danger of his life. This vale of A [...]and was sometime called Ordouicia, and the people thereof Ordouices, whose ancient barbarousnesse is reported to be such, that in times past they refused not to kill and eate such pri|soners as had yéelded themselues vnto them. The verie women in like sort would s [...]ea their husbands, if at anie time they fled from the field, and returned to their houses, onelie to giue occasion vnto other men to stand to their tacklings at euerie such ad|uenture. On the west borders and also toward the northlieth Niddesdale, so called of the water of Nid|de. It beginneth with a verie narrow course, and increasing broder in the middle marches of Scot|land, it finallie restreineth it selfe againe, till it com|meth at the sea, whither it runneth with a swift course, as the Scotish writers doo report. In this dale standeth a towne named Dunfrise, wherein manie fine clothes speciallie whites are made, which are brought vp and caried into England, France, Flanders, and Germanie, where they are had in great price and estimation.