Much alarm was excited, lest the marchers should intercept these
weighty protestant arguments; and it was, probably, by voluntarily
imparting a share in them to Lord Home, that he became a sudden
convert to the new faith[20].
[Footnote 20: This nobleman had, shortly before, threatened to spoil
the English east march; "but," says the Duke of Norfolk, "we have
provided such sauce for him, that I think he will not deal in such
matter; but, if he do fire but one hay-goff, he shall not go to Home
again without torch-light, and, peradventure, may find a lanthorn at
his own house."]
Upon the arrival of the ill-fated Mary in her native country, she
found the borders in a state of great disorder. The exertions of her
natural brother (afterwards the famous regent, Murray) were necessary
to restore some degree of tranquillity. He marched to Jedburgh,
executed twenty or thirty of the transgressors, burned many houses,
and brought a number of prisoners to Edinburgh. The chieftains of the
principal clans were also obliged to grant pledges for their future
obedience. A noted convention (for the particulars of which, see
_Border Laws_, p. 84.) adopted various regulations, which were
attended with great advantage to the marches[21].
[Footnote 21: The commissioners on the English side were, the elder
Lord Scroope of Bolton, Sir John Foster, Sir Thomas Gargrave, and Dr.
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