Continued entries/extra info

Site of Battle continued:-

"Lord Johnstone with a few friends, went to Nithsdale and brought away a horse belonging to Crichton of Sanquhar; but Crichton, with some friends, pursued and took Johnstone prisoner and hanged him on a tree, which happened to be near the place where he was taken. Along with the Laird of Wamphray was a nephew of his, called William Johnstone, but more commonly styles Willie of Kirkhill, from the place where he dwelt. This Willie of Kirkhill escaped from the Crichtons, got home to Wamphray, and vowing revenge for his Uncle's death, raised a powerful band of Johnstones, and again going over to Nithsdale, swept the country of cattle for a long way, driving all before them that they could find; on which Crichton of Sanquhar and Douglas of Drumlanrig, raising what followers they could muster, came up with the Johnstones at a place called the Biddes-burn* (a rivulet which takes its course among the mountains on the confines of Nithsdale and Annandale) where a desperate battle took place, in which the Nith men were completely defeated, and the Johnstones carried off the spoil." Minstrelry of the Scottish Borders.

"And thro' the Crichtons Willie he ran,
And dang them down both horse and man;
O but the Johnstones were wond'rous rude,
When the Biddes-burn ran three days blood.

As they came in at Evan-head
At Rackshaw-holm they spread Abreast,
Drive on my lads it will be late,
We'll have a pint at Wamphray gate."- Minstrelry of the Scottish Border.

*Biddes-burn - this may be accounted for by the provincialism, the people here pronounce "Bidhouse" as if it were written Biddes.