Johnstone's account is of the long-established families of the Dumfriesshire region of Scotland and, secondarily, of the so-called "Border Wars" which were waged from the twelfth century between the dominant Scottish families of South Dumfriesshire and the English in North Cumberland. Our reprint is from the important second edition, which contains an expanded chapter on the Border Wars. The author interweaves the stormy saga of Scottish-English wars, invasions, and intrigues with the fortunes and descents of the following principal families of the region: Armstrong, Baliol, Bell, Boswell, Bruce, Carlile/Carlyle, Carruthers, Clark, Corry, Crichton, Cummings, Douglas, Dunwiddie, Fergusson, Fleming, Gladstone, Gordon, Graham(e), Irving, Jardine, Johnstone, Kennedy, Kerr, Kirkpatrick, Laird, Maitland, Maxwell, Murray, Scott, Sharp, Stuart/Stewart, Trumble, and Wallace.

Its mysterious symbols and rituals had been used in secret for centuries before Freemasonry revealed itself in 1717. But where had this powerful organization come from and why had Freemasonry been attacked by the Roman Catholic Church? Robinson answers those questions and more.