The Border Reivers
No history of the Border region of Scotland and England would be complete without mention of the Border Reivers and their 300 year history. With names like Armstrong, Robson, Graham, Dodd....men crossed the border to steal cattle and sheep, burn farmsteads and kidnap or murder.
The word "blackmeale" was coined during the Border War period.
From "The Calendar of Border Papers", edited by Joseph Bain
July 1583 "The Names on the Marches"
"A note of the gentlemen and surnames in the Marches of England and Scottland.
East Marches. -- England; gentlemen. -- Forsters, Selbies, Graies, Strowders, Swiners, Mustians. Surnames. -- Johnsons, Vardes, Ourdes, Wallisses, Stories, Armestronges, Dunnes, Flukes. Scotland; gentlemen. -- Humes, Trotters, Bromfeilds, Dixons, Craws, Crinstons.
West Marches. -- England; gentlemen. -- Musgraves, Loders, Curwenes, Sawfelde. Surnames. -- Greames, Rutlitches, Armestrongs, Fosters, Nixons, Tailors, Stories. Scottland; Maxwells, Johnsons, Urwins, Grames, Bells, Carlills, Battison, Litles, Carrudders.
Middle Marches. -- England; gentlemen. -- Ogeles, Fenickes, Hernes, Withringtons, Medfords, Shafters, Ridleis, Carnabies. Surnames; Ridesdale. -- Halls, Hedleys, Andersons, Potts, Reades, Dunnes, Milburnes. Tindale. -- Charletons, Dodds, Milbornes, Robsons, Yaroes, Stapletons. Scottland; gentlemen; East Tividale. -- Carrs, Yongs, Pringles, Burnes, Davisons, Gillcries, Tattes. Lidesdale. -- Rudderfords, Carrs, Dowglasses, Trombles, S(c)ottes, Piles, Robsons, Halls, Olivers, Ladlers, Armestrongs, Elwoods, Nixons, Crosers, Turners, Fosters." No date or signature.
March 15 1588 Hunsdon to Burghley
"I came to thys towne Munday nyght beynge the 11 day, to kepe a warden cowrte for bothe the marchys, wher I have hade a grete apparance; and accordynge too sum of my formar lettars, bothe Wyllyam Rydley of Wyllymaus weeke, and Renolde Herron, refusynge too stande too theyr tryall for marche treason, hathe submyttyd themselves too hyr Majestis marcy. Rydleyse seconde brother ys fledd, and too more of the Rydleyse. Yett ome more ys also condemnyd nott only for the burnynge of Hawden bryges, but for uther dyspleasures dun too gentylmen yn thys cuntrey, by bryngyng yn of Skotes. Yt was lyttell thowght that I wolde a delte with suche men, or cowlde a gotten any matter agenste them. But I dowght nott but thys marche wylbe the quyetar thys seven yere. For horssellyng I have condemde sundry, and yf I wolde a delte so hardly with Syr Cutberde Collyngwoode as he and uthers have delte with the Selbeys, I cowlde a browght bothe hys lyfe and landes yntoo hyr Majestis handes, for sellynge of horsys yntoo Skotlande; but yt wolde a byn thowght I hade dune yt for revenge. The last weke sum Skotes havynge stollen a nagg and two or thre kowse, yn rerunynge home, mett with the post boay of Morpett by chause, and tooke away hys horse and pakkett, which pakkett was bowght me owt of Tyvydall at my fyrst cummyng hyther, as I satt at supper. The pakket was opende and one of my wyves, and made up agayne, but never a letter yn them opende.
Apon Fryday last I recevyd a letter from thys Kynge, of grete thankes for the letter I sent hym, and wrott too me that the Weddensday folloynge he wolde sende a specyall gentlyman untoo me with anser of my letter. Apon Weddensday I recevyd a letter from Carmyghell, that accordynge too the kynges promes, the Kynge had sent hym untoo me, and that hearynge of my beynge cum hether, he stayde at Hewtun halle. Yf I dyd nott returne too Barwyke, he wolde cume hyther too me, -- yf I dyd returne, he wolde stay there my returne. Too whome I retunde anser that I wold be there thys nyght -- and so now havyng endyd thys warden cowrte, I am returnynge too Barwyke." Alnwick. Signed: H. Hunsdon
Sep 1595 "Report on the Middle March"
Reasons for some to be sent to see disorders redressed or another warden appointed.
There has been no redress for any outrage by the Scots this 6 or 7 years "but wans gon and ay gon, never to be recalid."
The chief of the country, all but three or four, are driven to pay "blakemæl" for himself and friends to some Scots thief to save him from the rest.
The poor and those unable to pay "tribut to thos caterpilers," are daily ridden upon and spoiled.
The meaner sort cannot keep home and furniture for service - - the better sort are "so patisht with riders," that they take no care to defend the country, and each man oversees his neighbor's "wrake," so he escapes hurt himself. The Middle March hitherto counted stronger than the other two together in horse and foot, is now weaker in strength and faint in heart, and unless redress come before winter, "the cuntrey will growe wild, and the Scots will be alletogether our masters." There are at least 10,000 Scots sheep fed within England, winter and summer, besides numbers of cattle, and any man who disturbs them is sure to be delivered by our warden. And the Scots already claim and enjoy 3 or 4 "meilse" of English ground, and will encroach further if suffered. The men of account (except 3 or 4 as above) have Scotsmen dwelling in their houses, who are chief guides for the spoil of the poor.
"Tristing" between Scots and English, which is March treason "by the establishement," is as common without the warden's leave, as our men meeting in the markets. "I am sorry that I must be forst to lay the falt where it is, but my conciens is chargid to see my cuntrey so ruind and not dooe my best to see it redrest. This cuntry had gret neede of suche a warden as is able to take paynes, and will see wronges redrest, which Sir John Forster by no means is able to dooe -- for his age is within 6 of a hundrid yærs ould, his memory faylles him, he is not able to stur out of his chamber, and he hathe none that medles for him in matters of the wardenrey but a basterd sun of his owne who is his debite warden, wan that is so given over to drunkennes, that if he cannot get companey, he will sit in a chayre in his chamber and drinke him self drunke before he reise! Thes be our cheffe offisers that rules our cuntrey. I reffer it to your honners discretion whether ther be not hey teyme for redres."
If by reason of Sir John Forster's bypast good service, her Majesty be unwilling in his old age he should lose his office, yet in my poor opinion she may do a charitable deed to my poor countrymen, to send down a sufficient gentleman of worth in the cvountry to lie at Harbottell with 25 or 30 horse men during the time of Sir John Forster shall live, or that she be pleaseed to appoint another warden -- or otherwise "wo be to th'inhabitans therof, and the Queen shall lose a goodly cuntrey not to be recoverid to his former strenthe in a longe teyme agayne. Thus muche I thaought it not a mis to let your honor understand, be mænes to releve our miserable afflictid cuntrey, and the prayers of the poore will help you to Heven." not signed.
2 pp. In Sir Robert Carey's hand. Indorsed by Burghley: "7ber 1595. A relation of the state of the wardenry under Sir John Foster."
1598
"The Fray of Hautwessel", the attack of the Armstrongs on Haltwhistle.
May 13 1599 Reports of a Fray in Bewcastle
Upon Sunday 13th May Mr Rydley and his friends hearing that certain Scotsmen to the number of 12 were to come to a tryst in the West March of England, he having had friends "murdered downe bye the sayd Scotes men," took his friends and men with him to the number of 40, and thought to apprehend them on English ground. But the Scots having intelligence of his design, came 200 strong and more, 3 or 4 miles into England, "and ther did most crewelly murder Mr William Rydley of Willimontswyk, with two other of his frendes, and wounding John Whitfeild hir Majestes officer soe grevously, which we think it is unpossable he should leave : and did tayk to the nomber of xxvj men and xxxij horsses, with all ther spoyle and furniter. And we whose names ar underwriten, being of the feld, will wittnes this to be a troth, as is her sartified."
Signed: John Whitfeild, Frauncis Whitfeild, * James Rydlie of the Waltoune, Uswalde Rydlie of the same, Hew Rydlie of Plenmeller, Nicholas Rydley of the Hardridinge, Christofer Rydley of Unthanke, Thomas Rydley of Milbredge, John Rydley of Henshaughe, Nicholas Snawdon of Plenmeller, Marmaduke Rydley sonne the foresayde William Rydley
* The remainder sign by their marks.
May 26 1599 Henry Woodrington to Sir R. Carey.
On Tuesday last the 22nd instant the inhabitants of Hexamshire under the bailiff's office, going to fetch away their bailiff who lies wounded at Bewcastle, were surprised by the Armstrongs of Liddesdale, it is thought again betrayed -- for they lying within 2 miles of Hawtwysell in your lordship's march, suddenly broke upon them, killed one Swynburne and took 12 prisoners, showing their cruel and bloodthirsty minds in so insolent a manner, escaping so often without any "snuffle" or revenge, that the more outrages they commit, the more they are pricked forward to the like. They have almost wasted the parts of the West March bordering on them, and intend the same to yours, unless prevented and requited "lyke with lyke." I have sent to Bucclughe, but he is not at his own house: when his answer comes I will send it. It seems the Armstrongs and Ellottes have combined to do as they please, refusing to be ruled by him: and it is certain that Cesford has given the Tyvydale thieves and riders "lowse reynes" on your March. The Liddesdale men at these slaughters are brethren and nearest kin to the Liddesdale pledges in York: it were good you aquaint her Majesty and Council thereof, and urge the extremest and hardest course may be taken against them. I beseech you to remember your speeches and mine concerning Rotherfurth, and I can but say as before, that unless some revenge be taken, it is very hard to keep this March in safety. You remember the last service done on these outlaws and how hard it is to effect the like, they have such "favorytes and bearers"; some for fear of revenge, others for their own safety. "He that wrought the purpose (for his offences before comytted) ys and willbe so mightyly pursued, that onelesse he have her Majestyes most gratyous generall pardon, or a lease of his lyfe, he can not any wayes be in safety." I beseech you to effect the same, and I will defray the charges, whatever they be. Bothall. Signed: Henry Widdrington