Border Reivers - A 'day Of Truce' Ends In Warfare And Death

The 'Day of Truce' brought together the clans and surnames (families) of the Border Reivers (Robbers) of two countries, Scotland and England. At best, for centuries, the two countries were at uneasy peace, at worst at all out war with each other. Members of the clans and families joined together to witness the trials of felons accused of murder and theft, be they Scots or English.

Normally the venue for the 'Truce' was at the very Border Line between England and Scotland; thus the proceedings and trials were held in the open at various places in the Marches (Territories). It was a day when both Scottish and English criminals were tried, normally by assize or jury of their peers. Normally the trials were held before a jury which consisted of six 'honest' men of England and an equal number of Scots though, it must be said, there was little chance of calling to the jury anyone who was completely unbiased as the maelstrom of feuding, theft and murder ran the whole length of the Border on both sides, Scots or English.

On the 7th July 1575 a 'Day of Truce' between England and Scotland was held at the Redeswire on the Border near present day Carter Bar on the road between Newcastle and Edinburgh. Sir John Forster, Warden of the English Middle March, presided for the English whilst his counterpart for Scotland was Sir John Carmichael, Deputy West March Warden and Keeper of Liddesdale.

The Day of Truce

As England and Scotland were often at war and the families of the Border Reivers were eternally embroiled in theft, murder and feud, it was necessary to ensure that all the high-ranking members of the Border clans and families called to witness the trials of the Border Reivers were given safe conduct whilst the process of Border Law was duly carried out. All the witnesses, be they Scots or English, swore on oath that they would honour the Border Law and not offend by 'word, deed or countenance': aggressive language, violence of any kind or even looks and expressions which might offend or incense whilst the 'Truce' lasted. Even at the termination of the trials the safe conduct or 'Assurance' still held until the following dawn so that all who had partaken in the 'Truce' could make their way back home in safety.

The Raid of the Redeswire

So it should have been at the Redeswire. All who were in attendance should have been safe even though the English and Scots viewed each other with suspicion and aggression. History had shown that it took just a chance remark or a little goading for the two contingents to end up at each others' throats. Such an outcome was rare indeed even though men who had long been at feud were in touching distance.

The 'Day' went with little trouble until Sir John Carmichael, for the Scots, called Sir John Forster to produce a particularly nefarious member of the English Border Reivers by the name of Robson of Farnstein (Falstone). Forster, the English Middle March Warden answered that he had been unable to apprehend the notorious reiver and that he had gone to ground he knew not where. It was the norm for thieves or murderers to be spirited away by confederates in crime at the first hint that the Law was on their tails. Carmichael, well aware of the wily ways of Forster and his renown for double-dealing, loudly called him a liar and a dishonour to his position. Forster replied with some vociferous remarks about Carmichael's inexperience in Border affairs based on the fact that he was only Deputy Warden, and resorted to some cutting remarks which questioned the legality of his parentage. Say no more!

Within seconds, following a violent response of invective from Carmichael, the English, prompted by the Fenwicks, loosed a flight of arrows at the Scottish contingent and hand to hand fighting quickly ensued. In the melee the English soon gained the upper-hand and drove the Scots down the hill. Sir John Carmichael was unhorsed and bound and it seemed that an English rout of the Scots would be the end result. But the English Reivers, true to form, became distracted by the wares for sale on the market stalls that appeared at every Truce Day and left off pursuing the Scots in their desire to steal the 'insight': the household goods on display. It was to be their undoing.

The Men of Jedburgh Arrive Late at the 'Day of Truce'

A contingent of the men of Jedburgh, late for the 'Truce' and led by the Rutherfords arrived as the English started to rob the market stalls, and immediately joined the fray. The tables were turned, the English pushed back and Sir John Heron of Chipchase and twenty-four others were killed in the Scottish onslaught.

Sir John Forster and other notable English lords including Sir John Ogle, Sir Cuthbert Collingwood and Sir Francis Russell were conveyed to Edinburgh by Carmichael much to the Scottish Regent Morton's embarrassment (he sought amity with the English) and the fury of Elizabeth 1 of England. Her anger was diffused, however, when Carmichael of the Scots was taken to York and detained for weeks before his explanation of the fracas was accepted.

Last Confrontation

The Raid of the Redeswire was the last time that English and Scots took up arms against each other prior to the Union of the two crowns in 1603, and , incidentally, the swansong of the longbow as it was never used again by the English. The matter could have had more disastrous consequences for the uneasy relationships that existed between the two countries.

As was their wont the Border Reivers saw only humour in the affair. In the fullness of time they sent a pair of falcons to Sir John Forster. They reckoned they were a worthy recompense for one dead 'Heron'.