The Project Gutenberg EBook of Border Raids and Reivers, by Robert Borland

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Title: Border Raids and Reivers

Author: Robert Borland

Release Date: April 16, 2010 [EBook #32005]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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BORDER RAIDS AND REIVERS.

BORDER RAIDS
AND
REIVERS

BY
ROBERT BORLAND

_MINISTER OF YARROW_

DALBEATTIE: THOMAS FRASER.
MDCCCXCVIII.

PRINTED AT THE COURIER AND HERALD OFFICES,
DUMFRIES,
FOR
THOMAS FRASER, DALBEATTIE.

CONTENTS.

PREFACE xv.

I.

THE AULD ENEMY.
PAGE.

Extent of Border reiving--Plunder and reprisal--All classes
implicated--Double dose of original sin--Victims of an evil
fate--Invasions--Threatened annexation of Scotland--Edward's
twofold policy--Sacking of Berwick--Feeling of
hostility produced--Edward visits Scone and carries off
Scottish Sceptre and Crown--Douglas and Edward Bruce--
Borderers animated by a spirit of revenge 1-14

II.

PERCY'S PENNON.

Battle of Otterburn--Chief combatants--How the encounter was
brought about--Destruction of the Abbeys--Meeting of the
Scots at Aberdeen--Scottish army assembles at Yetholm--
Method of attack determined upon--Earl Douglas marches
through Northumberland--Ravages Durham--Returns to
Newcastle--Hotspur and Douglas--Otterburn--Preparations for
battle--The English assault--The Douglas slain--Hotspur
taken prisoner--Humanity of Borderers 15-32

III.

POOR AND LAWLESS.

Condition of Scotland--Ancient monasteries--Description of
country by AEneas Sylvius--Ignorance of the people--Laws
cannot be enforced--The Barons supreme--Law against
harbouring thieves--Every man's hand against his neighbour--
Pledges demanded--Banished north of the Forth--Scottish
Bordere