Reivers - Jamie Telfer of the Fair Dodhead
A Reiver in Despair at Theft of his Cattle Gets Help from the Clans
May 31, 2009
English Reivers RaidBewcastle lies just south of the English Scottish Border. The remains of a once formidable castle still stand as a stark reminder that once this was a dangerous place to live. The Bewcastle Waste was a hunting ground of the Scottish Border Reivers and a direct route for them to raid Northumberland. The castle was well garrisoned to hold the Scots in check.
Late in the sixteenth century the Captain of Bewcastle ventured forth to teach the Scots a lesson. Reprisal was on his mind as he sought to counter the many inroads into England of the Border Scots clans.
A Reiver's Stronghold. The Fair Dodhead
High in Ettrickdale, a lovely Border valley, once stood the home of Jamie Telfer. Here he lived with his wife and bairns in a somewhat isolated location. The family had little in the way of possessions, and like many another Borderer of the time, life was hard. Jamie had only ten cattle and but a meagre smallholding of infertile land to provide for his basic needs.
The Captain of Bewcastle and his marauding band soon came upon the scene and, having gauged the lie of the land and the lack of neighbours, saw only easy pickings. They had soon overcome Jamie and made off with his little herd.
Jamie Seeks Help from the Reiving ClansAfter the English ofBewcastle had left Jamie ran the ten miles to Stobs Castle and sought the help of Gibby Elliot, a man of power in the neighbourhood. Elliot would have none of it because Jamie did not pay him blackmail. Blackmail was rent paid to man of power who had the strength in numbers to counteract any raid by the reiving clans. Elliot suggested that Jamie move on to Branxholme as it was to the Laird there that Jamie paid his blackmail. In despair, Jamie the ran from Stobs to Branxholme where he received a fairer reception.
Scott, the Laird of Buccleuch and Branxholme had very soon called out his neighbours at Goldielands, Harden and Allanhaugh, also by the name of Scott. Together they rode hard to intercept the English before they should reach the Rutterford, a passage across the river Liddel that led into English ground.
They soon came upon the English driving Jamie's beasts.
A Border Reiver SkirmishIn the ensuing melee a Scottish reiver named Willie was felled when his head was clove in two by an English sword. Wat Scott of Harden swore revenge and incited the Scottish party by his audacity and aggression. The Captain of Bewcastle was to come off badly when his leg was broken by a massive sword swipe into his upper thigh. This, it is said in the ballad of Jamie Telfer, rendered him 'useless' to a woman for the remainder of his days. The Scots soon retrieved Jamie's cattle.
The Scottish Reivers Move into England
A Scottish Reiver by the delightful name of Watty with the Wudspurs suggested that the Scots move on to Stanegarthside (pronounced Stingerside) on the English side of the Border and attack the Captain of Bewcastle's home there. This they duly did. After breaking down the door of the barmkin ( a wall, high and thick, which surrounded the tower), they soon outfought the English garrisoned for its defence and made away with some of the Captain's cattle.
A Reiver's Despair Turns to Delight
After leaving Branxholme Jamie had made his way home to the Fair Dodhead where he found his wife and bairns forlorn and in despair. He was taken aback by the sorrowful sight and soon joined their wailing. What would tomorrow bring, what was their future?
Imagine the relief then when the Scotts of Teviotdale soon brought home their ten beasts. The releif turned to delight when Jamie counted thirty- three kine (cows), twenty-three of which had formerly been herded at the home of the Captain of Bewcastle.
The Captain must have rued the day he ever looked at the Fair Dodhead. Loss of cattle and manhood was a poor return for a reive which had set out with such high expectations.
An AfterwordThere is more than one rendition of this story. From the 'Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border' by Sir Walter Scott to the Child Ballads and other versions whose sense is now lost. The location of the Fair Dodhead has never been conclusively proved. There is certainly more than one site with the name in the Scottish Borders. Different versions also cast a shadow over who aided Jamie. Was it the Scotts of Teviotdale or just maybe the Elliots of Stobs?
The original ballad, now lost, was certainly tinkered with down the years as the Scotts and Elliots endeavoured to prove their magnaminity. It matters little now. It is a stirring story of the days of the Reiver.
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