Reivers – A New King Brought on the Busy Week

The Days of the Reiver Were Numbered With the Union of the Crowns

May 7, 2009 Thomas William Moss

Elizabeth l died in 1603.The Borders became embroiled in savage raiding as a result known as Busy Week. It would be the beginning of the end for the Border Reivers.

In March 1603 Elizabeth l of England died. She died childless and had named her successor to be James Vl of Scotland. Although Scottish he had the blood of the English Tudors coursing through his veins. The sister of Henry Vlll had been married to James lV.

At the death of Elizabeth, James made his royal progress from Edinburgh to London to assume the Crown of England.

The News Reached the Border Reivers

It was a belief of the Reiving clans of the Borders that in the interim before the new monarch was proclaimed the rule of law was suspended. It was more likely, however, that they saw the upheaval as a chance to 'shake loose the Border'. Thus the Reivers embarked on a campaign of ruthless raiding, burning and looting against enemies within their own country and on the opposite side of the Border Line. For the first few days after news of the death of Elizabeth the raids were of such intensity and magnitude that they became known as 'Busy Week'.

The Reivers' Raids

The Armstrongs of Liddesdale raided as far south into England as Penrith, some twenty miles south of the Border Line. Their raids were both aggressive and unsparing of anyone who tried to contest their progress as they burned and stole. They were out to make their mark against the English and rid themselves of anyone who had proved troublesome in their past. Some form of retaliation was inevitable with the result that the Border country both north and south was devastated, some people left bereft of any means of subsistence.

James Vl Reviews the Border Marches

When James assumed the Crown of England he became King of both the countries of England and Scotland. Henceforth he was to call the realm over which he presided Great Britain. It would have no frontier he decreed and called the Borders the Middle Shires. It was to signal the end of the clans of the Borders and the demise of the Border Reiver. It would, however, take almost another century before the feuding and raiding finally ceased.

Although he had initially taken the decision to forgive the depredations of his unruly Scottish Borderers during Busy Week, he was soon to exact a terrible vengeance.

End of the Border Reivers

Many of the members of the Reiving clans were hunted out of their strongholds and fastnesses in the Border valleys and summarily executed. Often no trial was necessary; a name such as Graham, Armstrong, Crozier or Irvine was enough to ensure that a man would dangle at the end of a rope or be drowned where he was apprehended.

If that were not enough, soon other plans were put in operation to rid the Borders of its people and leave their land clear for the toadies and favourites of the new king.

The Grahams, for instance, men, women and children, were transported to Ireland, to the bogs of Roscommon, where they eked out a precarious living. Many survived and became established there whilst others emigrated to the Americas and further afield. Others were soon home again and roaming the Borders much to the dismay of the Border authorities.

Others were enlisted in the British army and sent to the Low Countries but were back within their homelands in record time.

Their limitless spirit would be undiminished.

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