Reivers - The Great Raid of Tynedale

A Major Raid by the Reiver Clans of Southern Scotland

Jul 24, 2009 Thomas William Moss

The Great Raid of Tynedale was carried out by a thousand men from the Border valleys of Southern Scotland. Its aim, it can be argued, to thwart the Union of the Crowns.

In October 1593 the clans of the Scottish Border valleys answered the call to arms. They were intent on teaching the English a lesson in 'might is right'. Such a raid had never been planned before. It involved a thousand men from the valleys of the Ewes, Esk,Liddel and Annan. Men with names that had, for generations, struck fear into the hearts of any who dared to contest their lawless ways. Armstrongs of Mangerton and Morton and Elliots of Dinlabyre and Larriston joined forces with many others who smarted for a final reckoning with the clans of Tynedale, the Hunters and Milburns in particular.

The Scottish Border Reivers Attack Tynedale

A thousand strong, with pennants flying from their saddles as in time of war between England and Scotland, the Scottish Border Reivers descended on Tynedale. Their goal was the valley of the Tarset and the lands of Simonburn, now a lovely picturesque village, well-known today through the Northumberland stories of Katherine Cookson.

Simonburn in the 16th century was a fortified place, its massive pele tower housing a garrison of fifty well-armed soldiers always at call to repel any invader into the area, especially the raiders from the Scottish Marches.

On this occasion they were unaware of the massive Scottish horde who stole into the area from Stonehaugh.

The Raid on Tarsetdale

The Scottish Reivers soon overcame any opposition from the inhabitants of the Gatehouses, fortified bastle houses which stood sentinel to the entrance to the valley of the Tarset. Within a very short time they were engaged with a particularly vicious crew who inhabited the fortified houses of the Redheughe, the Bog Head, the Starr Head, the Water Head, the High Field, the Black Middens and the Kyme. These were the Hunters and Milburns, men renowned for the fighting prowess, their aggression and zealous guardianship of their homelands.

Against the massive numbers from the Scottish valleys they were put to flight but not before they had contested every inch of ground.

The Outcome of the Scottish Reive

The Scottish Reivers, led by William Ellot (Elliot) of Dinlabyre, together with the Laird of Mangerton, an Armstrong) and William Armstrong called Kinmott (Kinmont) drove off 'nine hundred score and five (1005) head of nolte (cows), 1000 sheep and goats, twenty-four horses and mares, burned an onset and mill and carried away £300 of insight gear (household goods and farming implements).

The rape of Tynedale, including Tarset was complete.

The Scottish Reivers, though harassed on their way back to the Scottish valleys, repelled every attack and brought the proceeds of the reive safely home.

The Aftermath

Even though the principals of the Great Raid on Tynedale were taken before the King of Scotland, James V1, and were admonished for their massed attack on the English at a time when he desired to promote a harmonious relationship with his English counterpart, Elizabeth 1, no action was taken against them.

English authority was incensed at the response of the Scottish king. The Forsters,Middle March Wardens for England, were to have a personal interview with the King but to no avail.

The Aim of the Reivers

It seemed as if the Scottish Reivers, unusually massive in their number, invited reprisal for their raid on Tynedale and desired a large scale confrontation. There is a hint within their action that they knew their 'day' was coming to an end. It was no secret that Elizabeth 1 of England had indicated that James V1 of Scotland would succeed her on the English throne.

Were the Reivers of the Scottish valleys, in their Great Raid on Tynedale, endeavouring to promote friction between Elizabeth and James? As they moved east on that fateful day in October 1593, with pennants flying as in time of war, did their raid have a deeper significance than the stealing of beasts and the ruin of the men of Tynedale?

Union Despised by Scottish Reivers

Should the plans of the two monarchs come to pass then the Borders between the two countries would have no future meaning. Both countries would be ruled by one King. As early as 1593, ten years before James' accession to the English throne, the Scottish Reivers began to contest the issue of Union. Should James not show control of his unruly Borderers then there was a chance that Elizabeth would think twice about his ability to follow her on the throne of England.

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