Reivers - Walter Scott of Harden
Known as 'Auld (Old) Wat, a Reiver Writ in Truth, Legend and Lore
Jul 19, 2009
Walter Scott of Harden was, if we are to believe the 19th century portrayals especially from his direct descendant Sir Walter Scott the great novelist and ballad writer, a larger than life character invested with a sense of humour that touched all who were known to him.Yet he was a Border Reiver of acclaim, renowned for his endless forays into England.
Auld Wat's Family
He was married to Mary Scott of Dryhope, known as the 'Flower of Yarrow' because of her great beauty. 'Auld Wat', as he was affectionately known, was no match in looks to his lovely wife. He was fat; his more than ample girth his trade-mark . This was no deterent to Mary Scott. She loved the man.
The couple had six sons and six daughters.
Blood Feud with the Scotts of GilmanscleuchFollowing a hunting party the second of Auld Wat's sons was killed by one of the Scotts of Gilmanscleuch. His other sons were all for exacting a revenge on the house of Gilmanscleuch but their father had other ideas. He imprisoned his unruly offspring wthin his own tower of Harden and rode to Edinburgh and filed a claim for possession of the lands of Gilmanscleuch in compensation for the loss of his son. He was successful. On his return to Harden he released his other sons and pacified them with the words: 'To horse lads, and let us take possession. The lands of Gilmanscleuch are well worth a dead son.'
In the lands of the English Scottish Border, in the reiving times, death was commonplace. Men died daily in the relentless feuding. Callous it might seem, but Auld Wat was determined to make the best of a traumatic event in his family life.
Reiver Raid on Bellingham, Tynedale, Northumberland
In 1597, Lord Eure, Warden of the English Middle March wrote to William Cecil, Lord Burghley and first minister of Elizabeth 1, queen of England, complaining bitterly of a raid by Auld Wat.
Acoording to Eure, 'they brake a day foray (raid) beneathe Bellinghame, spoiled the townesmen in Bellinghame, and brake the crosse (Market Cross).' They had gone 'up the water driving before them thre (three) or fower (four) hundredth beastes at the leaste.
They left behind them three dead Englishmen and one 'wounded almost to deathe.'
Despite opposition from Eure and four hundred horse from Hexham, the stolen beasts were brought home to the valley of the Teviot and Auld Wat's home at Harden.
There were other raids into Cumberland for which he is well known. In June and August 1596 hundreds of beasts were stolen and many men left for dead.
The Reiver has a Sense of Humour
Auld Wat is always portrayed as a man of gigantic proportions. The similarity with Shakespeare's Falstaff often comes to mind. Like Falstaff he had a wicked sense of humour.
Once passing a haystack he is reputed to have said: 'By my saul (soul), had ye but fower (four) legs, ye shouldna stand lang (long) there.
On another occasion he heard a chance remark from one of his herds (shepherds) who happened to say that the larder was bare and only held Harden's coo (cow).
'Harden's coo', exclaimed Auld Wat. 'Is it come to that? By my faith, they'll sunne (soon) say Harden's kye (cows). Early next morning Harden Glen was full of English beef after one more of Auld Wat's raids.
Walter Scott of Harden was a character of immense stature in the 16th century Border Lands. That he had a charisma that infected all who came within his contact is beyond doubt. He also had another side to his personality. His hatred for the English was renowned and for that matter, any of the Scottish clans who dared to challenge the power of the house of Scott.
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