Border Reivers - Wardens of the English Scottish Marches

Border Reivers - Wardens of the English Scottish Marches

The Border Line between England and Scotland encompasses some 120 miles, from the Solway Firth in the west to the confluence of the river Tweed and the North Sea in the east.In medieval times the Border Line was not the accepted and established line that is known today but rather a frontier that was hotly contested by warring kings whose appetite for territory could only be sated through the power of the sword. 'Might' was 'right'; the struggle for control of the land and its people, relentless. The very presence of the Border Line as the dividing line between two countries created hostility among the people who lived on each side of it. The Border folk followed a more ancient line where allegiance to the clan superceded the law of either of the countries. They had little or no respect for national authority or monarchy.In 1237 at the Treaty of York, the Border Line was agreed between the Scottish king, Malcolm ll and his English counterpart, Henry lll of England. Agreement and formulation between kings meant little to the Border people on both sides of the Line. Argument and aggression carried on, unabated. Acceptance of the new order disregarded. By 1249 the Border Laws had been formulated and a system of law enforcement had been instituted.Following the implementation of the Border Laws six distinct districts, three on each side of the Border Line, came into being. These were known as the East, Middle and West Marches. The Marches were controlled by persons nominated by the monarchs of the realms. He was known as the Warden of the March. His remit was onerous as his number one priority was the organisation, control and leadership of the inhabitants of his March in time of war between the two countries. He was also required to maintain law and order at all times. He needed to be chief of police, diplomat, soldier, spymaster and sound negotiator.The Scottish March Wardens.In Scotland the great warlords who controlled the local clans were invariably chosen to act as Wardens. Appointed by the Scottish monarchy, this approach was never to change before the Union of the Crowns of England and Scotland in 1603. Disharmony,even violent confrontation was often created by the appointment of March Wardens who were often at odds with their equals from neighbouring clans. Moreover, being local men, there were those with whom they had a longstanding frindship and amity, others who throughout the history of the Border families there was no affiliation. The appointment of local clan leaders did little to bring harmony and unity to a land beset with murder, theft and blackmail.In the Scottish West March the rivalry between the Maxwells and Johnstones, two notable clans, as alternatively each of their lairds held the role, resulted in a feud which would reach its zenith in the Battle of Dryfe Sands in 1593. Victory for the Johnstones was only achieved through the slaughter of almost all the Maxwells present at the battle. To this day it remains the biggest family feud in British history.The English March Wardens.Prior to the reign of Elizabeth 1, if not that of her father, Henry Vlll, a similar position existed in England. Both recognised that the feuding that existed as a result of the appointment of members of notable English Border families did little to create a harmonious working order. Such appointments were at the heart of the disorder which plagued the English Border country. They followed a different approach to the Scottish monarchy whereby the holder of the office of Warden should come from outside the Border region, either from a family of note or from the English aristocracy. The appointments might have been the product of a logical approach to Border authority but they did little to bring peace and order to the English Borders. The Border Lords resented the appointment of men from outside the locality who had little knowledge of the Border country, its way of life and its people.The Outcome. A Border Land, a frontier in turmoil! A people, clinging to the old ways, their own ways, were always ready to confront their enemies outside the law of the land; the law meant little to a people caught up in relentless feud and confrontation. All was one in the relentless murder, feud, theft and blackmail that embroiled a people who had no time for monarchy or authority, where an 'eye for an eye' a 'tooth for a tooth' was the only way to settle any score.To hell with authority and monarchy, law and legal reckoning! The Scottish English Border lands were those of the Border Reivers for centuries - the most dangerous place in Europe. Enter at one's peril. Many of the March Wardens were honourable men, others caught up in the Reiving through allegiance to some of the clans or families. It was all one in the final analysis. The Border Reivers ruled at least for a time. .

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