The English Raids on Dumfries in 1570. 217 



3rd February, 1911. 



Chairman — Mr James Reid. 



The English Raids on Dumfries in 1570. By Mr G. W. 

 Shirley. 



The year 1570 began with an ill-omen for the peace of 

 Scotland. The Regent Moray was murdered at Linlithgow on 

 the 23rd of January. The revolt of the Catholics in the North 

 of England had recently failed in effecting the rescue of Mary 

 from the charge of Elizabeth, and the Chief conspirators, dis- 

 persing their forces at Hexham on December 16th, had fled 

 across the Scottish Border. Thomas Percy, 7th Earl of 

 Northumberland, who, in 1572, was to suffer the extreme penalty 

 for this revolt, was captured by the Regent with the aid of a 

 conveniently treacherous Armstrong. This was one of the last 

 acts of Moray and his defiance of the unwritten law of Border 

 hospitality excited widespread resentment. Charles Neville, 6th 

 Earl of Westmorland, more fortunate, was safe in the Kers' 

 Castle of Ferniehirst, and safe also was Leonard Dacre, 2nd son 

 of William Lord Dacre of Gilsland, who had fortified and held 

 Naworth Castle until February 20th, and then, foolhardily 

 having followed a retiring force under Lord Hunsdon, was 

 attacked and defeated by the latter after a stiff fight, and, accord- 

 ing to his victor, " was the first man that flew, like a tall gentle- 

 man, and, as I thinke, ne\'er looked behind him tyll he was in 

 Lyddesdale." 



From Ferniehirst, on the night after Moray's death, West- 

 morland, Sir Walter Scott of Buccleuch, Sir Thomas Ker of 

 Ferniehirst, and a force of 2000 horse dashed over the Border 

 and wrought vengeance on those who had remained loyal to the 

 English Crown. The Government in Scotland was unable to 

 deal with the offenders, and Elizabeth decided to take action and 

 reduce them to obedience. This was the immediate cause of the 

 first raid into Dumfriesshire that year. In addition to revenge, 

 however, Elizabeth had another and a greater purpose to fulfil. 

 She desired to reduce the power of the Marian lords in Scotland. 

 The Marian party was largely Catholic ; it was desirous of re- 

 storing Mary to the throne and was bitterly opposed to the late 

 Regent Moray and to the prospective Regent, Lennox. The 



