432 Mr Tate on Harhottle Castle. 



Shealing. Each household pays two-pence for this Summer- 

 ing, and none above a groat, no matter how many cattle any 

 one may have ; and yet " the poor men find their farms dear 

 enough," for they escaped few years without greater loss of 

 cattle from the Scots and Redesdale men than would be paid 

 for better pastures, besides incurring danger to their own 

 lives in defence of their cattle. So great was the insecurity, 

 that no one was willing to inhabit Kidland even rent free. 

 After the month of August the people left the hills and either 

 lived in pele towers or under their protection. Within a dis- 

 ance of six miles from Harbottle there were sixteen of these 

 strong Border peles.* Living thus constantly in the midst of 

 danger and frequently engaged in strife, these men grew up 

 fierce and lawless, and as ready to attack others as to defend 

 themselves. Considering the want of cultivation, both Redes- 

 dale and Tindale were greatly overcharged with wild inhabi- 

 tants. Redesdale was the more populous, but the Tindale 

 men were more able and active ; and the two could send 

 forth fifteen hundred men on horseback and foot. " There 

 be more inhabitants than the said countries may sustain to 

 live truly upon a farm of a noble rent. There do inhabit in 

 the same place three or four households without any other 

 crafts to live truly, but either by stealing in England or Scot- 

 land." A kind of clanship prevailed ; in Tindale one half 

 bore the surname of Charlton, and the other half those of 

 Robson, Dodds, and Milburn ; in Redesdale, Hall was the 

 most prevalent name, and next to that were Read, Potts, 

 Hedley, Spoors, Dawg, and Fletcher ; and this clanship gave 

 rise to feuds and revengeful retributions, and obstructed the 

 administration of justice; so much so, that, although both 

 dales had been annexed to the county and were amenable 

 to the kings' courts, yet royal warrants frequently could not 

 be executed in them. 



From two sources misery spread over the district — from 

 Scottish raids and from the plunderings of the Tindale and 

 Redesdale men. For Border raids both Scots and English 

 ■were equally blameable. " At every full moon destructive 

 frays carried fire and sword to their homesteads. Villages, 

 castles, and manor houses were given to the flames ; border 

 hate and Border warfare recognised no distinction of age or 

 sex, or things sacred or profane. Devastations were followed 



* Pele towers were at Alwinton, Clennell, Lynn Brig, Biddleston, Barrow, 

 Scirenwood, Prendwick, two at Alnham, Great Ryle, Farnham, Low Trewitt, 

 Heppel, Thropton, Cartington, Harecleugh. 



