100 Notices concerning Oxnam Parish. By J. Hardy. 



the pretence of revenging her on her rehels and their favourers, and of 

 pi'eventing- hostile incursions into England. "While the forces of the East 

 Marches were to assemble at Wark, those of the Middle Marches were to 

 meet at " Eppergate head," 17th April, to enter Scotland in concert. " At 

 our coming to Barwike," writes Sussex of date 23rd April, " we found no 

 cawse to alter the former resolucons ; and so wrate to the L. Scrope and 

 Sir John Foster to procede according to the resolucons at Newcastell. So 

 as the xviith day, at night, we entered into Scotland at Warke, and so 

 burnte in Tivedale untill we came to Craling ; and Sir John Foster entered 

 at Eppergate, and burnte that wayes, untill he came to Craling, where we 

 met, and so went on together, and burnte alongest the River of Tiviett> 

 until we came to Jedwarth, where we lay that nyght." Lord Hundson of 

 the same date is a little more explicit : — " I should have wrytten how, apon 

 Tewsday, Sir John Foster, with his wardenry and such forcys as my L. 

 Lieut, putt too hym ; entered att the hed of Kokett, and burnt doune along 

 Oxnam water of eche hand of hym, and so met at Gedworth." On their 

 return a still more devastating visit was paid to Beaumont and Kale 

 waters. (Mrs Oliver's Hawick and the Borders, pp. 22, 25, 26). 



Letter, Nov. 12. 1573, dated Oxnam Craig, Nov. 12. " Lard of Fernherst 

 to Sir John Forster. Complains of the destruction of his woods and slaying 

 of his deer by the soldiers about Jedworth, and requests that they may be 

 removed, otherwise he shall be forced to run another course for relief." 

 (Calendar of State Papers, Scotland, i. p. 381). 



Here we have Sir Thomas Kerr dwelling in Crag-tower ; but in 1601, 

 when his son Thomas Kerr of Oxnam was slain in a town brawl on the 

 Rood Fair day, his residence was in the family mansion at Jedburgh, 

 (Jeffrey's Hist. Box. ii., p. 184, compared with Carre's Border Memories, p. 

 118) ; called in one Retour " the tower of Jedburgh within the vill of 

 Jedburgh at the cross of the same." Thomas's brother, Sir Andrew 

 afterwards Lord Jedburgh, is also designated "of Oxnam." 



That Englishmen south of the Borders had good reason to complain of the 

 thievish inhabitants of Oxnam water and their neighbours will appear from 

 the following demands for redress, of which only a selection is made from 

 " A Booke of the Losses of the Middle Marches of England by the Scotts 

 Theeves (Presented at Alnwick, 16th April 1586)." 



" Complayneth George Coxon of Bagrave, of Robert Fressell of Merton, 

 Ralfe Robson of Middleknowes, R. Hall of the Seikes, Tome Hall of 

 Fulchels, that they, with ther fellowes, did reave and carry away 12 oxen 

 and kyne, and £3 of insight from Bagranie, in April the 19th yere of her 

 Maties reygne." 



" The same and Hare Coxen of the same, of James Davison and Robert 

 Davison of Beirne Leig, William Hall of Middleknowes, Ralph Robson of 

 the same, 20 oxen. 21 Eliz." 



" Complaynes George Wales of James Davcson of the Bermei'rig, Ralfe 

 Robsone of Middlesknowes, George Douglas of Swinside called Pelman — 21 

 oxen and keye in Marche last." 



"Complaynes Markc Ogle of Kerkleye, against Hew Douglas and Tho. 



