18 Anniversary Address. 



had killed Thomas Hagart, Stichill, whose father had appealed 

 to the King in Council/^ Sir Robert Ker, who seems to liave 

 connived at their escape from his Castle of Cessford, is ordered, 

 14th June 1491, to assist the Sheriff in searching the county 

 for them, and to cite tliem to appear before the Council on 

 a fixed day. 



Stichill could not escape the ravages of the Border wars. 

 Lord Dacre writes from Carlisle Castle, ""- on 6th June 1523, 

 summoning the garrison and neighbouring inhabitants to meet 

 at Howtell Sweyre, at 4 p.m., on Wednesday, 10th June, to 

 ride into Scotland, and cast down the Tower and great Steeple 

 of Ednem, which is double vaulted, and the Castle of Stitchell, 

 betwixt Lambermore and the Merse — to burn Ednam and 

 Stitchell, the towns under Stitchell Crag, Hasington Manes, 

 Newton, Aynthorne, and others on the road, Akles and 

 Mersington. There follow the respective numbers of the men- 

 at-arms expected to be provided by each gentleman. A few 

 days later, 26th June 1523, Lord Dacre reports to Cardinal 

 Wolsey that the raid under Lord Surrey had been successf ul.^^ It 

 included 'the casting down Wederburne, Niesbit, and Blackatra 

 Castles; taking Cesfurth Castle, and casting down Loghe 

 Leynton and Whitton Towers ; and third, taking Stitchell and 

 Ednam Castles.' He " assures him that in the time of King 

 Edward and the late King, when £30,000 or £40,000 was spent 

 on one raid, there was not so much damage done as by the 

 least of these three, so that the King may think his money well 

 spent this year. Three more rodes would entirely destroy the 

 Borders." He dissuades any invasion of the Borders until 

 Michaelmas, ' when the corn is inned.' Accordingly Lord 

 Somerset advanced into Scotland in the autumn of 1523.®^ 

 Dacre writes him of the whereabouts of the enemy. His spies 

 inform him that the Duke of Albany's army lodged the night 

 before at Stichill, on their way to attack Berwick ; which is 

 confirmed by other spies on 31st October, who had seen the 

 Duke at Melrose, where he had been for three days^^ 



'^i Acta. Dominorum Concilii, p. 324. 



'*2 Letters and Papers of Henry VIII., Vol. iii., Part iv., p. 1299, 

 No. 3097. 



"^ Do. do. p. 1311, No. 3134. 



^* Do. do. p. 1447, No. 3478. 



*** Do. do, p. 1449, No. 3487. 



