The Steel Bonnets. George Fraser MacDonald

       George MacDonald Fraser

      THE STEEL BONNETS

       The Story of the Anglo-Scottish Border Reivers

      “If Jesus Christ were emongest

       them, they would deceave him, if he woulde heere, trust and followe theire wicked councells!”

       RICHARD FENWICK 1597

       COPYRIGHT

      HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge, London SE1 9GF

      www.harpercollins.co.uk

      Previously published in trade paperback by Harvill 1989

       Reprinted five times

      First published by Harvill 1986

       First published in Great Britain by Barrie &Jenkins 1971

      Copyright © George MacDonald Fraser 1971

      The Author asserts the moral right to

       be identified as the author of this work

      A catalogue record for this book is

       available from the British Library

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      Ebook Edition © JUNE 2012 ISBN 9780007474288

       Version: 2018-01-16

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       DEDICATION

      In memory of

       Corporal IKE BLAKELEY of the Border Regiment, killed by a Japanese sniper at Kinde Wood, Central Burma, 1945, and for BOB GRAHAM and SLIM IRVINE wounded in the same action.

       MAPS

      The Border Clans

      CONTENTS

       Cover

       Title Page

Dedication

Maps

Introduction: The Border Reivers

Part One: THE MAKING OF A FRONTIER

I: Hadrian draws the line

II: The moving boundaries

III: England v. Scotland, 1286–1500

Part Two: PEOPLE OF THE MARCHES

IV: Border country

V: “A martial kind of men”

VI: Food and shelter

VII: The riding surnames

VIII: Hands across the Border

IX: Bangtail and company

X: The game and the song

Part Three: “SHAKE LOOSE THE BORDER”

XI: Lance and steel bonnet

XII: How the reivers rode

XIII: Nothing too hot or too heavy

XIV: A parcel of rogues (William Armstrong of Kinmont, Walter Scott of Harden, Geordie Burn)

       XV: Carleton’s raid

       XVI: Hot trod and red hand

       XVII: The ability to kill

       XVIII: The Wardens of the Marches

       XIX: Leges Marchiarum

       XX: Days of truce

       XXI: The unblessed hand (Maxwells v. Johnstones, Grahams v. Irvines, Kerrs v. Scotts, Scotts v. Elliots, Selbys v. Grays)

       XXII: Terror, blackmail, kidnapping and “decaie”

      XXIII: “Fyre and sword upon Tuesday next”

       Part Four: THE LONG GOOD-NIGHT, 1503–1603