Border Raids and Reivers: the Troubled Anglo-Scottish Borderlands During the 13th to 16th Centuries

Blood and fire on the wild borderland

During the Middle Ages the Kingdoms of England and Scotland were frequently at war and even in times of peace the relationship between the two nations was an uneasy one rife with understandable antipathy. It was inevitable that it would be along the borderline, in the furthest North of England and most southern Scotland, where old enemies faced each other with little to divide them that the peace would be most fragile and often broken. This was a wild country controlled by powerful families on both sides of national lines that bred a hard people equal to its demands. This was the country of the blood feud, the lightning raid and the flame and blade in the night. The Reivers-reckoned to be the finest light cavalry of their day led by daring captains expert in their trade- raided in pursuit of property, cattle, vengeance and were often less than particular who-or what nationality- their victims were particularly if they were unprotected by powerful allies or lacked the security of a stout stone Peel tower. This is an in depth and serious history of these troubled times which lasted until the end of the 16th century and an essential reference source for the subject. Available in soft cover and hard back with dust jacket.