A new book uncovers the grim history of the Border Reivers in the 17th century.
Jon Tait's Raiders along the Anglo-Scottish Border – A history of those Pacified by King James, set to be released by Pen and Sword, dives into the violent past of the region.
Following the union of Scotland and England's crowns under King James VI in 1603, border reivers—known for theft, kidnapping, and feuds—faced severe repercussions.
The king employed 10 commissioners to bring offenders to justice, leading to a purge from 1605 to 1609, though it persisted for years.
The book details the trials of four Tynedale men and two from Redesdale, who faced the Scottish commissioners in April 1605.
While some, like Christopher and Robert 'Hob' Dodd, were acquitted, others were less fortunate.
Gregory Wallace was executed for stealing sheep and a goat from the Rutherford family.
Archibald 'Cold Archie' Milburn, after a failed prison break, was also led to the scaffold for his crimes.
The harsh justice led many reivers to become fugitives.
In the commission's first two years, at least 224 individuals from both nations faced capital punishment.
Tait’s book, which is set to be released in February, is available to pre-order on Amazon now.
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