The Steel Bonnets: The Story of the Anglo-Scottish Border Reivers
From the thirteenth to the sixteenth centuries, outlaws and "border lords" reigned supreme on the contentious frontier between England and Scotland. Feud and terror, raid and reprisal, were the ordinary stuff of life-and a way of survival. Power was held by the notorious border reivers: clan-loyal raiders, freebooters, plunderers, and rustlers who robbed, murdered, and wreaked havoc. These "steel bonnets" (named for their helmets), both fierce and fanciful, were the last opponents of the rule...
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"A splendid book, both scholarly and readable, accurate and alive. Mr.Fraser has hitherto been known as a novelist. This is a book any historian can envy."—Hugh Trevor-Roper Independent Fife has an infectious enthusiasm for the Tour and it shows in every sentence... A difficult book to put down.
AcknowledgementsIntroduction: The Border Reivers1Pt. 1The Making of a Frontier11IHadrian draws the lineIIThe moving boundariesIIIEngland v. Scotland, 1280-1500Pt. 2People of the Marches31IVBorder countryV"A martial kind of men"VIFood and shelterVIIThe riding surnamesVIIIHands across the BorderIXBangtail and companyXThe game and the songPt. 3"Shake Loose the Border"83XILance and steel bonnetXIIHow the reivers rodeXIIINothing too hot or too heavyXIVA parcel of rogues (William Armstrong of Kinmont, Walter Scott of Harden, Geordie Burn)XVCarleton's raidXVIHot trod and red handXVIIThe ability to killXVIIIThe Wardens of the MarchesXIXLeges MarchiarumXXDays of truceXXIThe unblessed hand (Maxwells v. Johnstones, Grahams v. Irvines, Kerrs v. Scotts, Scotts v. Elliots, Selbys v. Grays)XXIITerror, blackmail, kidnapping and "decaie"XXIII"Fyre and sword upon Tuesday next"Pt. 4The Long Good-Night, 1503-1603211XXIVFlodden and after. Biographical note on Thomas DacreXXVThe Devil, and Lord AngusXXVIArmstrongs in actionXXVIIA rope for Black JockXXVIIIThe violent peaceXXIXThe road to Solway Moss. Note on the prisoners of Solway MossXXXThe rough wooingXXIWharton and MaxwellXXXIIEngland's grip brokenXXXIIIThe Debateable LandXXXIVThe women's touchXXXVQueen on the MarchesXXXVIThe Countess and the reiversXXXVIIThe last armiesXXXVIIIReidswire and WindygyleXXXIXThe stirring world of Robert CareyXL"Fyrebrande"XLILances to CarlisleXLIIThe Carleton BrothersPt. 5The Middle Shires355XLIIICarey's rideXLIVBreaking the BorderXLVMalefactors of the name of GrahamXLVIThe thieves dauntonedXLVIIAfter the ridingAppendix I: The Archbishop's Curse382Appendix II: The ballad of Kinmont Willie386Bibliography392Glossary395Index396
\ Hugh Trevor-RoperA splendid book, both scholarly and readable, accurate and alive...This is a book which any historian can envy.\ \ \ \ \ IndependentFife has an infectious enthusiasm for the Tour and it shows in every sentence... A difficult book to put down.\ \
