Walter Scott of Buccleuch, Scottish March warden, led approximately eighty horsemen in a night operation against Carlisle Castle in April 1596 to rescue the reiver William Armstrong of Kinmont — known as Kinmont Willie — who had been illegally arrested during a March truce day. Buccleuch had obtained detailed intelligence of the castle's layout and bribed or intimidated an English officer into leaving a postern gate unguarded. His party crossed the Eden, passed through the water gate, and extracted Kinmont Willie from his cell without the main garrison being alerted until they were clear of the walls. The English warden Lord Scrope was furious; Elizabeth I demanded Buccleuch's surrender. James VI refused. When Buccleuch was eventually summoned before Elizabeth, she asked how he had dared; he reportedly replied that any man of honour would have done the same. The exploit became the most celebrated Border ballad.
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