BattlefieldsNetherby Hot Trod Pursuit 1563
Tudor

Netherby Hot Trod Pursuit 1563

1563
Cumberland, England
Era
Tudor
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Cumberland, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Forces
Not recorded in historical accounts
Forces
Scottish reivers
VS
Victor
Not recorded in historical accounts
Forces
English pursuers c.20-50 riders
Outcome
Hot Trod pursued into Scottish territory; some stolen cattle recovered; Scottish reivers dispersed into Liddesdale; formal complaint of breach of Hot Trod lodged when Scottish borderers interfered with the pursuing party.
The Battle

History & Significance

The Hot Trod — the legal right of English borderers to pursue raiders back into Scotland within six days of a theft, carrying a burning turf on a lance as symbol of legitimate pursuit — was exercised from Netherby in 1563 after a major Graham clan raid into Cumberland. The Hot Trod was one of the most important border institutions, allowing English subjects to pursue stolen goods across the international border under rules codified in the Border Laws. Netherby, on the Esk near the Scottish line, was a frequent starting point for such pursuits.

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