Battle of Melrose
Who Fought
Sir Walter Scott led up to 1,000 Border Reivers (Scotts and Eliotts); Angus commanded a force composed mainly of Kerrs, reinforced during the battle by 80 additional Kerrs under Lord Hume
History & Significance
The Battle of Melrose (also known as the Battle of Darnick) was a Scottish clan battle that took place on 29 July 1526. Walter Scott of Branxholme and Buccleuch attempted to rescue the young James V of Scotland from the powerful Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus.
Guardianship of the young James V of Scotland had been secured by Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus in what was supposed to be a three monthly arrangement whereby each of the four members of the Council of Regency would care for James. However, Angus refused to hand James over to the Earl of Arran whose turn it was next. James sent a message out to Sir Walter Scott asking him to launch a rescue attempt. The young King James, while being escorted on a journey to Edinburgh by Angus was intercepted by a large body of Border Reivers led by Sir Walter Scott at Melrose.
Angus's force mainly consisted of Kerrs and stood its ground, managing to drive off the attackers. Scott led as many as 1000 men down Eildon Hill at Melrose. Angus’s men charged and Scott’s men stood their ground also. However, the Lord Hume arrived with a reinforcement of 80 Kerrs to support Angus, they attacked the wing of Scott's force afresh, and the Scotts and Eliotts began to fall back and run. During the pursuit Andrew Kerr of Cessford was killed by one of the Eliotts. Scott lost about 80 of his men while the Earl of Angus lost about 100, but still won the battle.
The young King James stayed at Darnick Tower on the night following the battle and proceeded to Edinburgh the next day. In the aftermath of the Battle of Melrose a deadly feud raged for many years in the Scottish Borders between the Kerrs and Scotts due to the death of Andrew Kerr, Laird of Cessford at the battle. On 4 September 1526 the Battle of Linlithgow Bridge took place where once again anti-Douglas forces attempted to rescue the young King James from the Earl of Angus.
The Battle of Melrose bolb.org.uk. (Article about the Battle of Melrose on website about the later Battle of Linlithgow Bridge).
The ground they fought on
The site of Battle of Melrose lies on Hawick Group, bedrock that formed in the Wenlock. The rock here is wacke.
During the fighting at Melrose, Scott led as many as 1,000 Border Reivers down Eildon Hill to intercept the young king's party, and both sides initially held their ground; it was only the timely arrival of 80 Kerr reinforcements under the Lord Hume, attacking afresh on the wing of Scott's force, that caused the Scotts and Eliotts to break and run, and in the chaotic pursuit Andrew Kerr of Cessford was slain by one of the Eliotts, kindling a feud between the Kerrs and Scotts that would rage across the Borders for many years.
- Scott lost approximately 80 men; Angus lost approximately 100 men, including Andrew Kerr of Cessford killed during the pursuit
Frequently Asked Questions
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- Battle of Melrose · Wikipedia
- Walter Scott · Wikipedia