The Battle of Melrose, also known as the Battle of Darnick, was a Scottish clan battle fought on 29 July 1526. It arose from the refusal of Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus, to relinquish guardianship of the young King James V of Scotland. Angus had agreed to a rotating arrangement amongst the four members of the Council of Regency, but when the Earl of Arran's turn came, Angus declined to hand the king over. James V himself sent word to Sir Walter Scott of Branxholme and Buccleuch requesting a rescue attempt, and Scott assembled a large force of Border Reivers, reportedly as many as 1,000 men, who descended Eildon Hill to intercept the royal party at Melrose as it was being escorted towards Edinburgh.
Angus's force, composed mainly of Kerrs, stood its ground when Scott's men charged. Both sides held firm initially, but the arrival of a reinforcement of 80 Kerrs under the Lord Hume proved decisive. These fresh troops struck the wing of Scott's force, causing the Scotts and Eliotts to fall back and then flee. During the subsequent pursuit, Andrew Kerr of Cessford was killed by one of the Eliotts. Scott lost approximately 80 men and Angus around 100, yet Angus retained possession of the king and won the battle. James V spent the night following the engagement at Darnick Tower before proceeding to Edinburgh the next day.
The aftermath of the battle left a lasting mark on the Scottish Borders. The death of Andrew Kerr, Laird of Cessford, ignited a deadly feud between the Kerr and Scott families that endured for many years. Efforts to free James V from Angus did not cease, and on 4 September 1526 anti-Douglas forces made another attempt at the Battle of Linlithgow Bridge.
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
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