BattlefieldsWat Scott of Harden's Raids 1590s
Tudor

Wat Scott of Harden's Raids 1590s

1590–1599
Northumberland, England
Also known as: Scott of Harden raids · Flower of Yarrow raids
Era
Tudor
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Northumberland, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
English border settlers
Forces
English settlers/garrison c.30–60.
VS
Victor
Scott clan (reivers)
Forces
Scott reivers c.80–150
Outcome
Wat Scott of Harden conducted systematic cattle-reiving from Northumberland and Cumberland; hundreds of cattle taken annually
The Battle

History & Significance

Walter Scott of Harden, ancestor of Sir Walter Scott the novelist, was one of the most celebrated reivers of the late sixteenth century. His raids into England were both economically significant and romantically embellished in later tradition. His wife, 'the Flower of Yarrow', allegedly served him a dish with a pair of spurs as the beef ran out — a hint to go raiding again. The reiver culture Scott embodied was the last flowering of medieval border lawlessness before James VI's pacification after 1603.

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