Accustomed to warfare since the days of Edward I, the Border Clans had fine tuned their survival techniques. Over the centuries, only the hardiest and most alert of these people remained alive. Many had acquired an almost sixth sense when it came to foreseeing danger. They developed an early warning system. They would communicate with each other and send news of comming danger by setting fires on the hill tops and then sending mounted messengers. This was an effective in times of trouble and allowed those that lived in this area to either scatter to the hills or seek safety in the nearest castle or peel tower.
Perhaps the most notorious Elliot that had ballads written about him was Little Jock Elliot. Little Jock Elliot was a member of the same powerful border family, (the Elliots of Liddsdale) that William Elliot of Larriston was. Little Jock was the one who wounded the Earl of Bothwell, before he became Mary, Queen of Scot's husband.
Bothwell's meeting with Little Jock Elliot
In the mid 16th century, the level of violence on the Border was such that the Earl of Bothwell was dispatched with a strong force to Liddesdale to deal with the troublemakers. He arrived at Hermitage Castle about the same time as Mary arrived in Jedburgh to attend court and deal with wrongdoers. She arrived in Jedburgh 9th October 1566.
Bothwell initially met with some success. He apprehended the Armstrong lairds of Mangerton and of Whithaugh who were known to be active reivers. While searching for others he came upon one named Little Jock Elliot who was wanted for many offences. One account states that Bothwell had, at that time momentarily, become separated from his men. Eventhough, he still challenged Elliot alone and succeeded in shooting him in the leg. After wounding Elliot, Bothwell dismounted and approached Elliot thinking him completely disabled. Jock being very much alive, rose up and struck Bothwell a mighty blow with his two handed sword.
Other sources say that after Bothwell was in pursuit of Little Jock and had wounded him in the hip when his horse became bogged down. Little Jock seeing Brothwell's problem then turned his steed, rode back to Bothwell and stabbed him with his dagger or sword. And still another account claims that Brothwell knocked Little Jock off his horse then came to finish him off but found he was not quite as helpless as he thought and claim Elliot rose and struck him with his sword. Whatever the case Brothwell was left for dead. Bothwell's men then took him to Hermitage Castle and Jock made his escape.
Bothwell's men found him severely injured and bore him to nearby Hermitage. When they arrived, they found that the prisoners they had taken earlier at Hermitage, mainly Armstrongs, had overpowered their guards and taken over the castle. They refused to allow the injured Bothwell to enter. Led by Robert Elliot of the Shaws, the reivers negotiated with Bothwell who agreed to free all the prisoners and to grant them amnesty. Lying injured without medical help, Bothwell was probably past caring they assumed. His party were allowed into the castle where his wounds were attended to.
Mary and her trip to Hermitage
When news reached Mary that Bothwell had been seriously hurt and was at Hermitage, she decided to go to there herself to see him. Accompanied by her half brother Moray and small group of other officials, she set off on the long and hazardous journey to Hermitage. The route took the party over huge tracts of open moorland and bog. It was difficult terrain and the weather bad. Mary's horse stumbled numerous times in the bog. On one occasion she lost her watch and other possessions. When she finally got there she only visited for a short time. Of the three possible routes to Hermitage, Mary selected the longest to avoid being seen. For 300 years Mary's watch lay where she had dropped it, until it was picked up by a farm worker digging a drainage channel. It had been well preserved and is now on display at QM House in Jedburgh.
Because of this encounter that the Elliots had with James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, Mary was furious. Her revenge - a royal force of nearly 4,000 men devastated the lands of the Ellots and their neighbours in that same year, 1569.
The Elliots were less numerous than the Armstrongs with whom they were frequently allied but as predatory as any clan on the border. Occasionally under English protection, they received a subsidy from Queen Elizabeth during their feud with the Scotts. Notable names: Martin Elliot of Braidley, Little Jock of the Park, Robin of Redheuch, Archie Fire the Braes, William of Lariston, Martin's Gibb.
Armstrongs: or Armstrang held lands both in the English West March and the Scottish East March. The Armstrongs were the most feared riding clan on the frontier. By 1528 they could put 3000 men into the saddle. In the middle 1500's the whole populaton of Scotland was only a little over 300,000. So it is obvious why this clan was feared. Some of the famous Armstrong reiving names are Johnnie Armstrong, Kinmont Willie Armstrong, Sim the Laird, Ill Will Armstrong and Sandie his son, Dick of Dryhope, Jock of the Side.
"Little Jock Elliot" (Border Ballad) Wha daur meddle wi' me? Wha daur meddle wi' me? My name is little Jock Elliot, And wha daur meddle wi' me? I ride on my fleet-footed grey, My sword hangind doun by my knee, My name is little Jock Elliot, And wha daur meddle wi' me? In raids I ride always the foremost, My straik is the first in melee, My name is little Jock Elliot, And wha daur meddle wi' me? I ne'er was afraid of a foe, Or yield I liefer wad die; My name is little Jock Elliot, And wha daur meddle wi' me? I've vanquished the Queen's Lieutenant, And garr'd her troopers flee; My name is little Jock Elliot, And wha daur meddle wi' me? Wha daur meddle wi' me? Wha daur meddle wi' me? My name is little Jock Elliot, And wha daur meddle wi' me?
