Gents Mag 1828 part 2 p.53
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introduction, lists | ||
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list, 2nd qtr 19th century | ||
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Gentleman's Magazine 1828 part 2 p.53
This is not exactly a Cumbria reference, but is of general interest to the whole of the border region. |
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border reivers
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Northumberland History,
Border Reivers
Book review A History of Northumberland, in three Parts. By John Hodgson, Clerk, Vicar of Whelpington, &c. &c. Part ii. vol.i. 4to. THE History of such a lawless county in the Marches as Northumberland, briings to our recollection the chivalrous events connected with Chevy-chase, and that valorous Knight, who - "When his legs were smitten off, Still fought upon his stumps." The existence of such disorder is ascribed to the natural consequence of overloading the population through small farms. "The true cause of the disorders that prevailed in both districts is very reasonably and forcibly deduced from its being over-stocked with population. Three or four families lived upon a farm of noble rent. The consequence of this poverty was, they went into the disorderly districts of England and Scotland to steal. Idleness and early associations had endeared to them every field, and wood, and stream, and dell, in their native valley, so that they had rather lived poorly in it, than more wealthily in another country. Besides which, when any of them had settled in distant places, they so frequently became abettors of their friends at home in plans of plunder, that people were afraid to employ them. Sir R. Bowes (the agent employed by the Government) therefore recommended, that the superfluous population should be sent southward, to places too far distant for their relations and countrymen to resort to. They were divided into clans, each of which had a rank and precedence in the country according to its numerical strength. If a thief of any great surname, or kindred, was lawfully executed by order of justice, for stealing beyond the limits of his own province, the rest of his clan would visit the prosecutor with all the retributive vengeance of deadly feud, as bitterly and as severely as if he had killed him unlawfully with a sword. This method of seeking revenge, had before that time frequently bred a kind of civil war in the country; whole townships were burnt; gentlemen and others, of whom they sought revenge, were murdered; great garrisons established to check their outrages, and raids and incursions made against them, and by them, "even as it were between England and Scotland in time of war." Hence parties that were plundered generally chose, when they discovered the thieves who carried off their goods, to take a part of them back again by way of composition, rather than go against them in the extremity of justice." P.70. And these habits obtained also among the Gentry and Clergy; for, continues Mr. Hodgson, "But we are most inclined to a merciful review of the manners of these people from the consideration that thieving was a fashionable accomplishment among them - the employment in which they most delighted; and especially because their clergy were as vicious and disorderly as themselves; and the crimes for which they were holden up, as infamous, were constantly committed by the heads of the best families in Northumberland, not only without any sense of shame, but even with feelings of rivalry in courage and dexterity, and as feats which they boasted in. Bishop Fox, in 1498, had, on informations being taken to him of the great number of robbers which infested these parts, issued his mandate to all the clergy of Tindale and Redesdale, charging them to visit with the terrors of the greater excommunication, all the inhabitants of their several cures, who should, excepting against the Scots, presume to go from home, armed in a jack and salel or knapescull, or other defensive armour, or should ride on a horse worth more than six shillings and eight pence; or should wear in any church, or church-yard, during the time of divine service, any offensive weapon more than a cubit in length. And the same prelate elsewhere describes the chaplains here, the good Sir Johns of Redesdale, as publicly and openly living with concubines, irregular, suspended, excommunicated and interdicted, wholly ignorant of letters, so much so, that priests of ten years standing did not know how to read the ritual. Some of them were even nothing more than sham priests, having never been ordained, and performed diocese service, not only in places dedicated to divine worship, but in such as were unconsecrated and interdicted. Of the example which they had from the laity of the county, Sir Robert Bowes has left us this description. The whole country of Northumberland is much given to wildness and riot, especially the young gentlemen, or headsmen, many of whom are guilty of thefts and other greater offences; and then regard for truth in depositions about their quarrels is so indifferent, that it were perilous to give credence to them without the evidence of the complaining party being confronted with that of the accused." P.74. Such were (in great part), says Mr. Hodgson, the consequences of "parcelling out the lands into very small farms." P.75. We are rejoiced to give the following results of educating the poor. "The inhabitants of this parish (Elsden) show a very praiseworthy zeal in forwarding, according to the best of their ability, the education of their children. They have schools to suit the convenience of every part |
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