button to main menu  Clarke's Survey of the Lakes, 1787

button title page
button previous page button next page
Page 175:-
Geordie of the Gingles alias Henharrow,
John Nelson, Curate of Bewcastle,
Jock of the Lake's Christie,
John Noble alias Longfoot,
Watt Grame, Flaughtail,
Will Grame (nimble Willie,)
Will Grame (mickle Willie,)
Will Patrick Priest of Bewcastle,
Red Rowy Foster, &c.
The Scots made the like depredations; whereupon the Lord Wharton, deputy-warden, appointed watches in several parts of Cumberland, and obliged the inhabitants to keep watch day and night: He erected watch-towers on several eminences, which are yet standing: The Scots did not then come in armies, but ten or twenty together, and robbed the little farm-houses only of their furniture, so that it was not necessary to fire the beacons and give the general alarm; and indeed the beacons were almost totally destroyed, (no one now remains but at Penrith,) for the wanton youths would set fire in two or three of them, which caused a general muster, (the rest being fired also,) so that an act of parliament was passed to make the firing of beacons felony.
In the year 1593, the young Lord Scroope, (who had succeeded his father in the wardenship) proposed divers matters to be considered upon by the gentlemen of the West Marches of England, for anempst Scotland, which were as follows:
'First, Forasmuch as it is conjectured that divers disorders grow, and infinite outrages are committed upon her Majesty's * good subjects on the frontiers, and more inwards in the county of Cumberland, as well by the remiss dealings of the officers and negligence of the watches and watchers, as by the servants, tenants, and dependers of divers gentlemen, freeholders, and heads of sirnames, on and near the frontier; and likewise by trifles, assurances, and alliances between the English and Scots on the borders; which sort of people, besides their own filcheries, do (as it is thought) to the great oppression of others, either guide or accompany Scotsmen in their day or night roads, for stealth from her Majesty's subjects, and to share the Englishmen's goods between them and the Scots; or at least, if they lay not the plot, do willingly and wittingly tolerate and suffer the Scots to pass and repass by them and through their strengths, for and with Englishmen's goods, without causing a hue and cry, fray or following of the thieves, in such sort as they are bound to do, both by the statute laws and ancient custom and constitutions of the borders, and by the common curtesy of good neighbourhood they should: In reformation whereof, first, it should be considered and resolved what course can be taken with the head and under officers under the Lord Warden's commandment, to assure the bringing in of any offenders within their charge, unto the Lord Warden at his Lordship's direction.
'Secondly, Whether it will not be convenient that the order for watches resolved by the late Lord Scroope, Sir John Foster, and Sir Simon Musgrave, be now again renewed, and with severity observed: namely, that whereas any goods should pass through any of the watches, without hue and cry made by them of the watch, those said watches should answer the goods so driven and carried throughout, or within the precinct or compass of time.
'Thirdly, Whether it will not be very needful duly to put the statute for hues and cries in execution, in such sort, that whosoever shall be proved by the Lord Warden not to have risen and followed the fray according to the same law; the same person or persons presently to answer and satisfy for the goods rieved or taken away; and consideration to be had, how the penalty of the same statute may best and most readily be levied for the relief of the party damnified.
'Fourthly, It would fall in consideration how the marriage between the English and the Scottish nations in those frontiers may be from henceforth restrained, and heretofore hath been enacted, though too remissly executed; and what bonds and assurances can be taken of all such as are already allied, for their misdemeanor towards the rest of her Majesty's subjects, and for like good behaviour of all their branches, servants and dependants.
'Fifthly, It would moreover be considered, what bonds or security can be taken of every particular gentleman, freeholder, and head of surnames, so to become answerable for their servants, tenants, and followers or dependants, as they either bring in unto the Lord Warden, and upon his Lordship's call, such servants, tenants, followers, and dependants, as have, or suspected to have committed any transgressions against the March or common laws, for to abide a trial according to their demerits; or failing thereof, to satisfy the party offended for his harm done by any of the abovesaid persons so belonging or depending unto them.
'Sixthly, Because the surnames of the Grames have no commander under the Lord Warden,
'what
button next page

button to main menu Lakes Guides menu.