THE Scots Magazine, AND EDINBURGH LITERARY MISCELLANY, FOR FEBRUARY 1809. Historical Account of FERNIHIRST FE 'ERNYHIRST CASTLE was founded about 1490, by Thomas Ker, a branch of the family of Ker, which made long a conspicuous figure in border history, as well as in the general history of Scotland. The Homes, Scotts, and Kerrs, took the lead in all the transactions of that part of the kingdom. The Kerrs were an Anglo-Norman family, which, there appears reason to suppose, was of great antiquity, both in England and Scotland. It is only from about the year 1330, however, that we receive a distinct genealogical account of them. At that period, Ralph Kerr settled in Scotland, and obtained possession of the lands lying between the water of Jed and the lands of Straserburgh. He called these by the name of Kershaugh, which continued for some time the chief title of his family. It split in time, however, into two branches; the Kerrs of Cessford, who afterwards rose to the title of Dukes of Roxburgh; and the Kerrs of Fernihirst, who rose to those of Jedburgh, Lothian, and Ancrum. of Fernihirst, which thenceforth gave name to that powerful branch of the Kerr family. This castle, situated near the border, the scene then of althe vicissitudes of such a situation.most perpetual war, was subject to all The disasters sustained by Scotland in the battle of Flodden, laid the bor der open to the incursions of the English. In 1523, the Earl of Surry, with Dorset and Dacres, entered Scothe took after an obstinate resistance. land, and marched to Jedburgh, which He then detached the Lord Dacres to Fernyhirst, who reduced that castle, and made prisoners of Sir Andrew Kerr, and the laird of Gradon. After the arrival, however, of French auxiliaries, the Scots acquired the ascendency, and took cruel revenge for English depredation. Of this, the castle of Fernihirst afforded a striking example. The laird, with his retainers, assisted by a band of Frenchmen, assaulted this fortress, "The English archers (we copy the account of Mr Scott, Border Minstrelsy, I. xxx.) showered their arrows down the steep ascent leading to the castle, and from the outer wall, by which it was surrounded. A vigorous escalade, however, gained the base court, and the sharp fire of the French arquebusiers drove the bowmen into the square, keep, or dungeon, of the fortress. Here the English defended themselves, • Chalmers's Caledonia, Vol. I. p. 530. till a breach in the wall was made by It was about 1490, as we already noticed, that Thomas, eighth in descent from Ralph, founded the castle mining. Through this hole the commandant crept forth; and surrendering himself to De la Mothe Rouge, implored protection from the vengeance of the borderers. But a Scottish marchman, eyeing in the captive the ravisher of his wife, approached him ere the French officer could guess his intention, and, at one blow, carried his head four paces from the trunk.— Above a hundred Scots rushed to wash their hands in the blood of their oppressor, bandied about the severed head, and expressed their joy in such shouts as if they had stormed the city of London. The prisoners who fell into their merciless hands were put to death, after their eyes had been torn out; the victors contending who should display the greatest address in severing their legs and arms before inflicting a mortal wound. When their own prisoners were slain, the Scottish, with an inextinguishable thirst for blood, purchased those of the French; parting willingly with their very arms, in exchange for an English captive.' The laird of Fernihirst was one of the leaders in the engagement at Halidon, in 1526, between the Scotts, headed by Scott of Buccleugh on one side, and the Homes and Kerrs on the other; the latter being headed by Lord Home, and the Barons of Cessford and Fernihirst. It was in the cause of Angus, who then held King James V. in a state of pupilage, and to whom the Homes and Kerrs strongly attached themselves. Buccleugh was routed; but Kerr of Cessford being slain in the pursuit, a deadly feud thence arose between the Scotts and Kerrs. Afterwards, in 1528, when James emancipated himself from the power of Angus, the Homes and Kerrs still adhered to that nobleman, and prevented his enemies from penetrating into Berwickshire, by defending pass of Pease *. the * Border Minstrelsy, I, 16-20. This feud, however, did not prevent them from uniting their forces in making plundering incursions into England. Buccleugh, Cessford, and Ferniherst, were jointly complained of on this ground by the English Court. In 1533, they revenged an inroad of the English by another most destructive one into Northumberland. In 1544, the English made new incursions. The Tyndale and Ridsdale men burnt Bedrule. On their return, they met the laird of Fernihirst and his son John, whom they defeated, and made prisoners. It would appear that, probably on condition of receiving their liberty, they had gone over to the side of the English; for a little after, we find, that "Robert Carr, Fernihirst's son, and other Scotsmen, who are in assurance, to the number of 600 horsemen, took Eyldon and Newbrough, and brought away 600 nolt, besides shepe and naggs +." Another dispatch, regarding a similar exploit, is said to be from the laird of Fernihirst. After the flight of Mary into England, many border chieftains, with a romantic gallantry, espoused her cause. Buccleugh, and Sir Andrew Kerr of Fernihirst, were at their head; but, notwithstanding the power of these chieftains, the address of the Earl of Morton prevailed in establishing the authority of the King, even in their own district. Fernihirst, however, continued an intrepid defender of her cause, and thus incurred the utmost resentment of Elizabeth, who found means to accomplish her revenge.Some outrages having been committed by the Scots at a border meeting, Elizabeth accused Arran and Fernihirst, and demanded that they should be delivered up to her. No proof was adduced of the charge; and James therefore refused to comply with the full demand of Elizabeth: yet intimi dated + Haynes's State Papers, p. 50. |