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2 unusual facts about Border Reivers


Anglo-Scottish Wars

While Henry VIII secretly encouraged some of them, English armies and some families of English and nominally Scottish Border Reivers repeatedly forayed and looted in south west Scotland, to maintain pressure on Scotland.

Bollock dagger

In England the bollock dagger was commonly carried by many Border Reivers, as a backup for the lance and the sword.


Alexander Home, 3rd Lord Home

In August 1513 Home led 3000 Borders Horse on a raid into England, en route back to Scotland laden with booty, his force was ambushed by William Bulmer of Brancepeth Castle at Milfield, and was routed losing 1000 men and his standard.

Graham Dow

The curse was pronounced on the Border Reivers by the Archbishop of Glasgow and was inscribed on a stone as part of the city's millennium celebrations.


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