History, Wonder Tales, Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends The Flemish | Page 88

Moor. Ancrum Moor is a stone's throw from both Rutherford and Jedburgh. Sir Ralph
Eure, the English warden was killed, as was John Rutherfurd of Edgerston. Now the
English thought they had been betrayed by the Rutherfords, but to the contrary, the
Rutherfords had not agreed to fight for the English in Scotland. They had agreed to
fight for them in England and only against their enemy the Kerrs. Their service was in
return for the safety of the Rutherford family and the Rutherfords had kept their end of
the bargain.
During the last months of his life, Lord Robert Rutherfurd saw the ancestral village of
Rutherford "spoiled" by Henry VIII's thugs in July of 1544. Two months later, on
September 9th, 1544 the town was 'destroyed'. The rest of the village was burnt,
razed and cast down between September 9th and September 13th, 1544. On
September 16th the Rutherford estate at Hundalee was "razed and brent".
Two days later, after the burning of four noble Rutherford estates, the Rutherford
Lords of Hunthill and Hundalee rode out to meet and remind the English army of its
agreement with them. The English called the Rutherfords liars for obeying the Scottish
governor's command to attack at Ancrum Moor. Lord Robert reminded them that they
were in Scotland now and the items of their covenant with the English had been
strictly kept. Hertford then agreed to spare the already burned Rutherford estates.
Lord Robert had hoped to "ride both horses" and had failed. The English responded
by sending another even larger force of foreign mercenaries the following year, cutting
deep into Scotland and sacking Edinburgh itself.

The Common Riding
Nowadays, these times are not forgotten on the Borders and many towns celebrate
this turbulent past by holding a Common Riding every year. Varying in style and
content from one community to the next, they are all basically commemorations of the
ancient need to ride the boundaries of their communities for security purposes. In
Jedburgh, the "riding clans" such as the Rutherfords and Kerrs ride out on horseback
with banners flying. Toasts are drunk, ancient local customs are rehearsed, and
everybody has a good time! Every July in Jedburgh, they have a rideout on "Festival
Friday". Participants go riding to Ferniehirst Castle, the ancestral home of the Kerr
family and then on to Jedburgh Castle. There they present the new 'Callant' to the
Kerr family and ride back to town in great ceremonial style. Two Rutherfords have
served as Callants, Bobby Rutherford in 1950 and his son David Rutherford in 1983.
Bobby Rutherford has also served as Reidswire Speaker in 1999.

The Battle of Reidswire
The Rutherfurds, including the Lairds of Edgerston, Hundalee, and Hunthill, were
present at the battle of the Reidswire in 1575. The battle of Reidswire is considered
the last actual battle fought between England and Scotland. Richard Rutherford of
Littleheuch, son of the "Cock of Hunthill," at that time provost of Jedburgh, led on the
burghers, who came upon the scene while the skirmish was going on, and raising their
slogan, "A Jedworth! A Jedworth!" turned the tide of battle in favor of their countrymen.
The Black Laird of Edgerston was also a principal player in this battle. An old ballad in
reference to this says:
"Bauld Rutherfurd he was fu' stout,
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