History, Wonder Tales, Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends The Flemish | Page 89

Wi' his nine sons him round about,
He led the town of Jedward out;
All bravely fought that day."
Another surviving tradition from that time is called "The Hand Ba' Game". It is
celebrated on Candlemas [February 2nd] and comes from the troubles of 1549 when a
few Scots played a post-battle football game with the severed heads of some
Englishmen. Candlemas is a day of celebration in the town, culminating in a football
game between the 'uppies' and the 'doonies'. Nowadays, a leather ball replaces the
Englishman's head. The boundaries of the game stretch from Castlehill, which is up
on high ground, to Townfoot, down at the bottom. In this way, the town of Jedburgh is
divided into two teams; the 'uppies' and the 'doonies'. English volunteers are always
welcome!

The Reiving Times
The Rutherfurds were among the most notable of the Riding Clans who dominated the
Borders from the 14th to 16th centuries. The Rutherfurds, like other clans, took
advantage of the struggle between the two Kingdoms of Scotland and England and
lived in a state of semi-lawlessness. The Rutherfurds were a rugged, tough clan who
enforced their own code of conduct and were among those known as 'Reivers'.
The Rutherfurds quickly came to realize that due to the sudden and brutal nature of
the times, that the Scottish government could provide neither justice nor protection
against the English and that their only strength and safety lay with the clan. The
Rutherfurds joined in the grim business of 'reiving' from neighboring families and those
across the border. Raids were made, not in the name of Scotland, but in the name of
the family. The Rutherfurds were superb horsemen and well drilled in repelling light
attacks. When large-scale assaults took place, usually from England, the Rutherfurds
harried the invaders and fought alongside the Homes and Douglases. The Rutherfords
of Jedburgh were also famous 'lorimers' or saddle makers, an all important trade for
reiving clans.
Scotland used the Riding Clans as a standing army for a first line of defense against
English invaders. In an attempt to govern the border region more effectively, the
English and Scottish governments reached an agreement in 1249 known as the 'Laws
of the Marches'. By it's terms, both sides of the border were divided into three areas,
East, West and Middle Marches - each to be administered both judicially and militarily
by a March Warden, the first being appointed in 1297. It was the Warden's duty to see
that peace was maintained, to administer justice and to deal with 'bills' or complaints.
The Rutherfurds frequently served as the wardens of the Middle March or as the
warden's bailli R