LORD GREY, of Wilton, who had
commanded the English in Scotland, became Governor of Berwick as successor
to Leek, who now retired to England. On his installation new orders were
issued by Cecil, in Elizabeth's name, which were to compel order and good
discipline in this thievish and ill-behaved garrison. Along with the old,
the new set of orders were put into operation in the town, the former to be
the governing power as long as it was not contradicted by the new. An almost
complete copy of both will be found in Appendix No. 4. Abstracts of some of
the more interesting may occupy a place in the narrative. The general
characteristic of the ancient statutes is that of severity:
Death was the penalty for
affrays at the gates or on the Watch Hill, or for going from the walls after
the watchword was given, or for not searching carts laden with straw for
fodder. Counterfeiting the keys of the gates or storehouses was a capital
crime. Watchers not giving warning of any ship or person coming within sight
to have their heads struck off at the Market Cross, and no Scotchman to be
of the garrison, upon pain of death.
Others of the statutes are
more curious than severe:
'No soldier to use any vile
occupation, as fishing, and none to use dice or cards for money except
within the 20 days of Christmas, or else at any of the gates of the toun, or
within the watchhouses, market-place, or tollbooth, under pain of 3 days'
imprisonment, and the stakes to be forfeited to the Queen's Bridge at
Berwick. Again, no cur dogs to be kept over the feast of the Exaltation of
the Holy Cross next coming, no greyhounds or spaniels to be in the streets
except they be "hard led, or led in leashes or lyans;" for the third offence
both master and dog shall be put out of the toun. No dogs shall be in the
streets at night.
'Every watcher found asleep
for the third offence, or warning his fellow who is asleep of the approach
of the searchers for the second offence, as well the sleeper as the Escrier,
both to be put over the walls where they made the same default, and set in
baskets with a can of drink in their hands, and there he or they to tarry
unto the time the rope be cut (when of course the occupant of the basket
would fall into the ditch, where stood always about two feet of water).
These old orders bear no
date, but undoubtedly, like other sets of laws, the number would grow with
time, until fifty altogether had accumulated. The new orders, to which
reference has been made, bear date October 1st, 1560. They are signed by the
Queen, and are said to have been put in force while the fortifications were
being finished and a garrison established—that is, a fixed and definite
number of men to form a garrison. They were introduced by a long
introductory note upon the propriety of all the soldiers attending on the
sermons, and upon the mending and repairing the Church of the Trinity:
'Because the foundation of
all worldlie strengthe is to be laide and established with the feare and
service of Almighty God, without which except the Lord God kepe the cittie
and build yt, all force of armes, strengthes, and riches be but vain, and
nothing, as dailie is seen and perceived where yt pleaseth Almighty God
contrarie to men's purposes to confounde strong townes, castles, and great
armies by sundrie casualties.'
The order proceeds to declare
that to establish the above declaration, cit is necessarie for all men to
live in due service and feare of God ;' and that this may be done, the
church and place of divine service within the town shall be repaired by the
Surveyor of the Works, and c kept to the use onlie of praier, ministration
of sacraments, and preachinge of God's word, and to no other prophane use.'
It was further ordered that the service be in accordance with law, and that
the minister be paid by the Queen's Treasurer of Berwick. And now, after the
church was repaired, all the garrison must attend the services every holyday
and Sunday, morning and evening, at least once in every fourteen or sixteen
days. The attendance was compelled by heavy fines.
The new orders do not differ
much from the old. Probably they are not so severe. They have their
curiosities, as the others, but are not characterized by impartiality:
'None to play dice by night,
except he be of the Council, under pain of four days' imprisonment' 'No
person shall walk abroad after 10 o'clock in summer and eight in winter, or
whistle, or sing, or shout after the said hours.' 'No flesh can be eaten on
the fast-days, on pain of from four till six days' imprisonment, and if he
be a soldier he shall forfeit a month's pay or 20 days' imprisonment on
bread and water.'
It is to be hoped that when
this fast-day diet was put in force there were no more of the 'naughty
herrings' in her Majesty's stores. According to the new orders, a preacher
was to be sent down to Berwick. The Dean of Durham and Mr. Sampson were the
first that came. Their fees were willingly paid by a cess laid on the whole
garrison. The immediate effect of their preaching was marvellous:
'Cecil may perhaps marvel to
hear that every holiday in the Church are sung sundry Psalms and Prayers
only by Gentlemen and Soldiers, and the most part gentlemen. Such fruit has
followed the little abode which the Dean of Durham and good Mr. Sampson
made. Berwick has become a civil town almost devoid of vices. Hope that the
soldiers sent hence do not infect the realm now that they have purged
Berwick.'
As a result of this elevation
of the Berwick gentlemen and soldiers, the Governor informed Cecil in a
postscript:
'There be already departed
from Berwick and Tweedmouth 269 abominable Damoselles and some Scots forth
of Berwick. I confess I am more apt to be a bumbailiff presently than I was
thirty years past.'
'Like Prince, like people.'
Elizabeth's penurious habits are well known; her servants likewise affected
this habit, save in the matter of enriching themselves. The Mayor of this
Burgh had been in the habit of receiving £10 from Government for many
years—nay, for centuries—probably from the time of David I. when the town
was established a Royal Burgh, and the officers were accounted officials of
the Crown. Not only had the Mayor this grant from olden time, but he had a
domestic servant as well as four Sergeants of the Mace. The Queen's officers
in Berwick, on the appointment of these two new orders, called this payment
in question, and were very desirous to discontinue the allowance; but, upon
inquiry, they found that the commencement of the grant was not within the
memory of man, therefore it was allowed to stand. When the new orders were
established for the better government of the town, a military council was
determined upon, which was to consist of the Governor of the town and the
Warden of the East Marches, one High Marshal, the Treasurer, and the Porter,
with four officers. These were declared to be the councillors in 1560. The
records of this council's proceedings in its early days are lost, but from
1574 to the end of the century, some of the orders are still extant. These
will be dealt with under 'The Guild History.'
Lord Grey of Wilton took his
seat at this first council as Governor, and the Queen immediately wrote him—
(1) To appoint one special day to sit in the Common Council House, there to
direct such causes as shall be nedeful; (2) That the Scotch Market be
removed from within the town to the void place betwixt the new wall and the
Bell Tower.' This market had long been of great interest to the inhabitants
and garrison of Berwick. In times of peace the Scots were courted to come
with all kinds of provisions to the market. As early as the reign of Edward
III. it was held outside the town, and, probably, in the same place as in
the time of Henry VIII., viz., the Calf Hill. In
an order about provisions, this passage occurs:
'And in this pacte, the
Skotts repayring to the market uppon the Calfc Hill wold likewise be
cherished and kept in good order from spoyles and other iniuries; and moch
nedefull it were that there were a house builded uppon the said Calfe Hill
wherein the said Scottishe people might in colde and stormye wether have
fyer and meat and drinck for their money to repose themselves withall;
otherwise, they shalbe not able to kepc market there thys wynter tyme which
wil be a great hindrance of fresh victualls to the toune.'
To serve their own selfish
ends, the people of Berwick and the Government officials were anxious enough
to get the Scots to come to market to supply them with fresh and cheap
provisions. But it was strictly forbidden for a Scot to live in Berwick, and
it was death for one to be found in the garrison. Lord Grey wrote of them,
at the time he was arranging this market-place:
'The four Scots stayed here
four days, and at their departure understood such reason and courtesy in
staying them that they be nothing at all grieved therewith. Wishes that he
had been sufficiently powerful to have prevented them of such mischief as
their hearts imagine. Without doubt they have conveyed in their hearts and
budgetts a great mass of treason. God confound them and it together.'
The cause of this severe
writing is not explained. This jealousy or hatred of the Scots becomes very
apparent in a case that occurred a few years after this. Valentine Brown,
the new Treasurer, wrote to Burleigh in February, 1574, 'that he would very
much prefer George Beverley, a friend of his, to succeed to the vacant
office of Customer of Berwick/ Burleigh at once granted the patent to
Beverley. No sooner was this done, than he was informed that Beverley was
descended from Scotch parents. A commission was appointed to sift the truth
of this, when it was discovered that he was born of Scotch parentage in
Haddington. His father died when he was but a child. His mother married, for
a second husband, James Beverley, of Kirknewton, Yorkshire, who brought her
and her son into England. When this truth was elicited, a truth of which
George would be ignorant, for he had taken the name of his stepfather, he
was at once obliged to surrender his patent, and retire from any office in
England. Evidences of this same jealousy continually occur.
Lord Grey's Governorship of
Berwick made a somewhat salutary impression upon the rude Border Land. He
began by adjusting some long-standing disputes. Muschamp and Ralph Swinnow,
who had quarrelled about property, were reconciled. He settled the long
variance that had existed between Sir Thomas Grey and Sir John Forster, who
had quarrelled about the said Forster's mother. For this he received Cecil's
thanks. He even got the Laird of Cessford, though it would undoubtedly be a
severe trial, to consent to act in the future with fairness and justice.
Grey then looked nearer home for work, and sent a report of the state of
Berwick to his chief. He found it very weak, and requiring more men to
withstand a sudden rush. Moreover, he found in the old garrison the
constables so unskilful that they were utterly unworthy their places, being
men unlearned, who used generally to deliver the watchword to their
children, or servants, or others to read, which was very dangerous. Having
taken one in the act, he put him in, ward, and detained him until
instructions arrived. This was a crime that those who framed the statutes of
Berwick never contemplated. The Governor further wrote, that he was
astonished that such a town as Berwick should be without a trumpet to sound
for proclamations,' and desired Cecil to send him one. Cecil noted on the
margin of this letter: c Grant an allowance of £20 per annum for a trumpet.'
Grey, likewise, desired that a water-mill be set up in Berwick, as they have
only one horse-mill.
Three days later, November
29th, he heard a report that the French were going to invade, so he hurried
on the work at the fortifications; for, though the masons could not work on
account of the frost, the pickaxes could still be in use. We cannot but
regret the work of these pickaxes, for now, on the last day of this month of
November, 1560, the Castle of Berwick and all the best houses that were
reserved for the lodgings of the Captain and head officers, were defaced or
plucked down for the furtherance of the fortification, except the house
reserved for the Treasurer and Victualler, which was taken for the
Governor's use. He returned this house to them again, and went to live in
the Palace, where there was very sorry accommodation for him. The house had
to be shored up, which, otherwise, would have lain in the earth. There were
only two habitable rooms in it, not large enough even to entertain his
friends ; they were not fourteen feet square. A few repairs were made on his
entry, and fault was found with his extravagance, for he had really spent
upon this work £11.
To carry out his plans for
putting Berwick in order, he issued special instructions as to the watching
of the walls while the new fortifications were still incomplete. Dated
January 1st, 1561, these regulations claim to be an order for watch within
the town of Berwick, as well for the old walls as for the new works, devised
by Lord Grey, which may be executed, if the Queen and Council shall allow
it, till the new fortifications be put in strength. at each, two men; at the
Bell Tower, the Red Tower, the New Tower of the Sand, the Little Tower, St.
Nicholas Tower, Comer's Bulwark, the Square Tower, Shore-gate and Brig-gate,
at each, three men, thirty-six in all.
'For Stand watch at the
Gates, viz., at the Bulwark between St. Mary Gate and the Cow-gate, at the
Cow-gate, Brig-gate, Shore-gate, on the Pier and on the Bridge, in all eight
men. The round search-houses at Shore-gate and Mary-gate consisting of two
parties of twelve men each, to be continually sending out patrols to see
that the Sentinels did their duty. The officers on duty are personally to
visit the different posts, the stand-watch at the Castle to continue
established, 16 footmen are to scout nightly without the walls. Captain
Pragle and 50 men with the old garrison are lodged in the old town without
the new works. At the alarm the new piece is to be manned on the bulwarks
and curtains by the different captains posting their men at intervals of
nine feet all round the walls. The townsmen to assemble with their weapons
in the market-place, under Captains Baker and Lambert, pensioners. The
labourers also to repair to the market-place, under Captains Ingleby and
Aldey, pensioners, and to have weapons delivered them out of the Queen's
store. Eighteen shall watch nightly, one on every bulwark and curtain of the
new piece, and 12 men to search them. Every Captain shall watch the second
day after his night watch with 91 men, viz., his Lieutenant with 30 men at
the Briggate himself; and Sergeant at the Cowgate with 50 men, whereof 20
shall repair to St. Mary Gate, morning and evening, to let cattle out and in
the town; at the Shore-gate ten men, and Corporal or Ensign. Six horsemen
shall daily ride out at the Gates' opening, to search the suspect places.'
The watching of the town was
doubly difficult at the present time, for the old walls were partly
demolished and no part of the new was in a complete state of defence. Great
difficulties were likewise thrust in the way of the swift progress of their
completion. Here is a statement of difficulties by Jennyson, surveyor of the
works, made to Cecil on February nth, 1561:
'Though he has charge of the
stores and storehouses, yet he has no lodging therein, but two little
chambers, a cellar and a kitchen, wherein Sir Richard Lee's men delay him,
until they can hear from their master, so that he is forced to be from his
charge at no little expense, and to leave his wife at Newcastle. The Sawyers
are such triflers that they make easy expedition of the work, and the Smiths
are such purloiners that, of one cwt. of iron delivered to them, he cannot
receive above 72 or 76 lbs., who would make him believe the residue was
waste. Trusts that by putting things out by great [the piece] double
expedition may be used; for they work but 7 hours, and do not 5 hours' work.
The price charged for the coals is exorbitant, and he is determined to
confer about this with men at Newcastle. Would have ridden to London to see
the stuff chosen; for the artificers say that little good stuff comes here.'
Jennyson went to Newcastle
for stores, and has given interesting information about coals: 'The
Lime-kilns and Smiths consumed 1,500 chaldrons yearly; he thought they
should lay in a supply in summer for the following reasons: Firstly, they
are lighter in summer than in winter. In summer two chaldrons in weight
would be saved in every ship's lading. Secondly, the coals are more
plentiful in summer, and their freight is less. There might be a saving of
as. 6d. per chaldron. Thirdly, the owners of the boats will not serve
Berwick in winter, the coast is so dangerous. He thought they should get 800
chaldrons of Darewen coals, and as many of the best Northumberland coal. The
best sort cost 13s. the chaldron, and the worst 12s. per chaldron.'
We have seen that Scotchmen
were not relished in Berwick at this epoch. Neither, it seems, were Irish. A
great many of the latter were brought at this time for the work at the
fortifications. One hundred hand-hewers and eight labourers were entered as
Irish workmen on the 2nd of March, and again, on the 20th March, we have
thirty-seven hand-hewers brought over by Philip Athlone. These had no sooner
commenced their work, than on the 25 th, on Jennyson mustering the workmen,
he was resisted and misused by the English masons, both in words and in
other obstinate deeds.' Lord Grey, the Governor, having come to the rescue,
committed divers of the fawters to the loathsomest and straitest prison with
irons and ill fare. Yet there was much grudging and obstinate repining
amongst the rest of their fellows, and, as far as they dare, it is like they
will continue it.' It is just possible that the presence of the Irish was
not the only reason of the revolt, for these workmen were still badly paid.
Lord Grey, at this very date, wrote to Cecil:
'Very pity forces him to
lament the continual moan and complaint of the gentlemen serving here, who
are driven to very great extremities of want of money, want of victuals in
store, the dearth of fish and other cates, and the strait abstinence from
flesh, commanded by the late proclamation, who continually care for supply
themselves, and that these soldiers are starved with hunger and ready to
perish, who must either be relieved with money or with liberty of
flesh-eating.'
Grey was very anxious to push
on the fortifications, and asked for more workmen, but was denied the
request. He suggested the employment of soldiers, and asserted that one
thousand of them would do more work than three thousand day-workers.
Instead, however, of more workmen being sent, a sudden whim came over her
Majesty, and orders were sent down to Berwick to dismiss all workmen but
four hundred. This stopped all progress, and put an end to the expectation
of finishing the new work this year, or even of having the walls in a state
to be guardable. The Governor got sick of all this worry, and retired to the
Court. Before Grey set out to London he appointed Sir Thomas Dacre, of
Lanercost, Marshal of Berwick, and committed the charge of the town to him
in his absence. While absent, a strange idea of defending the town was
originated with those left in charge of the works and this new Marshal. They
thought that a deep and broad ditch dug from the river to the sea by way of
the castle would act as the best defence, and render Berwick absolutely
impregnable. Sir Thomas Dacre, Richard Goodall, and John Rophe took
measurements of the distance. From low-water mark of the Tweed to low-water
mark of the sea is four thousand feet. From Tweedside to seaside, taking one
place with another, the ground is eighty feet deep, so that the sea may
easily fall into the Tweed (!). For the safe-guard of the town there may be
water fifty feet deep always standing, if need require. There are three
hundred feet between the walls and where the ditch shall be for casting the
earth towards the water/ There are strange and startling statements in this
paper. How the sea may easily fall into the Tweed, or how fifty feet of
water will always stand in this ditch when required, will certainly puzzle
most of the engineers of the present day.
The pay of the soldiers was
still an almost insurmountable difficulty. To assist in the relief of the
town Valentine Brown, the Treasurer, begged for license to export the hides,
fells, and tallow which came into his possession from the animals
slaughtered for provision of the garrison and workmen. The power of
exportation was in the hands of the freemen of Berwick, and they were
unwilling to lose any of their rights. He was urgent, however, for his need
was great, and this source of income would be considerable, since 20 hides,
60 fells, and 300 lbs. of tallow was the daily produce of the royal
shambles. The Queen, at length, granted the required license, which produced
a temporary relief to his greatly embarrassed position. He was £26,000 in
debt, and he could not tell how to pay it. To make matters worse, he had
some 'evil' malt in possession, upon which he lost heavily. One thousand
quarters were still in his possession, after eight hundred and forty had
been sold to Bertram Anderson, of Newcastle, who then said he could take no
more. Money was so sparingly sent from London that, when a mass of treasure
did arrive, it was exceedingly difficult to divide it so as to satisfy the
most clamant. Brown says, 'With such an amount it is as troublesome to
please the recipients as if none had come!' and 'Some evil rumours were
swarming in the heads of the soldiers which broke forth in bills written and
scattered in the streets. A Proclamation, August 5th, 1562, issued for the
whole of England, troubled the Berwick authorities not a little, especially
when they were in such straitened circumstances. Three points in this
proclamation, that caused anxiety, were: First, ought they to proclaim at
all in Berwick, 'which is of the realm, but not in it'. Secondly, the
proclamation limits the size and order of the weapons, and the officers
think that a Town of War should have no such order nor limitation. Thirdly,
the uniform of soldiers was to be altered. Well, if this was to be done, c
the soldiers in this garrison must go naked in the meantime/ It was not only
the soldiers who suffered. Sir Thomas Dacre, Deputy-Governor, complained:
'Extreme necessity causeth me thus plainly to open my misery, for I knew
this charge was thought a relief to me. I was undone before I came to it. I
am now worse, and every day the longer the worse.' Lord Grey adds that 'Dacre
is a very beggar'. This is enough to show the extreme misery that many of
the Queen's servants had to endure.
Lord Grey returned to Berwick
in the autumn of 1561, on the condition that he should remain here only half
a year. At the expiration of the term Cecil refused to relieve him, and,
from Grey's pen, after he had described the state of Berwick and its
fortifications, we have the following appeal (April, 1562):* ' As he
perceives that the preachers who are now absent do not intend to remain
here, he would fain depart in their good company, and become a better man in
his old days, and serve God now/ He asks Cecil 'to help him to some
quietness, and to remember his age and his long troubled time of service/ It
is evident the old man was in failing health, for, although he remained here
during the summer, he retired early in the autumn to Cheshunt, in
Hertfordshire, to the house of his son-in-law, where his death took place
ere the year terminated, on the 25th December, 1562.
A word on the fortifications
at the time of Grey's death—they were not yet nearly finished. To complete
the work, it was now estimated that £50,000 would be necessary, and, from
the sums that were actually paid, we learn that this sum was equalled, if
not exceeded. A declaration of their state in the beginning of this year
shows the exact position in which the surrounding wall then was. The
statement accounts for their height and length from the point of the Bulwark
at the west side (Meg's Mount) unto a place called the Cantewell' (Catwell).
The walls are now built up 14 feet high for 4,743 feet of circuit, and 11
feet high for 370 feet more; and 2,149 feet are yet unfounded. No mention is
yet made here of the part from the Catwell to the Bridge Gate. It was the
intention of the authorities to build the wall 22 feet high, and it was
estimated that it would take 71,238 feet of hewn stone to raise the height
to 20 feet all round. The earthwork for riveting the walls was yet to be
begun. It was to be continued from Roaring Meg, round the north part of the
town, to St. Nicholas Mount (King's Mount), and was to consist ofc yerthe
and hatherwork.
Considerable activity
prevailed during the whole of 1562 on all the different parts of the walls.
Great stores were sent from London to help, such as spades, shovels, scowpes,
malles, steel, soap, elm-planks, gin-ropes, necessaries for carts, tumbrels
for spars, deals for the smiths' forges, and three steel anvils. Johnson
wrote to Cecil on August 22nd that the foundations of the north bulwark next
the Snowke (Windmill Mount), from the middle of the 'Collyon,' all along the
side of the bulwark for about 300 feet, were 10 feet high and 18 feet broad,
and at every 16 feet a buttress was made, which runs 15 or 16 feet into the
rampart. Then again, on December the 9th, Dacre and his friends wrote to
Cecil, 'That before the winter is past a great deal will be in readiness for
the new wall, as well as for making the curtain between the Catwell and the
bulwark at St. Nicholas Ward, and for opening the ditch, that the flanks may
serve to the point of the same bulwark.' They were now contemplating making
the curtain between Bridge Gate and the Catwell, which was to be flanked for
the purpose of stopping the back lanes that lead to the town, so that none
can pass but by the Catwell. The work was actively carried on all the winter
and during the spring of 1563, till the month of April, when, by some sudden
whim, all progress was again stopped for the greater part of that year.
After Grey's death no new
appointment was made for nearly a year; Sir Thomas Dacre, the Marshal, and
Sir John Selby, the Master Porter, acted as deputies. A few unconnected
incidents, which may be chronicled in order, are all that concerns our
history for this year.
Earl Bothwell had an errand
to Queen Mary's uncles in France, and was wrecked in passing along the
coast. He escaped to Holy Island, where he was seized by Queen Elizabeth's
agents, and where he was kept till orders were sent for his disposal. He had
a packet of letters with him concerning the defeat of the Earl of Huntly, a
Roman Catholic. In terror lest he should be delivered to the tender mercies
of the Lords of the Congregation, he begged to be retained by Elizabeth, and
promised that he would willingly serve her Majesty. He was handed over to
Percy at Tynemouth, and thus passes out of our history.
About the same time another
shipwreck occurred, which showed their frequency in those days. Clavering,
who had then charge of Norham Castle, was blamed for taking away materials
from the wreck. But Dacre excused the theft thus: Really, most of the goods
were washed to sea, and the people hereabouts are not to blame. She is a
mere wreck, with her keel upwards. The Admiralty, however, demanded £2,200
for the spoil, upon which Dacre added that this will be the ruin of this
district, for the people got not £44 out of her. Clavering was Thomas
Percy's deputy on the Borders, and Percy thus excused his lieutenants: He is
grieved that no man is arrested, besides those of Norham, when all the world
knows that the soldiers of Berwick had the spoil four hours before the
Norham men came to it. Sir Ralph Grey has many of the goods ; divers
gentlemen carried away two unbroken coffers each before Thomas Clavering.
Sir James Crofts (who was the original offender in this business) had more
than any ten there, although his "finesse" could well enough put the matter
off.
The Scotch lords gave an
account of another shipwreck to Sir Francis Leek. Thomas Kincaid and George
Clapperton had sent a boat laden with dry fish and wheat to Berwick, and the
said boat on the 12th inst. being within the haven, ran aground on the
Spital side, when the inhabitants of Spital and other Englishmen came that
night and spoiled the goods and merchandise forth of the boat, with all her
apparrelling. The writer desires that restitution be made with all
expedition.
Giles Cornwall was a noted
captain of the garrison; an adventure of his occasioned many a hearty laugh
in Berwick in these olden times. Giles was passing through Tweedmouth on a
fine frosty day in February when he heard a noise in a house. He entered,
and when he saw that soldiers caused the noise, he rebuked them. One
returned upon him evil language and drew his weapon. Cornwall drew also, and
in the scuffle gave him a dangerous blow on the head, and then departed. He
made off to Berwick, where he was seized, and told that the man was dead. In
the night he escaped in terror through the 'Windmillehole' and through the
'White Wall Postern,' and was found some time afterward at Coteford, in
Northumberland, when, to his surprise, he was informed that his enemy had,
in a few days, recovered from his hurt.
One act of particular
condescension must be noticed. We have seen that Beverley, though only of
Scotch extraction, was obliged to demit his office in Berwick; but we have
now the fact that John Douglas, a Scotchman, had been preaching in Berwick,
and had proved himself acceptable to Dacre, who sent to the Queen for
permission for Douglas to stay with them. This permission was graciously
granted. For maintenance of the garrison minister every officer was to give
four days' wages and every other in 'Solde' two days. The Queen was to add
£50 per annum.
The conduct of Valentine
Brown, Treasurer, becomes very difficult to account for this year,
especially if he was always a sober man. He was accused of Summoning riotous
meetings of armed persons; he had liberated prisoners committed to ward; he
had caused persons to assemble at night after the watch was set; he cast
fireballs and squibs upon the walls, and he had disputed Dacre's authority.
Brown made light of these accusations in a letter to Cecil: Has heard that
he has been blown upon by Dacre and others, but he requires no favour.
Francis Russell, Earl of
Bedford, received the appointment to the Governorship of Berwick in
December, 1563, and he assumed the office in Berwick on the 29th March,
1564. For the first time in the Guild Books there is a notice of the
incoming of the new Governor, which says that he was treated to a 'propine'
of sugar and wine on his arriving in town, at a cost of £6 3s. 9d. After he
was installed in office, some very sententious precepts were handed to him
from Cecil for his guidance:
1. Think of some nobleman
whom you can take as your pattern.
2. Consider your commission attentively.
3. Weigh well what comes before you.
4. Let your household be an example of order.
5. Allow no excess of apparel, no dispute of princes' affairs at table.
6. Be hospitable, but avoid excess.
7. Be impartial and easy of access.
8. Do not favour lawyers without honesty.
9. Try to make the country gentlemen agree; take their sons as your
servants; train them in artillery, wrestling, etc.
10. Your doings have deserved praise; continue to deserve it.
No sooner was Bedford
appointed than he complained of the defenceless state of the town. He finds
the place weaker and less defensible than he conjectured, being, between the
new and the defacing of the old, a thing of so little strength as a field is
more guardable/ From this time, by means of this report, a new and steady
effort was made to complete the walls and ramparts. In the beginning of this
year the bulwarks called Meg's Mount and Hunsdon's Mount were nearly
finished (...the two extreme bulwarks); Cumberland's, or Middle Mount,
required some further work. The Brass Mount was not more than founded. The
Windmill Mount was founded, but none of it was more than a few feet in
height. This statement shows the work still to be done. Five hundred workmen
and artisans were engaged for the completion of the work, and eight hundred
soldiers of the garrison assisted in this laborious operation. The whole
building went on apace save the work at the Brass Mount. After it was built
up a certain height, the foundation slipped, for it consisted of loose
gravel. The walls having cracked, the whole had to be pulled down, refounded,
and rebuilt. This delayed the completion of the walls till near the close of
1565. The earthwork was not finished till the following year.
The engineers still continued
to debate the question whether the Snook should be encircled with a wall—a
wall taken from the Brass Mount to the top of the sea-cliff, then along the
top of the cliff by the sea, right on by the Pier Road, till it joined the
wall of the town at Hunsdon's Mount. Portinary, the Italian, had long held
that this should be done. He was now supported by Jacob a Contio, a
countryman of Portinary's, who had been brought to view the fortifications.
William Pelham, sent by the Queen to aid in deciding about this debatable
line, took the view of Lee, the resident engineer, that no such wall was
necessary, which opinion, as it took less expense to carry it out,
prevailed. The two Englishmen yielded to the Italians so far as to allow ' a
ditch to be dug overthwart the Snook from the old Cowgate to the sea/ This
is exactly the position of what is now called the € Covered Way.'
It has caused considerable
debate in present times whence all the earth that rivets the walls and forms
the bastions came. The fact seems very clear that there was more than
sufficient at the time for all purposes. A contract was entered into with
one John Fleming, of Berwick, for a thousand marks, to clear, especially
from about the Cowgate, the clay that had accumulated there. He took it away
to fill up some valleys in the 'Snowke' and cast the remainder into the sea.
The mass of earth was undoubtedly furnished, partly, from the earthwork of
the old wall, and, partly, from the ditch or moat that was dug around the
present walls. This ditch was two hundred feet in width, and, in the middle
of this ditch, there was another twelve feet broad and eight feet deep,
which was always kept full of water. This would easily give the requisite
mass of earth for all these purposes.
For the building of the walls
the Queen's officers had seriously defaced the castle, and now contemplated
the destruction of the Bell Tower. Lee recommended (and Bedford agreed with
him) that the castle and Bell Tower should be levelled with the ground. The
Queen at length ordered their demolition. Why this order was not carried
into effect, there is no evidence to show. It was not for another century
that the castle was thus hardly used; while the Bell Tower still stands,
three hundred years after Sir Richard Lee, Surveyor of Berwick, had
determined to raze it to the ground, the only remnant of that old line of
fortification which Edward I. built, and Bruce did so much to strengthen.
The ownership of the 'Snowke'
so frequently mentioned in these transactions, became at this time a matter
of great dispute. It took folios to settle the question, whether it belonged
to the Victualler to feed his beeves for her Majesty's service, to or the
Surveyor that he might feed the horses necessary for the Queen's works going
on at Berwick. After much time was wasted in this argument, it was found to
belong to neither of them, but to the Mayor and Corporation, to whom it had
been granted by Henry IV. in the year 1404 a.d.
The Borders had now, for some
time, been moderately quiet, but this calm was again seriously disturbed—a
consequence of the disorders in Scotland. On Darnley's marriage the Scots
became arrogant. The death of Rizzio and the murder of Mary's husband
intensified this feeling. During the next few years of Scotland's misrule,
all life upon the Borders was stained with rapine and bloodshed. The Elliots
had overthrown the Scots early in August, 1565; the Laird of 'Hakupe' was
slain in Jedwart Forest—one 'tuik him on the heid and dang out all his
harnes;' then thirty or forty Scots raided across the Border to Haggerston,
where men and women were slain, horses and cattle as usual stolen. Supported
by Bothwell's influence, the thieves continued to do great harm. The Berwick
garrison were obliged to take part in the work. On the 5th January, 1566,
being market-day, the Under-Marshal Drury (who had succeeded Dacre on
Bedford's appointment), hearing that certain were spoiling, passed into the
bounds with certain of the garrison without Bedford's knowledge, and,
espying the reivers at 'Down's Law' coming with a trumpet in their company,
appointed certain to prick at them. The reivers fled through Foulden and
Eddington, where one of the Laird of Eddington's men told the Englishmen
that his master was making ready to help them. After the English had passed,
the Laird of Eddington, Davy Hume, and one of the Laird of Blacadder's sons
rode to Chirnside, and then set upon them, hurt two and took seven, slew one
horse and took eight. As the Scots denied they were in the bounds on that
day, he straitly charged the Under-Marshal to tell the truth, i who said
that two of the reivers were standing on a knoll within the Bounds, and that
the rest had already passed the Bound Road.' Bedford commended his captain's
action, and, finding no redress from the Queen of Scots, proceeded in the
usual manner to take revenge. He sent certain captains with three hundred
men of the old garrison of horsemen to Chirnside, to make search for his
men, and to bring them away, with as many horses as would redeem theirs.
However, his men brought sixteen men and forty-one nags. Four men were
slain, and one boy, by chance, was shot with a harquebus. He has sent all
back, save two men and seven horses.'
During the remainder of
Bedford's residence here the Borders were in continual disturbance, which
grew worse and worse, until he was recalled on the 9th October, 1567.
While Bedford was Governor,
many notable persons visited Berwick. The Lords of the Congregation, after
having had hard times in Scotland, came to see the town. Bedford wrote to
Cecil to ask if they might walk on the walls, for they were all well
affected. After their walk they passed into England, where they remained
until 'David's' death, immediately after which they returned to take part in
the stirring affairs which followed that event. Lord Darnley visited the
town about the same time, but it seems to have been a mere pleasure
excursion. Lord Seton, shortly after the last visitor had gone, fled to
Berwick for refuge; for he had slain Francis Douglas, a Scotchman. Murray
and Lethington were both here, travailing in peace-making to little purpose.
Then, greater than all her lords, the Queen of Scotland came and looked upon
it. After she had ridden that terrible ride to Hermitage, after her illness
at Jedburgh and recovery therefrom, after she had actually been burned out
of her house in Jedburgh, she turned towards Berwick. Word had been sent by
Murray to Sir John Forster, deputy there, that as the Queen was passing to
Coldingham, she desired to pass through part of the Bounds. Forster, at
once, ordered the Master of the Ordnance to prepare the great guns, and
ordered all the soldiers to be on the walls with armour and weapons. Leaving
the Master in town, he took with him forty horsemen, and caused the gates to
be locked after him, and so rode to the Bound Road and met her, with Murray,
Huntly, Bothwell, Secretary Lethington, and Lord Hume, with five hundred
horse. She came to Hallidoun Hill and, while she was there, the great
ordnance shot off all that night.' So she passed towards Coldingham.
Bedford, immediately after this, paid a return visit to Scotland, to be
present at the naming of the Prince. On the 9th of December he rode towards
Scotland with all the gentlemen that came to be with him. He expected to be
met at the Bound Road and at Dunbar by a great company. He had received a
letter from Elizabeth about the nomination of the child and thus was ready,
when he got to Stirling, to give advice on this point if asked. Why Bedford
should have troubled himself about the name is not easily comprehended.
These creatures of Elizabeth's wrote about everything. Killigrew, at the
Scotch Court, wrote Cecil thus: He was brought to the Queen's bedside, who
received Queen Elizabeth's letter joyfully; was brought to the young Prince,
whom he found sucking his "nourzee" Afterward he did see him as good as
naked. His head, feet, and hands are, to his judgment, well proportioned.'*
Bedford's health was now
beginning to give way, and he asked for recall from Cecil: Let me pray you
have in remembrance my coming hence at Michaelmas ; for being subject to
rheumes and catarres, as Dr. Hewycke, who knoweth best the state of my body
and complexion, can declare. Fears this winter will make an end of me. I
speak thus only for preservation of health.' He was recalled soon
afterwards, and the management of the garrison fell upon Drury until a new
appointment was made.