Walter Scott of Branxholme and Buccleuch facts for kids
Sir Walter Scott, also known as "Wicked Wat," was an important nobleman from the Scottish Borders. He was the leader, or chief, of Clan Scott. He lived from about 1495 until he was killed on October 4, 1552. Sir Walter was known for being very active in the wars against England, especially during a time called The Rough Wooing. He was also a famous Border reiver, which means he was part of groups that raided across the border between Scotland and England. He was killed in Edinburgh in 1552 because of a long-standing fight with Clan Kerr. His great-grandson, Sir Walter Scott, 1st Lord Scott of Buccleuch, was known as the "Bold Buccleuch" and was famous for rescuing a man named Kinmont Willie Armstrong.
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Who Was Sir Walter Scott?
Sir Walter Scott was the son of another Sir Walter Scott of Buccleuch and Elizabeth Kerr. His father became the baron of Branxholme in 1492.
Becoming a Knight
Walter Scott became a knight at the Battle of Flodden on September 9, 1513. This was a very sad battle for Scotland, and many of his relatives died there. He officially inherited his father's lands on October 27, 1517. Later, in 1519, he was given an important job as the Baillie (a type of manager) of the lands belonging to Melrose Abbey. This job later became something his family could pass down through generations.
Challenges and Conflicts
In 1524, Walter Scott was held in Edinburgh. This happened after a disagreement with Margaret Tudor, who was the Queen Mother and wife of King James IV. The argument was about land. However, he managed to escape that same year. He then joined forces with powerful nobles like Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus.
In 1526, the young king, James V, asked Scott for help. The king wanted to escape from the control of the Douglas family, led by Angus. Scott gathered 600 horsemen to stop the king's group. However, Scott's forces were defeated by Angus's army at the Battle of Melrose on July 25. The Scotts lost 100 men and were chased away by the Kerrs. During this chase, one of Scott's men killed Kerr of Cessford. This event started a very serious and bloody feud between the Kerr and Scott families, which ended with Scott's own murder 26 years later. After this, Scott was put in prison and sent away from Scotland for a while, but he was pardoned in 1528.
In 1532, the Earl of Northumberland from England burned Branxholme Tower, which was Scott's home. In return, Scott led 3,000 horsemen on a big raid into England. He was later imprisoned again in 1535 and 1540.
Family Life
Sir Walter Scott was married three times and had several children.
First Marriage
His first wife was Elizabeth Carmichael, whom he married before 1523. They had two sons:
- David, who was meant to inherit many of his father's lands. He died young before 1544 and never married.
- Sir William Scott of Kincurd (died 1552). He was the father of Sir Walter Scott, 4th of Buccleuch, and the grandfather of Walter Scott, 1st Lord Scott of Buccleuch.
Second Marriage
To try and end the feud between the Scotts and the Kerrs, Sir Walter married Janet Kerr in 1530. She was the daughter of Andrew Kerr of Fernihirst. They did not have any children together and later divorced.
Third Marriage
Before June 1544, he married his third wife, Janet Beaton (1519–1569). They had several children:
- Walter
- David
- Janet
- Grisel, who married William Borthwick, 6th Lord Borthwick
- Margaret
Janet Beaton was later believed to have used witchcraft to influence Mary, Queen of Scots, and her husband, James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell.
The Rough Wooing Wars
After King James V died in 1542, Sir Walter Scott was one of the Scottish nobles who did not want the young Mary, Queen of Scots, to marry Prince Edward, who was the son of King Henry VIII of England. This disagreement led to wars with England, which are now known as The Rough Wooing.
In 1543, Scott was made the Keeper of Newark Castle for 19 years. In 1545, Scott joined forces with other Scottish leaders against the English invaders at the Battle of Ancrum Moor. He led a group of borderers in a surprise attack that defeated the English forces.
Scott also fought in the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh on September 10, 1547. After Scotland lost this battle, Scott gave in to King Edward VI of England. However, in 1548, the English captured and burned Newark Castle. Tragically, Scott's mother, Elizabeth Kerr, died when her home, the tower of Catslack, was set on fire by the English in October 1548.
In 1550, Scott was given the important job of Warden of the Middle Marches, which meant he was in charge of keeping order along the border. In 1551, he became Warden and Justiciar of Liddesdale.
His Murder
On October 4, 1552, Sir Walter Scott was walking on the High Street in Edinburgh. A group of Kerrs and their followers attacked him. A man named John Hume of Coldenknowes stabbed Scott with his sword, shouting, "Strike! One strike for your father's sake!" Even after being wounded, Scott was still alive, so his attackers stabbed him many more times until he died. His grandson, also named Sir Walter Scott (who died in 1574), took over as the head of the family. This grandson was the father of the famous "Bold Buccleuch."
In Books and Stories
Sir Walter Scott is an important character in a series of historical novels called the Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett. He appears in the first book, The Game of Kings, and his death is a key part of the story in the third book, The Disorderly Knights.
