reivers

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reivers or moss-troopers were the names given to border raiders. There was little protection against them, save the building of peel towers and bastle-houses as temporary refuges. Liddesdale on the Scottish side and Redesdale on the English were notorious nests for reivers. Repeated agreements were made between the monarchs of England and Scotland to permit the border wardens to bring offenders to justice and a special code of border law operated. Even after the personal union of the kingdoms in 1603 it remained difficult to put down raids.

J. A. Cannon

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