Routledge (surname)

Routledge (Surname) Chronology AD 1500s

During the 16th century, people with the surname Routledge, and its numerous variant spellings, lived along the Anglo Scottish border, adjacent the counties of Cumberland and Northumerland in England, and the shires of Roxburgh and Dumfries in Scotland. Many volatile events of the 1500s directly affected the lives of every border family, from tenant farmer to landlord to border official. England had been aiming for sovereignty over Scotland for the previous 200 years. The monarchies of both countries were frequently under threat from rebellious noblemen. Border inhabitants, commoner and aristocrat alike, lived through intermittent warfare, violent religious reforms, and periods of famine and pestilence. Under such constant stress, civility broke down the predominantly agricultural society based on feudal tenure. Lawlessness prevailed whereby the term Border Reiver (raider) defined about 75 surnames, Routledge included, that engaged in livestock rustling as normal activity. Many Routledge men and their peers lived and died by the sword as the following chronology will attest. History recorded their misdeeds and misfortunes without acknowledging any joys and pleasures they might have experienced. Ultimately, some of these rough and ready Routledges survived these hard times and gradually moved on to thrive in all walks of life in all parts of the modern world. The quoted sources listed below define the lives of 16th century border families and places them within context of the powerful forces that recorded their names for posterity and for the benefit of future family historians. Events of the 1400s are recorded at Routledge (surname). NOTE: Spelling throughout this article is given as in the original document.

Routledge of Roxburghshire

To date Routledge families have been found living on both sides of the Scottish/English border as well as abroad in France. Some lived in and around Hawick Roxburghshire (Teviotdale) where, by and large, they occupied respectable positions as burgesses (free town citizens) and acted as officials for their Douglas overlords who, by this time, were headed by the Earls of Angus.

AD 1501. However, one Routledge family was more inclined to settle disputes by vengeful means, and, if given names are any proof, this was the same Routledge (surname) family that had lost all of its Hawick and Branxholm lands to the Scotts of Buccleuch in the mid-1400s. In the Scottish Exchequer Rolls Mathei Routlich, Jacobi Routlich, Johannis Routlich, and Symonis Routlich are listed among a group of 25 mostly Rutherford men whose fines for some mischief had been compounded and charged to Walter Ker of Cessford and Henry Haitle of Mellostanis. Evidently Ker and Haitle, as landlords, had been required to stand as "surety" for the crimes of their riders. The specific crimes are not disclosed but likely had to do with one of the many clan feuds typical of this era.

AD 1508. David Routledge, sergeando [sergeant] was a witness for the 2nd Earl of Bothwell (Adam Hepburn), lord of Liddesdale. Douglases had held Liddesdale until 1491 when Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Angus (1449-1513), resigned the lordship over to the Hepburns.

AD 1510. Evidence that certain Routledges held a grudge against Scotts of Buccleuch comes via the indictment of one John Dalgleish who must have had his own reasons for attacking the powerful Buccleuch clan.

John Dalglese [Dalgleish]...Item, for treasonable in-bringing of Black John Roucleche and his accomplices, traitors of Leven [Line River, Bewcastle England], to the burning of Branxham, and the hereschip [plunder] of horses, oxen, grain, and other goods, extending to [??] markis, and...And because he could not find sureties to satisfy the parties, judgment was given that he [John Dalgleish] should be warded by the Sheriff forty days; and, if he could not find sureties in the meantime, that he should be hanged.

AD 1511. Mathew Routledge witnessed a "Sasine" [delivery of feudal property] of William Dowglas of Drumlanark [Drumlanrig], knight, in the town of Hawick...

AD 1512. David Routledge witnessed a charter for William Douglas of Drumlanrig and Alexander Home.

Charter by William Douglas of Drumlanrig knight and lord of the barony of Hawick, granting and selling to Alexander Lord Home great chamberlain of Scotland, the lands of Braidlie in the barony of Hawick and sheriffdom of Roxburgh. To be held of the granter and his heirs for a blench duty of a red rose at Midsummer. Dated at Jedburgh 14th January 1512-13. Witnesses, Andrew Ker of Fairneyhirst, Andrew Macdowall of Mackerstouon, William Maitland, William Scot, David Routlege and James Blair.

AD 1512. David Routledge witnessed a charter for James Douglas of Cavers and Andrew Cranston.

Precept [deed] of seizin [possession] by James Douglas of Caveris directing David Routlesche, Andrew Cranstoun, and others his bailies [bailiffs] in that part to give heritable seizin to William Cranstoun of that ilk, knight, of all and whole the ten pound lands of the granter's dominical lands of Dennome [Denholm] and various other lands specified in the preceding, in the barony of Cavers and shire of Roxburgh, which lands belonged to the said William heritably. . .

AD 1514. English raiders attacked Hawick but were routed by the town's youth. The victory is celebrated to this day. It is presumed that Routledges, as citizens of Hawick, were involved.

A marauding party of the English, the year after the Battle of Flodden [1513] came up the Teviot for plunder...Recollections of Flodden sharpened the revenge of the people...about 200 stout men...met the English plunderers at Trows, two miles below Hawick, where a desperate conflict took place. The enemy, about forty in number, with a flag were come upon rather by surprise...a complete massacre ensued. The flag was taken and scarcely a soldier escaped. This colour or its emblem has been carried round the marches of the burgh property at the Common Riding ever since.

Routledge and Scotland Divided by English and French Factions

AD 1520s to 1530s. Rival factions vied for control of the infant King James V (1512-1542) and, as in the previous century, Douglases were aimimng for ultimate power: in 1514, the Queen Mother Margaret (nee Tudor) married Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus, hardly a year after the death of her husband, James IV. That turbulent marriage was only one force at work against the tranquility of Scotland. Angus headed an English faction conspiring with Henry VIII to gain control of James V through marriage to Henry's daughter, the Princess Mary. A pro-French faction also held sway under John Stewart, Duke of Albany who had been born and raised in France. Meanwhile, Margaret's faction gained support from James Hamilton, Earl of Arran.

AD 1525-1526. Routledges rode with the Scotts of Buccleuch. In January 1526, Walter Scott of Branxholme and Buccleuch (1504-1552), led a party of 150 men, including John and Archibald Routlage, against the Earl of Arran and the pro-Margaret side. It isn't clear whether this move was in support of any particular faction. Most likely Buccleuch was simply maneuvering for future favor from the young King James who was bound to come into his own sooner or later, in which case, his assumption proved correct as evidenced by a letter of pardon from James. What the Routledges had to gain in this scenario is anybody's guess, but they, too, were pardoned along with the rest of the participants.

James, by the grace of God King of Scottis, to all and sundry our Justicis, Schereffis, Chalmerlanes, Justice Clerkis, Crownaris, and thair deputis, and all vtheris oure officiaris, liegis, and subditti quham it efferis, quhais knawlege thir our lettres...with avis of the Lordis of oure Counsale...Walter Scot of Branxhelme, knycht, Andro Ker of Prymside, John Cranstoun of that Ilk, William Stewart of Tracquar, James Stewart his bruther...[a long list of names including] John and Archibald Routlage...and ilkane of thame for thair tresonable art and part of convocatioun of our liegis cumand in feir of weir...

AD 1537. A new town charter for Hawick replaced an earlier one that had been lost and was later reaffirmed by Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-1567). Hawick citizens mentioned in the charter included one David Rutlethe or Routlach who received "eight particates," (one particate = about one-quarter of a Scots acre), second only in size to that of William Scott who received 11 particates. The charter is significant because it was written at a period when "vassal" rights were "precarious" due to the might-makes-right mentality that prevailed during these times. Later on when Hawick became a corporation, the Charter became the "measure" of property rights.

Routledge and Border Reivers

AD 1520s-1530s. People living along the Scottish/English border were so entangled in their dual heritage during the previous 200 years of intermittent warfare that they hardly knew or cared to which king or country they owed allegiance. Duty to family assumed utmost importance. When called upon during frequent hostilities either between the two countries or, just as often, between feuding overlords, nobility and commoner alike would don their steel helmets and pikes, saddle their "nags," as their small but robust horses were called, and head into a fray on one side or the other -- but only to the extent it suited each man's own purpose.

During truce or peace times, with their homelands neglected or ravaged by fire and sword, borderers, prompted by physical need or self-righteous anger, made a living rustling livestock, usually by cross-border incursions into enemy territorty or maybe even closer to home if some feud or another needed settling. Rather than planting crops only to see them razed to the ground, reiving became normal routine for border inhabitants. Some 70+ surnames, including certain Routlege families, made a sporting game of these raiding activities, and the prize was booty; any goods that could be carried or livestock herded was fair game. Reiving parties sallied forth on horseback over bog and moss trails known only to the initiated. Sooner or later "hot-trod" posses and/or retaliation raids followed wherein the victims became perpetrators. Betrayal, ambush, and blind-siding all had a place in the game, so that a raid might turn into a rout.

Ludicrously, the political elite of both countries branded the reiving surnames as theives and traitors, which would have been true enough if the so-called authorities had included themselves in those criminal categories. History shows that kings to nobles to officers of both crowns either complicitly or actively employed marauding tactics, each and all claiming their ends justified whatever means. In actuality, what was really happening was the beginning of the end of a centuries-old feudal system that kept the common-born population firmly under control of one noble-born master or another.

Routledge of Liddesdale, Eskdale, Bewcastle, and the Debatable Lands

Some Routledge families lived in more notorious border communities such as Liddesdale on the Scottish side, or in Bewcastle and surrounding villages on the English side, all of which were situated adjacent to long-disputed, lawless territory called the Debatable Lands.

...lying between the Sark and the Esk as far up the latter as its junction with the Liddel...had come to be known as the 'Batabel or threip lands' – the Debatable Lands. This district was conveniently situated for the resort of lawless men of both nations [who]...had become demoralised by the incessant Border warfare into nothing better than banditti...

AD 1528, 28 February. Territories on both sides of the border were divided into three "Marches": east, middle, and west, with each March governed by an appointed Warden. The reiving families of Liddesdale (Scotland) and the Debatable Lands (no man's, disputed land) had grown so powerful as to be a law unto themselves. Most notorious among the reiving clans, the Armstrongs were reported able to raise a force of 3,000 armed English and Scottish followers, including some of the surname Routledge. Clearly, these night-riding raiders had lost all respect for feudal authority. Both English and Scottish regimes aimed to subdue them. At this time William Dacre, 3rd Baron Dacre, as Warden of the English West March, determined to take on the Liddesdale riders and their friends even though LIddesdale was not in his jurisdiction. Dacre reported on prisoners taken during a foray. Notably, nicknames were commonly used to distinguish between close family members who shared the same given name.

Thies are the names of the prisoners that remaynes here in Carlisle Castell. . .Dande Nicson, Clement's brother; John Nicson of the Maynes; Cristol Routlege, Lyon's son; James Routlege, Geo[rge] Routledge, Donned Rolland's son; Matho Lytell called Gutterholes; Peter Whithede; Davy Crawe. New made: Cristoll Nobill; Jok Nikson, called Deif Jok.

AD 1528, 25 May. After a series of retaliation and revenge forays perpetrated by Armstrong cohorts, deputy Warden Christopher Dacre led a failed attempt at destroying Scottish Routledges, called "Qwyskes," who were living in the Debatable Land and who had escaped into the wilds of Tarras Moss.

the Routleges called the Qwyskes was drawen to the shellis with their goods in the head of Terres which is the uttermost part of all the said Debateable Ground, and there missed the persons selves by reason of the great strength of the woods and mosses, and took their goods, that is to say, four-score head of nolt, five-score sheep and forty gate, and returning burnt the houses of Black Joke's sons upon the Mere burn adjoining the side of Lidisdale. On Saturday last the Armstrongs, by the counsel of Wm. Grame [Graham] and his children, and some of the Irwens [Irvines] of Hodome by that of Maxwell [Warden Scottish West March], came to Artreth [Arthuret], and burnt the waste houses of the Grames and some of "the houses of the Storres [Storeys]

...we find accordingly, foray after foray [into England] Brakanhill... Randolenton... the ground between Esk and Leven [Bewcastle]... Arthuret... Howende... Stuble... Stubbleholme... Netherby... We have no doubt these inroads were undertaken to avenge the frequent attempts the English Warden [Dacre] had made to clear the Debatable land of the Armstrongs and other Scottish subjects. The English officers, however, did not tamely submit to these invasions...deputy warden Sir Christopher Dacre entered the Debatable land on the night of 25th May. This expedition, which was principally against the Routeledges, called the Qwyskes, met with but little success, as they had retired, with their goods, to the shealings in the head of Terres, 'which was the uttermost part of all the said Debateable ground.' Dacre failed to overtake them, 'on account of the great strength of the woods and mosses,' but he succeeded in securing 80 nolt, 100 sheep, and 40 groats...

Routledge and the Pilgrimage of Grace

AD 1530s. England's King Henry VIII, having found himself without a male heir to the throne after 23 years married to Katherine of Aragon, determined to divorce her and marry the ill-fated Anne Boleyn -- the second of Henry's six wives. To gain this end, he defied the Church of Rome, declared himself head of a reformed Church of England and set about the dissolution of Catholic monasteries, thus inspiring much alarm among his predominently Catholic northern counties. From Yorkshire to Cumberland, thousands of rebellious noblemen and commoners joined in a popular uprising called Pilgrimage of Grace in October 1536. Loyalist and rebel clashes ensued across the land, adding to tensions exacerbated by successive bad harvests, rising grain prices, complaints between landlords and tennants, and an assortment of nasty family feuds. With the quelling of the uprising many rebels faced execution.

AD 1537. Whether or not William Routlege and his son Thomas were rebel supporters or merely engaging in typical reiver activities against their old persecutor, Lord Dacre, is not clear, but they, and a party of 50 Scots, attended a riot at Gilsland, a town under Lord Dacre's barony, located about 10 miles from Bewcastle. For that event they were indicted and tried for treason. William was acquitted but Thomas was found guilty and, presumably, ended his life on a hangman's rope or worse if the medieval punishment for treason was applied, that of hanging, disembowelling, drawing, and quartering.

Riots in Cumberland. Indictment of Wm Routlege and Thomas his son, late of Lukkyns de Levyn, Cumberland, for having, with Will Armstrang alias Willy Cut, Edm Armstrang his brother, Alan Forster alias Blontwod, John alias Jok Halidaye, and John Graye, Scots, assembled to the number of 50, on 7 June 29 Hen. VIII., at Hestedeheshe on the water of King in Gillesland, Cumb., attacked and murdered Thomas and John Crawe and Thos. Crawe, jun.

AD 1540s. The aging and increasingly tyrannical Henry VIII, in keeping with his Rough Wooing policies, issued instructions to his English March wardens to induce the riding surnames to the English side by bribery, coercion, or any means available-—no matter which side of the border they lived on-—the purpose being to weaken Scottish resolve to remain independent of England. And, it was evidently clear that rebels and outlaws fought for whichever side produced the right enticements. Thus, a duplicitous Thomas Wharton, 1st Baron Wharton, Warden of the English West March, wrote to his superior, Suffolk, (the English field commander) about recent "exploits" of his accomplice reivers.

1541/2 25 January. Wharton to Suffolk. Post Scripta: Advertising your grace that upone Sunday at night last, one Wille Routlege Ynglishman ande others Ynglish ande Scotismen to the nombre of xiiijt [16] persons, brent [burned] foure stakkes of corne ande a barne they did set in fyer at Jedworthe of the Abbotes of Jedworthe. And the same night, two myll [mile] from Jedworthe, in thar commyng home, they brent also of the abbotes, sex stakkes of corne standing at a graynge callid the Lard of Langlandes, as one Routleg namyd hime.

The seconde of Novembre in the night, James Routledge, Davie Blakburn, and John Foster, with others Ynglishe and Scotesmen to the nombre of lx [60] men, brent the townes of Sonnyside, Lathome, and Wowfferes, apon the wattere [river or stream] of Rowllie, being of the Humes' landes, brought away three horses and hurt sounder [sundry] Scotsmen there, There was sum of them selfes hurt but none left behind..

Scotland Complains of English Incursions

AD 1541. Cross-border raiding and posting of complaints were standard practice, with opposing wardens, injured parties, and accused reivers expected to attend truce days whereby complaints were filed, sureties and penalties were dutifully ordered and frequently ignored, all according to a set of rules that had evolved as border-law over the centuries.

Thir ar ane part of the slauchteris [slaughters] committit and done in the Myddle Marchis [central borders] sen the taking of the trewis [truce]...Complenis [complains] the lord of Fernieheist and his puir tennentis of Abbot Rowll [Abbot Rule], upon Don[ned] George Rowtleische, his brodir [brother], Jame Rowtleische, sone to Reyd Rolland, James Rowtleische [Englishmen] of the Todhoillis, Wille Grame callit [called] Will of the Belle, Mathew Frostar of the Dowhill, Cudde Graham, Dand Ellot, callit Baggott, Wille Grame, Arthuris maich, the Grame callit Ser, John Richartson, servand to Thomas Dacre, and thair fallowis, that thai cruellie slew Thome Oliver and Will Kowman.

Complenis Robene Scott of Alanehauch and his puir tennentis of Quhitchister, apon Jawfray Routleische, Blak Jok Rowtleische his sone, Ady Frostar of the Dowhill, Mathew Frostar his broder, Hobbis Robene Frostar, Wille Frostar his brodre, and their fallowis to the numer of fyfty men, that thai come to Quhitchistar, and thair brynt [burnt] and tuik away thre scoir ky [cow] and oxin, horss, meris, and insycht [furnishings], and presonaris [prisoners], again the vertu of the trewis, and breking of the Wardanis band maid at Expethgaitt...

Complenis Gynkeyn Armstrang, Niniane Armstrang, Archibald Armstrang, Berty Armstrang, Alexander Armstrang, Thome Noble, Quyntyne Rowtleisch, and thair nychtbowris [neighbours], Scottismen, apon Thomas Dacre, brodre to the Lord Dacre, and Wardane deput undir Schir Thomas Whairtoun, Wardane of the West Marchis of Ingland...and slew Andro Armstrang, as of befoir, tuik and drave away xx? of ky and oxin, xxx? Sheip, x? gait, j? swyne, xfj horse and meris, and udir guides...

England Complains of Scottish Incursions

"Thomas Trumbull, George Rutherford, and other Scotishmen, to the nombre of anne hundreth men, comme to the baly in the realme of Inglond, and cruelly slewe and murdured John Routlege and Robert Nobill, Inglishmen... " Davy Pennango, and other Scotsmen, to the nombre of x personnes with hym, comme to a place in Gilleslande called Brome, and there cruelly slewe and murdured the wif of Andro Routlege, Englishwoman..."

Routledge More English than Scottish

Joke Routlege Swears Allegiance to England

AD 1543. King Henry VIII of England lost all patience in persuading the Scots to see value in uniting the two kingdoms. Scotland's "Auld Alliance" with France seemed to be gaining import as French soldiers and money arrived in Scotland. Finally, the death, in 1541, of Scotland's dowager Queen Margaret (Henry's sister) left no incentive for peace, and so began the wretched decade of "Rough Wooing" with Henry determined to subdue Scotland by force. Meanwhile, many Scottish reiving families, having become completely disenchanted with their feudal masters, decided to declare for the English faction. Numerous Armstrongs and one Joke Routlege went to Carlisle to take a solemn oath before Sir Thomas Wharton, in his capacity at that time as Captain of Carlisle Castle. They swore that they and their kin would "henceforth" serve the king of England and, as assurance of their loyalty, they "appointed sixteen persons to lie in pledge." .

Evidently, Wharton's superior, the Duke of Suffolk, had little faith in oaths made by by Scotsmen:

Nowe of late I, the Duke of Suffolk, am advertised that the chief of the Armestranges, and of the Rowteleges, and the Nycsones of Lyddesdale, offred to Syr Thomas Wharton to serve the kinge with an hundreth horse men and an hundreth foote men, and to be sworne the kinges subjects and to dwell in Lyddesdale or in the Batable Ground or where the king will apointe theim in Englonde to dwell, so that they may have their frendes now beinge prisoners in the castles of Carlisle and Alnwik, who were takinge, robbinge and burninge in Englond, to be discharged and set at libertie, and also to put at libertie foure prisoners Englisshe men, which they toke at the burning of Sleyley, whan there kynnesmen were taken. Wherunto Syr Thomas Wharton, to whome they made this offre hath made none other aunswer but that he woll advertise the lorde warden therof, and so aftre make aunswer. Whereunto I have advised my said lorde warden to followe the same aunswer that hertofore hath bene given theim, whereby the Scottes shall not have occasion to saye that we have broken the treux in takinge to maytenaunce there subjectes breakers of the same treux. And besides that thies broken men be of that sorte that no promyse by them made dureth longer then it maketh for there purpose.

AD 1550. Despite Suffolk's opinion of the loyalty of Scots reivers, the Liddesdale Routledges, at least, appear to have been sincere as, from this point on, history regards them as more English than Scottish. No doubt some of the surname Routledge continued living peacefully and without much notice in Scotland, with the exception of certain outlawed cohorts of the Liddesdale and Eskdale reivers.

Routledge and Scottish Liddesdale: Thomas Walghe, George Walghe, George Purdome, Jamy Purdome, resset [resides criminally] with Alexander Armstrang at Monkbyk...in Liddersdell. Jenkyn Nykson, resset with 'rede' Sym Ar[mstrong]. Sandy Armstrang, Antony Armstrang, Edward Nobil, one Routledge called 'tyn spede,' ressett with George Armstrang, called ' Georgy gay with hym.'"

AD 1561. While there had been no state-sponsored wars between the two countries since the so-called "Rough Wooing," border feuding continued to plague all attempts at civilizing the people whose very livelihood had so long depended on livestock rustling, protection rackets and hostage taking. Such was the case on January 30, 1561 when a group of Scottish Elliots captured Thomas Routledge and turned him over to Sir John Kerr, lord of Fernieherst. Neither the underlying cause nor the final outcome of this event are clear but no doubt had something to do with cross-border reiving.

Last of the Reiving Routledges of Scotland

AD 1569. With religious reformation well underway in both England and Scotland, Protestant versus Catholic clashes added religious zeal to civil breakdown among nobility and commoners alike. The reign of England's zealously Catholic Mary Tudor (1516-1558) had come and gone as had that of her Protestant half-brother, Edward VI (1537-1553), who died at the age of 16. Elizabeth I (1533-1603) , the last of the Tudor monarchs, held the throne of England. Elizabeth's cousin, Mary Queen of Scots (1542-1587), a devout Catholic, had returned from France to assume her disastrous reign in Scotland. By 1569, she had been forced to abdicate and was on the run. Her Protestant half-brother, James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray (1530-1570), as Regent of Scotland, assembled a force supposedly to rid border communities of disorderly reivers, including those of the surname Routlaige. But more than one historian concluded that this cleanup foray was a thinly disguised excuse for retaliating against any border family that had rallied against the Protestant party to fight on the side of Queen Mary.

. . .thirty-two of the principal barons, provosts, and bailies of towns, and other chief men, subscribed a band [bond] at Kelso, on the 6th April 1569. Representing the counties of Berwick, Roxburgh, Selkirk, and Peebles, they bound themselves to concur to resist the rebellious people of Liddesdale, Ewesdale, Eskdale, and Annandale, and especially all of the names of Armstrong, Elliot, Nixon, Liddel, Bateson, Thompson, Irving, Bell, Johnston, Glendonyng, Routlaige, Henderson, and Scotts of Ewesdale. Further, they undertook that they would not intercommune with any of them, nor suffer any meat, drink, or victuals to be bought or carried to them nor suffer them to resort to markets or trysts within the bounds, nor permit them to pasture their flocks or abide upon any lands 'outwith Liddesdale,' unless within eight days they should find sufficient and responsible sureties. 'And all others not finding sureties within said space, we shall pursue to the death with fire and sword, and all other kinds of hostility.'. . . signed [by] Lord Home, Walter Ker of Cessford, Thomas Ker of Fernihirst, and Sir Walter Scott of Buccleuch. NOTE: Printed in Pitcairn's Criminal Trials, from the Original in H.M. General Register House, Edinburgh.

AD 1580. During the last decades of the 16th century, according to muster rolls taken in 1580, Routledges were living and "fit for service" in both the West and East Marches of England. In Cumberland, Mathew and John Rowtledge lived in Askerton Lordshippe; Randell Reutledge lived in Lannercost; Thomas, Andrew, and William Reutledge lived in "Watton Parish;" and Lancelote Reutledge lived in Skailby. In 1584, John, Christofer, Thomas, and Rigmone Rutliche were found to be "effective men" living in Kilham, a village in Northumberland [English East March] located near the border of Roxburghshire Scotland. Many other Routledges went uncounted in the more unruly districts because, as the officials recorded, the "inhabitantes within Eske, Leven, Bewcastell, and Kirklinton" did not muster-up.

Routledge, Musgrave Allegiance 1530s through 1590s

Routledges had been living in England since the 1480s, having been awarded land at Bewcastle Cumberland in exchange for military service to King Richard III of England. There they remained and proliferated as tenants of the English crown while gradually spreading to other parts of England. Accordingly with their expected military duty, many Routledge men proved themselves ready and willing to bear arms under the command of the Musgraves of Eden Hall, a family of ancient lineage whose men were "trained in service for defence of Her Majesty's poor people.

A succession of Musgrave men served as captains or constables of Bewcastle during the 16th to early 17th centuries. The Musgraves and Routledges alike were born and bred to take up arms. Evidence that the sword topped the Routledge sense of duty and pride is displayed on most of their gravestones extant from that era.

Routledge [arms] are found at Bewcastle and Stapleton. All the shields. . .bear or are intended to bear a chevron between a garb and a sprig of willow, and in chief a sword fessways.

Routledge, Musgrave, Dacre,

AD 1534. In those turbulent times, it was the legal duty of officials to raise a "hot trod" posse to pursue raiders, and, furthermore, it was the duty of all men within hearing of the alarm to respond. According to Sir William Musgrave, nothing of the sort had happened when, in 1534, a band of Scots from Liddesdale murdered one John Rutlage, a liegeman of Musgrave, without William Dacre, Warden of the English West March, taking reprisals against the perpetrators. Incensed, Musgrave formally accused Dacre with treasonous activities and dereliction of duty. Musgrave claimed Dacre had "machinated" that he, Sir William Musgrave and "all his tenants, might be slain by the Scots, and their houses and chattels destroyed." Dacre was indicted, tried, and subsequently acquitted.

Routledge, Musgrave and the Battle of Solway Moss

AD 1542. The reign of James V of Scotland came to a sorry end shortly after a devastating defeat at the Battle of Solway Moss wherein a Scottish army of some 15-20,000 invaded England's West March and was thoroughly beaten and routed by a hastily assembled English force of 3,000 light horsemen. Many Scots noblemen were taken hostage. A jubilant Sir Thomas Wharton wrote a lengthy letter to Henry VIII triumphantly listing the prisoners to be held for ransom, including the "Earl of Cassill who Batill Routlege has taken, though John Musgrave claimeth a part for the loan of his horse to the said Routlege."

AD 1583. Throughout their tenure, Musgraves were frequently engaged in self-serving and controversial disputes with other English border officials, such as certain persons of the Dacre, Carleton, and Graham families. In 1583, Sir Simon Musgrave, wrote to Queen Elizabeth's principal secretary, Francis Walsingham:

I am sore trobled and put in great danger of my lyf by the disordered Graymes [Grahams] and the envious Carletons, who seek my lyfe and lyvinge both by false and untrue dealing and by confederating with Scotishmen to murder me and my son Thomas who, being in Scotland to take revenge of injuries done to the office of Bewcastle,. . .was assaulted in English ground by Arthur Grayme and his accomplices to the number of 100 English men and Scottish men. . .[and by] a jury of their own men and appointment of Thomas Carleton. . .found my son guilty of willful murder and forty of my servants.

Contrarily, in 1583, Francis Graham petitioned the same Walsingham complaining that Sir Simon Musgrave and his son Thomas had taken 160 cows and oxen from them, and during that fray Thomas had "murdered" one Arthur Graham.

Quite likely Routledge men stood alongside Musgraves in these quarrels as well as partaking in hot-trod reprisals against the Armstrongs, Elliots, Grahams, and other notorious English and Scottish reivers. On one occasion, Sir Simon Musgrave wrote to a friend explaining that his son Christopher had rounded up four notable Armstrong thieves and delivered them to "Her Majesty's gaol at Carlisle where three of them were executed." Since then, Musgrave concluded:

the friends of the said prisoners, to the number of 400 men, have confederated themselves against me, my friends and children, to run upon us with fire and sword, and have put the same in proof by spoiling a man of mine named George Rowtledge. . .This attempt has put all the inhabitants of Cumberland in great fear, for the like has not been done since I was born.

Routledge regard for the Musgrave family is further evidenced in three of five Routledge wills testated between 1597 and 1631, which were interpretated by J V Harrison and presented to the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archeogocial Society in 1967.

In his final will and testament, in 1597, John Rowtlidge of the Blackdubs entrusted his "master," Thomas Musgrave, captain of Bewcastle, with the task of collecting a debt owed by one Marmaduke Stavely. Furthermore, he entrusted Musgrave to be "umpear" [umpire] in case of any disputes to this will.

NOTE: That Rowtlidge loaned Stavely money suggests some sort of relationship between the two men. Stavely is recorded in a 1583 "brief abstract of the musters of light horsemen. . .in Beaucastell" as one of two "gentlemen deputies to Sir Symonde Musgrave," the second gentleman being John Musgrave.

NOTE: A second relationship between Stavely and Routledge families is recorded in the parish registers of St Olave York or St Michael le Belfrey when Anne Stavely of York married Hector Rowtlidge on November 26, 1587.

In his 1597 will, Rowland Rutledge of the Nook wrote about the the marriage of his granddaughter Elizabeth Rutledge, that she "shall marrie when it pleaseth my maister Thomas Musgrave captain of Bewcastle."

In 1631, John Routledge of Dapleymoor made Edward Musgrave "supervisor" of his will because of the "good opinion I have."

Routledge, Musgrave and Cross-Border Connections

AD 1583. Desperate that the powers in London might understand the difficulties facing him and his under officers, Thomas Musgrave, as Deputy Captain of Bewcastle, wrote to one of Queen Elizabeth's chief counsellors, William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley. First, Musgrave complained that in his official capacity he had endured not only "the loss of my blood and many troblesome travels and dangers, but [also] the loss of my dear frends and companyons which have been cruelly murdered by the rebellious Scottes." Musgrave then followed his opening remarks with complete descriptions of the "riders and ill doers both of England and Scotland," including the "names, dwellynges, and allyaunces" of every family living along the rivers Lydall, Eske, Sarke, and their small tributaries as they proceed to the sea from Scotland to England, including many of the surname Routledge.

. . .John Rutledge of the Cructborne slayne by Scottish riders, Gerry his son; Adam Rutledge of the Netclugh, Anton Rutledge and Andrew Rutledge of the same; Dikes Rowe Rutledge; Jeme Rutledge of the Neuk; Jeme Rutledge of the Baley Head, Thom Rutledge of the same. All these dwell in a place called the Bale, within the Fosters. More Rutlidges dwell down the water of Leven, John Ruttlidge of the Black Dobs, Nicoll Rutlidge his brother; Andrew Rutlidge called Black stafe; Gourthe Rutledge of Sletbeke, Jeme Rutlidge of the same; Will Rutlidge of Comerauke, Riche, John, and Jeme of the same; John Ruttlidge of Troughed, Rich and John Rutlidge of the same, Allan Rutlidge his brother; Willi Rutledge of the Lukknes, and many more I omit for tedyousnes to your honor. . .John Rutlidge of Kemorflat, Will Rutlidge of Kyrkbekmouth dwell within the demayne of Bewcastell. More Rutliges live at the Belbank, namely Clem Rutlidge of the Kyll, Jenkin Rutlidge of Belbanke, Will Rutlidge of Nunsclughe, Gorth Rutlidge of Masthorne, these join upon Gilsland my lorde of Arrundalls land. How be it the furthest part of Lyddisdale and the furthest part of Bewcastell are not distance of xvj [16] miles so as the ryders may by night easily come to anie part of it, do their accustomed evil deeds, and be at their own howses long before daie; . . .Bewcastell goes to 'Souport' [Southport] belonging to William Musgrave where mostly Taylors live, except Will Rutlidge of the Lukins and Will Rutlidge of the Sinke Head.

The Musgraves more or less adhered to a prevailing law of the day that prohibited, except on licence, marriage between English and Scottish borderers. It was, Musgrave said, the entanglements of cross-border marriage alliances that made it near impossible to govern the "lawless" people. Such imposed legalities went largely ignored by many borderers, but evidently not so much by the "Ruttligis". Of the dozens of Scottish Armstrongs, Grahams, and others much aligned by English marriages, Musgrave names only one Routledge, that of Gourth Routlishe daughter of Shetbelt, married to Thome Armestronge of Chengles.

According to Musgrave, "the Ruttligis and their alleyance with Scotland is but little, for that they are every man's pray." While that curious statement is open to interpretation, it certainly supports the premise that the Cumberland Routledges had, within the past fifty years, distanced themselves from their Scottish heritage and accepted Musgrave-style law and order. Cumbrian Routledges were prime targets for every passing Scottish foray partly because of their lack of Scottish alliances and partly because of their willingness to fight alongside their Musgrave commanders.

Mayhem Reigns Over Bewcastle

AD 1580s-1590. Lawlessness escalated and a sort of gangland justice prevailed. Criminal elements of larger clans terrorized more peaceful farmers with protection rackets, and officials went begging for help from England's Queen Elizabeth I and Scotland's James VI. Henry Scrope, 9th Baron Scrope of Bolton, as Warden of England's West March, wrote to Queen Elizabeth's secretary of the deplorable state of "Beaucastell" with many of "her Majestie's" tenants so "decayed by reason of great "spoiles they have sustained by the Lyddisdails" that they were unable to arm themselves in her Majesty's service as was required. To which Burghley's reply was that "The Lord Scrope would be advised to charge all the Queen's tenants who are bound by their leases" and noncompliance would "void" their leases. "By this means the defaults would soon be repaired."

The "Calendar of Letters and Papers Borders of England and Scotland" chronicles a litany of complaints that went well beyond the sporting activity of livestock rustling to outright mayhem. In 1582, John Rowtledg called Gerardes John was murdered as was Allan Rowtlege of Bewcastle. In 1583, William, Thom, and John Rowtledge' were "maimed and hurt in peril of death, wherof one hath his leg cut off." Rowy and Dand Rowtlege of Bewcastle, Dick Rowtledge of Kirkleventon and his son were "maimed and wounded in peril of death." Even relatively defenceless widows were mercilessly targeted, including Margaret Forster, Hecky Noble, a Mrs Hetherington, and Isabell Routledge. She was attacked by thirty Elliots who made off with her only horse and six cows.

In December 1583, four Routledge brothers, George, Thomas, Andrew, William, "dwellers in Bewcastledale" petitioned Walsingham:

for and in the name of all our neighbours of the barony of Bewcastle, that the Scotts to the number of one hundredth and an half rode a forrowe [foray] against us. . .and drove away from us, by force and hostility, four score head of cattle, and killed Allen Routlage our poor brother. Lorde Scrope, Warden of the Marches, willed us to inform your honour by this token — when you were upon the border that the bloody shirts were shewed — that your honour asked him what might be a fit remedy. And then the Lord Scrope said that soldiers in convenient places upon the border might help. . .May it please your honour to have consideration of your poor suppliants, for they, their wives, bairns [children] and neighbours are beggared and utterly cast away.

AD 1588. Notoriously dubbed "Bold Buccleuch" for his many daring exploits, Walter Scott, 1st Lord Scott of Buccleuch (1565-1611) mustered up 200 men and crossed the border with Bewcastle in his sites, prompting English officials to record "Outrages by Buccleuch," two of which involved Routledges.

The captian of Bewcastle and the surnames of the Rowtledges, Nixsons, Nobles and others of Graistangflatt within the office of Bewcastle, complain upon Walter Scott laird of Buckclughe and his accomplices who ran a day foray and reft from them 200 kye and oxen, 300 sheep, and 'gait'.

Captain Steven Ellis and the surnames of the Rowtledges in Bewcastle, complain upon the laird of Bucklugh, the laird of Chesame, the young laird of Whithawghe, and their accomplices to the number of 120 horsemen 'arrayed with jackes, steel caps, spears, guns, lances, swords, and daggers,' purposely mustered by Bucklugh, who broke the house of Wille Rowtledge, took 40 kye and oxen, 20 horse and mears, and also laid an ambush to slay the soldiers and others who should follow the fray, whereby they cruelly slew and murdered Mr Rowden, Nichel Tweddell, Jeffray Nartbie, and Edward Stainton, soldiers, maimed sundry others, and drove 12 horse and meares, whereof they crave redress.

Beginning of the End of Reiving Years

AD 1593. A delegation headed by the Earl of Huntington reported on managing and subduing the "bad and most vagrant sort of the great surnames of the borders":

namely, of the Grames, Armstrongs, Fosters, Bells, Nixons, Hethertons, Taylors, Rootlidges with other very insolent members appertaining to them. . .His lordship concluded with himself to call the principal and chief of every branch. . .and to constrain them to enter bond in good security for their own appearance before him when called upon. . .and to make answerable for any matter to be laid to their charge. . .[whosoever refuses] the lord of the manor where the transgressor dwelleth shall. . .seize the tenement and shall utterly expel and put out from the same the wife, children, servants, and friends of the offender.

AD 1595. Again, a plea for help with John and James Rutledge complaining for themselves and other tenants of Bewcastle of the spoils and oppressions committed against them by the Scots, and Lord Scrope unable to defend them for lack of soldiers.

AD 1596. A deadly feud broke out between East March inhabitants of Kilham Northumberland and underlings of Sir Robert Kerr of Roxburghshire. According to "Cessford's Roll of Wrongs," Ninian Rowtlage and Jame Rutledge were among others accused of pillaging the "Guidman of Gaitschaw" and taking "10 score ewes and wodders." In retribution, 15 Davison cohorts went to Kilham and "cruelly slew Renian Routledge in the field while he was loading hay, "giving him 20 wounds, and not leaving him till dead."

AD 1599. As the 16th century and Queen Elizabeth's reign drew to a close, and with Scotland's James VI expecting to inherit her realm, life on the borders went on in the usual tit-for-tat revenge reprisals. Various commissioners and wardens tried, with little if any success, to impose "redress" for decades-old bills and countless grievances. In 1596, as if exasperated with all previous attempts to aid the Queens tenants at Bewcastle, her Privy Council wrote to Thomas Musgrave offering their only advice, to which Musgrave replied: "I received your letter, that if no justice could be had otherwise, I might recover the worth of their goods as I can. Whereon with my kinsmen and friends, I took from John Armstrong of the Hollus, 'the leder of these incurcions, somme vj [six] or vij [seven] score of cattill [cattle].

While the records quoted throughout this article may imply that the Routledges and other borderers on the English side were worsted by their Scottish counterparts, a more complete, unbiased, account implies a rather different story. The evidence is found in a 1593 letter written by West March Warden Scrope to Queen Elizabeth's secretary Burghley. The letter includes a tally of monetary redress demanded by the English West March against the Scottish West March plus Liddesdale. Whereas England wanted a total of ₤9,700, Scotland wanted ₤41,600. So, Scrope concludes, England was to "answer for" ₤32,000 more than the Scots. Even assuming gross exaggeration, the figures clearly show that the inhabitants of Liddesdale and the Scottish West March suffered much more than their Bewcastle counterparts.

Routledge French Connection

AD 1537, 1538. While life along the English/Scottish borders steadily deteriorated to a state of near anarchy, at least one Routledge Scotsman maintained the "auld alliance" with France and was living there in pursuit of an academic career. One Martin de Rotheluch [sic] declared himself of "Scottish origin, bachelor of civil law" after being elected "Procurator" of the Scottish Nation at the University of Orleans, despite the objection of one named Verat. The peculiar spelling "Rotheluche" may beg question but can be accounted for by foreign pronunciation and transcription difficulties.

The election alleged by the said Verat was repudiated by the lord rector Minier and by the whole college, and it was resolved by the college that, as the said Verat had already exercised the office of procurator for three months, proceedings should be taken anew for the election of a new procurator. A proclamation therefore having been made, against which he appealed, I, Martin de Rothleluch, of Scottish origin, bachelor of civil law, was elected procurator on 10th December 1537, and notwithstanding the objections of the said Verat, the right of induction into the said office was adjudicated to me; as witness my seal here affixed. M Rotheluche. 'Thoroughness of knowledge gives authority ; mere elegance brings contempt'"

Routledge Spanish Connection

AD 1554, March 15. After Henry VIII died in 1547, his staunchly Catholic daughter, Mary I of England (1516-1558) inherited the English throne, and during deep negotiations for her marriage to Phillip II of Spain one Thomas Routledge mysteriously appears in Viennese records as a recipient of 100 crowns to be paid, apparently, by Phillip. Obviously some service had been or would be rendered. At this time borderers were much esteemed for their horsemanship and military spirit. Many went abroad as mercenaries to fight in continental wars or were sent on some sort of diplomatic or espionage service to their monarchs.

Vienna, E. Varia. 5, A list of [36] names of persons to whom gold chains and gifts have been given: Mr. Rich, of the Queen's chamber, 100 crowns; Two other gentlemen of the chamber, 200; A vice-chamberlain (Presumably Sir Henry Jerningham); Bridges, Captain of the Tower [Sir John Bridges, Lieutenant of the Tower), 200; Thomas Routledge 100.

The only clue is found in a directive from the Spanish monarch, Emperor Charles V, to his son, the Prince Philip:

March 13. Simancas, E 508. By this same courier we are sending you a copy of a note, drawn up with the approval of the Queen [Mary I], giving the names of the men who are to receive pensions, together with the sums. It seems advisable that these pensions should be paid out from your household, so that the recipients may realise that they come from you, whom it behoves them to serve and follow. The sums are rather high to begin with, for in order to gain credit and goodwill it was inevitable; but the future will furnish us with means of moderating them. By reason of this increase of expenditure, you will have to come well-supplied with money, so as to pay them all a half-year's instalment in advance, for it seems this must be done, and you will see to it as soon as you reach England. . .You will discuss the amount. . .with the Queen, who will be able to tell you what the merits of each man deserve.'

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