The Battle of Nesbit Moor (or Nisbet Muir) was a small but significant clash between
Scottish and
English forces in the borders area north of the
River Tweed
The River Tweed, or Tweed Water ( gd, Abhainn Thuaidh, sco, Watter o Tweid, cy, Tuedd), is a river long that flows east across the Border region in Scotland and northern England. Tweed cloth derives its name from its association with the ...
. Specifically this clash took place on the
Kimmerghame Estate in a field now named ''Slaughter Field''. The estate is in the possession of the
Swinton Family.
In 1402,
Scottish nobles launched a coordinated invasion of Northern
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
. In the initial foray, some 12,000 Scottish troops crossed into
Cumberland and looted areas near
Carlisle. On 22 June at
Nisbet, Berwickshire, the forfeited
George de Dunbar, 10th Earl of March successfully led 200 English soldiers, mainly drawn from the garrison at
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed (), sometimes known as Berwick-on-Tweed or simply Berwick, is a town and civil parish in Northumberland, England, south of the Anglo-Scottish border, and the northernmost town in England. The 2011 United Kingdom census reco ...
, against 400 Scots returning from a raid on
Northumberland
Northumberland () is a county in Northern England, one of two counties in England which border with Scotland. Notable landmarks in the county include Alnwick Castle, Bamburgh Castle, Hadrian's Wall and Hexham Abbey.
It is bordered by land ...
.
Henry IV of England was given news of the skirmish while at
Harborough on 30 June, and delayed plans to suppress a Welsh rebellion so that he could deal with the large-scale Scottish invasion that was then imminently expected. In the autumn a large army of Scots led by
Archibald Douglas, 4th Earl of Douglas harassed the English countryside as far south as the
River Wear, and were engaged and defeated in the
battle of Humbleton Hill.
The Scottish casualties at Nesbit Moor included the death of Sir Patrick Hepburn younger of
Hailes; and the capture of Sir John Haliburton of Dirleton,
Robert de Lawedre of Edrington, Sir John Cockburn, and Sir Thomas Haliburton. The date of Sir Robert Lawder's liberation does not appear to be on record but as there is a charter in ''The
Great Seal of Scotland
The Great Seal of Scotland ( gd, Seala Mòr na h-Alba) is a principal national symbol of Scotland that allows the monarch to authorise official documents without having to sign each document individually. Wax is melted in a metal mould or matrix ...
'' (number 934) confirmed at
Falkland Palace in May 1411, which mentions him being "present", we might safely assume that he was freed before that date. Certainly on 15 June 1411 "Robertus Lawedyr, miles" has a safe-conduct from Henry IV.
References
*
Fordun's ''Scotichronicon'', Vol 8, 1390–1430, edited by D.E.R. Watt, from the Latin manuscript authored by Bower in the 1440s. Edinburgh, The Mercat Press, 1987.
*
Nisbet, Alexander, ''A System of Heraldry, speculative and practical: With the true art of blazon; according to the most approved heralds in Europe: Illustrated with suitable examples of the most considerable surnames and families in Scotland'', Edinburgh, 1722.
*
Sir James Balfour, ''Annals'', volume 1.
*
Fordun's ''Scotichronicon'', Edinburgh, 1759.
* Cockburn-Hood, Thomas H., ''The House of Cockburn of that Ilk and Cadets Thereof'', Edinburgh, 1888, page 43–4.
*
Wylie, J. H., ''History of England under Henry the Fourth'', reprinted from an 1884 London edition, New York, 1969, AMS, p. 290.
* Sir
James Balfour Paul, ''The Scots Peerage'', Edinburgh, 1905, pps:137/8, where it is stated that the Sir Patrick Hepburn of Hailes who died at this battle was "younger of Hailes", the son, not the father who survived him.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nesbit Moor 1402
1402 in England
1402 in Scotland
Battles between England and Scotland
Conflicts in 1402