Kinmont Willie Armstrong was a notorious border reiver who raided on both sides of the border, mainly in the middle and west marches. The warden of the English West March, Lord Thomas Scrope tried and failed to capture Kinmont. He charged his deputy Thomas Salkeld to arrest him. A “day of truce” was called – which were common trading and meeting days when all charges were temporarily waived and everyone could attend without fear of arrest. But on the way home Kinmont was ambushed, taken to Carlisle and locked in a cell. The Bold Buccleuch, who was Keeper of Liddesdale at the time and guardian of Hermitage Castle, hatched a plan and in a daring raid, rescued Kinmont.
This song was written for Hawick Reiver’s Festival during the Covid Lockdown.
Kinmont Willie
© Alan G Brydon
V1
Now here’s a tale o’ Kinmont Willie
Across the border he did ride
The Border dales were deep and hilly
They couldn’t catch him if they tried
The English Warden Thomas Scrope
Was raging, Willie still rode free
He’d like to get him on a rope
They’d both go down in history
Chorus
Kinmont Willie
Rode both sides of the borderline
Kinmont Willie
South of the Tweed and north of the Tyne
V2
Scrope summoned Salkeld to his court
To drink and dine, talk man to man
The rule of law must be supported
And Scrope devised a cunning plan
Though life was ruled by fire and steel
They called a truce where all were free
A day to settle scores, and trade
Without the fear of lock and key
V3
They gathered there to buy and sell
Conducting business of the day
Ale and wine was drunk as well
But homeward bound an ambush lay
Soon Kinmont was a captured man
In Carlisle castle’s coldest cell
While Bold Buccleuch was hatching plans
To free him from his living hell
V4
Advancing through the darkest night
They scaled the walls and stormed the gates
Kinmont was carried shoulder height
Red Rowan bearing all the weight
Surrounded by his retinue
And mounted well upon a horse
By Willie’s side The Bold Buccleuch
They rode for home across the moss