The Raid of Jedburgh in June 1571 was one of the most significant military expeditions fought along the Anglo Scottish Border during the Marian Civil War. Led by the experienced English commander Sir William Drury, the attack targeted the Ferniehirst Kerrs, one of the strongest supporters of the imprisoned Mary, Queen of Scots.
Although overshadowed by the dramatic siege of Edinburgh Castle, the destruction of Jedburgh demonstrated how deeply the civil war reached into the Borders. It also highlighted England’s growing willingness to intervene directly in Scottish affairs in support of the government ruling for the young James VI.
Like many Border conflicts, this was not simply a contest between nations. It was also a struggle between rival families whose loyalties often stretched back generations. In the Borders, politics and family feuds usually travelled together, often on horseback.
Historical Background
Following Mary’s forced abdication in 1567, Scotland descended into civil war.
Supporters of the captive queen became known as the Marian Party.
Opposing them was the King’s Party, governing in the name of the infant James VI under successive regents including the Earl of Lennox.
The Ferniehirst branch of Clan Kerr remained among Mary’s strongest supporters. Their position at Jedburgh made them an obvious target for English intervention.
In June 1571, Regent Lennox requested assistance from England. Sir William Drury, Marshal of Berwick, crossed the border with an English force to eliminate Marian bases operating in the Middle March.
Leaders
| Leader | Allegiance | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Sir William Drury | England and King’s Party | Commanded the English expedition |
| Sir Thomas Kerr of Ferniehirst | Marian Party | Defended the district and supported Mary |
| Matthew Stewart, Earl of Lennox | King’s Party | Regent of Scotland who encouraged English intervention |
While members of the Tait family almost certainly served among Kerr followers, no surviving contemporary source identifies an individual Tait fighting during the raid.
Forces
| Army | Estimated Strength | Composition |
|---|---|---|
| English expedition | Around 1,000 to 1,500 men | Infantry, arquebusiers, pikemen, cavalry and siege artillery |
| Marian defenders | Unknown, probably several hundred | Border horsemen, local retainers, castle garrison and Kerr supporters |
Exact numbers remain uncertain, as sixteenth century chroniclers rarely agreed on troop strengths.
Battle Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Early June 1571 | Drury marches north from Berwick |
| June 1571 | English forces reach Jedburgh |
| Following days | Castle bombarded and captured |
| Shortly afterwards | Fortifications deliberately demolished |
| Summer 1571 | Marian influence weakened across the central Borders |
Arms and Armour
Marian Defenders
- Riding swords
- Arming swords
- Early basket hilted swords
- Spears
- Jedburgh staves and polearms
- Bows and hackbuts
- Jacks of plate
- Steel bonnets
English Forces
- Military swords
- Bills
- Pikes
- Arquebuses
- Matchlock muskets
- Demi culverins
- Morion helmets
- Breastplates
The campaign illustrates a transitional period in warfare. Medieval style cavalry raids still dominated Border fighting, yet artillery and firearms increasingly decided the outcome of sieges.
The Assault
Rather than attempting a prolonged occupation, Drury aimed to deny the Marian faction one of its strongest Border bases.
English artillery quickly made the castle untenable. Once captured, the fortifications were deliberately slighted to prevent future occupation.
The destruction carried as much political symbolism as military value. It sent a clear warning that support for Mary would invite English intervention.
Archaeology
Little survives of the medieval castle destroyed in 1571.
The site later became occupied by the eighteenth century county jail, now known as Jedburgh Castle Jail & Museum.
Archaeological discoveries have uncovered fragments of medieval masonry and defensive works, although identifying material directly linked to Drury’s assault remains difficult.
Nearby Ferniehirst Castle survives and provides one of the best surviving examples of a Border tower house associated with the Kerr family.
Contemporary Sources
The English commander Sir William Drury reported the success of the expedition in correspondence preserved within the Calendar of State Papers Relating to Scotland.
The historian George Buchanan also referred to English operations in the Borders during the civil war, illustrating the wider strategic importance of suppressing Marian resistance.
Legacy
The destruction of Jedburgh weakened Marian influence throughout the Middle March, although it did not end resistance.
The Kerrs eventually regained much of their position after the civil war ended in 1573, demonstrating the remarkable resilience of Border noble families.
Like many Border campaigns, the raid achieved its immediate military objective while doing little to settle the deeper rivalries that had fuelled generations of conflict. Destroying castles proved considerably easier than persuading Border families to stop feuding.
