After the Scottish defeat at Pinkie in 1547, no Anglo-Scottish battle had occurred until this. Sir John Carmichael met Sir John Forster at a hill called Red Swire in Carter Bar for a regularly scheduled "Truce Day" wherein the two discussed matters that came up between their two regions. Both men were accompanied by a number of armed guards.
The battle
One of the topics discussed during this meeting was an Englishman who had stolen some items from a Scotsman and who was supposedly in Forster's custody. Carmichael demanded that the man be delivered to Scotland for justice, but Forster replied the thief had taken "leg-bail" and could not be produced. This turned into an argument that involved personal insults from both parties, until members of the English contingent could no longer hold their temper and attacked, killing two men and wounding several others. The Scots were forced to retreat, but during their flight they met up with another group from Jedburgh, who were late to the meeting. This gave the Scots an advantage and encouraged them to engage with the English. They began to break the English lines and in time, the English were routed: the Scots proved victorious, and drove the English off. George Heron was killed, along with his brother, John, and 23 other Englishmen. Forster, Francis Russell son of the Earl of Bedford, and several other nobles were captured, and the Scots conducted an impromptu raid, taking 300 cattle from local farms.
Aftermath
The prisoners were brought to James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton, who was the regent for King James VI. This soon became embarrassing for the Scots, as the prisoners, who were being held at Dalkeith Castle, had likely been taken for their ransom value, although Regent Morton stated that it was to keep them from being killed in retaliation. Morton wrote a letter to Queen Elizabeth describing the events, and was about to send his envoy Nicolas Elphinstone to London, but she was outraged and sent Nicolas Errington and Henry Killigrew to demand immediate satisfaction. Regent Morton was directed to meet with Henry Hastings, 3rd Earl of Huntingdon, who was President of the Council of the North, to work outthe details, and the two men were able to come to an amicable solution, as Morton was inclined not to anger Elizabeth, and she wanted to avoid a war. Forster and the others had been treated with kindness and were released with gifts and an apology for being held. Carmichael was delivered to York as a prisoner for trial, but was acquitted as the English court found that Forster had engaged in an unprovoked attack.
Legacy
The story of the skirmish was turned into a Border ballad edited and published by Walter Scott. Also, on the Cheviot Hills, near the place where the battle was fought a monument known as the Redeswire Stone was built in commemoration of the battle. It reads, "On this ridge, June 7th, 1575 was fought one of the last border raids, known as The Raid of the Redeswire". The battle is commemorated by the Jedburgh Reidswire common riding each year; this ride is the longest of the festival and is undertaken on two horses at a fast pace. George MacDonald Fraser considered that its importance has been exaggerated.
