Reivers - John Armstrong of Gilnockie

Scottish Reiver Was to Meet his End at the Hands of Scotland's King

Feb 6, 2009

Johnnie Armstrong of Gilnockie was an infamous Scottish Border Reiver. His rule of the Borderlands from Esk to Newcastle was resented by the Scottish king, James V.

Of all the characters who were centre stage in the reiving times none excites more feeling than that of John Armstrong of Gilnockie.Very little is known of his life, but in his death, even today, we experience a whole gamut of emotion from feelings of rank injustice and aggression to bitterness and sadness. John Armstrong and twenty-four of his followers were hanged without trial at Carlenrig, south of Hawick in the Scottish Borders.

His Background and Relationship with Scottish Authority

John Armstrong, also known as 'Black Jok' was a Border Reiver who specialised in blackmail or black rent. It is said that there was not one English place of prominence between his home at Hollows Tower and east to Newcastle which did not pay protection money to 'Black Jok'- surety that the local inhabitants would be protected from Border Reiver raids. He was a man whose influence and reputation was embarassing to the Scottish monarchy. It endeavoured to maintain the truce which existed between Scotland and England at the same time that Armstrong enjoyed the lucrative fruit of of his harassment of the English of the Border.

James V, King of Scotland, is determined to subdue his Border Clans

James V moved south to the Scottish Borders in June 1530 intent on proving to his Border Clans that he ruled in Scotland. He sent word to John Armstrong that he would grant an audience at Carlenrig. Reasons for the call range from a 'loving letter' inviting John to hunt with the King to the supposition, unknown to John, that James V was in league with the Scottish West March Warden to rid the world of Armstrong. James feared the burgeoning power and presence of Armstrong, was resentful of his control over his clan and jealous of his wealth and prominence in the Borderlands. To add to his concern Henry V111 of England had demanded that he take control of Armstrong as his incursions into England were a threat to the peace.

Armstrong and the King meet at Carlenrig

John Armstrong rode north to Carlenrig from Hollows Tower, apprehensive yet high in hopes that he would be well received by the young King and his large and well-armed hunting party. He and his men were dressed in their best finery, a sign of their wealth and status.

John Armstrong pleaded his case, he had never harmed a Scotsman. He offered help and support to the young King but James would have none of it. Eventually he and his followers were resigned to their fate. They knew they had been drawn into a trap and were about to die. John turned to the King and said:-

This vile and unlawful act by the seventeen year old King did little to demonstrate his power over the Border Clans nor did it subdue the hard, obdurate Borderers. Following the events at Carlenrig they would show they had no love for their anointed King. Time would prove they would not forget.

The Aftermath

Twelve years later, in 1542, James V was to die following the rout of the Scottish army at the Battle of Solway Moss and eight days after the news that a daughter had been born to him- the future Mary, Queen of Scots. Some of the Armstrongs joined the English army in dealing a mortal blow at the Scots as they vainly tried to cross the river Esk at Longtown. It was the Armstrongs who picked off the remnants of the Scots army as they fled in panic north through Liddesdale.

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