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The Battles of Nisbet Moor, 1355 and 1402
Reconstruction by Andrew Spratt At the 1st battle of Nisbet in 1355 John Halyburton of Dirleton was
killed while helping Ramsay of Dalhousie, Dunbar of
Dunbar castle and
William Douglas (later 1st Earl
of Douglas) of
Tantallon castle defeat the English garrison from Norham castle.
Surprisingly, a few years later in 1363 Douglas and Dunbar turned on
the Halyburtons and seized
Dirleton castle in their first steps of rebellion against King
David II of Scots for his attack on Kildrummy castle. This led to
the battle of Lanark where
Douglas and Dunbar were defeated by King David and forced to sue for
peace. Dirleton was then returned to the Halyburtons.
In 1402, Scottish nobles
launched a coordinated invasion of Northern England. In the initial
foray, some 12,000 Scottish troops crossed into Cumberland and
looted areas near Carlisle. On June 22 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, against 400 Scots returning from a raid on
Northumberland.h causalities 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 (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
June 15, 1411 "Robertus Lawedyr, miles" has a safe-conduct from
Henry IV of England.
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