Robert Elliot (abt. 1500 - 1562)

Born about 1500 in Roxburghshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 1562 at about age 62 in Roxburghshire, Scotland

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Biography

Robert Elliot is a member of Clan Elliot.

Robert Ellot [Elwald]^[1] - The 14th chief of Redheugh; Chief of the Ellots, ""led his clan for 40 turbulent years, through a period marked by rebellion against the Crown, two wars with England and continual border skirmishing, to emerge with his lands intact and with the Ellot's standing and influence higher than ever"^[2]

Robert's father Robert the 13th Chief, died in the battle at Flodden, defending King James IV, on September 9, 1513^[3]; predeceasing his father^[4]

Robert Ellot (Elliot) who was a minor at the time of his fathers death in 1513; his grandfather dying about 1515/1516; was not served heir to his grandfather in his Liddesdale lands until 8th of May 1526^[5]His Great-Uncle William of Larriston. brother of his grandfather, by respite, led the clan from 1516-1526' and was the tudor/guardian to young Robert^[6]

Robert Ellot became the 14th Chief of Clan Elliot in 1526; and was appointed Captain of Hermitage Castle 1530/1531^[7]

Flodden Field 1513

Battle of Flodden-1513

The Battle of Flodden, Flodden Field, or occasionally Branxton (Brainston Moor) was a military combat in the War of the League of Cambrai between the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland, resulting in an English victory. The battle was fought in Branxton in the county of Northumberland in northern England on 9 September 1513, between an invading Scots army under King James IV and an English army commanded by the Earl of Surrey. In terms of troop numbers, it was the largest battle fought between the two kingdoms. James IV was killed in the battle, becoming the last monarch from the British Isles to suffer such a death^[8]Robert's father Robert Ellot of Redheugh, 13th Chief of the Ellot Clan; was killed in this battle^[3]

In 1541 the Elliots became involved in renewed border clashes with England. As skilled border reivers, the Elliots provided some of the finest light horsemen an army could hope for, and played an important role in the battles of Flodden in 1513 and Solway Moss in 1542. They rode light on hardy ponies famous for their ability to pick their way over the bogs of the border country, [1] [2] and wore a sleeveless doublet reinforced with small plates of steel and steel bonnets for protection. They carried lances and small shields, swords and dirks, pistols and perhaps a longbow or light crossbow.

Battle of Solway Moss-1542

The Battle of Solway Moss took place on Solway Moss near the River Esk on the English side of the Anglo-Scottish border in November 1542 between English and Scottish forces^[9]

The Scottish King James V had refused to break from the Roman Catholic church, as urged by his uncle King Henry VIII, who then launched a major raid into south west Scotland. The Scottish army that marched against them was poorly led and organized, and many Scots were either captured or drowned in the river. News of the defeat is believed to have hastened the early death of James V. [3]; "It is said King James V, a little over 30, died of shame as the result of his defeat" Losses were had on each side but the English took a great number of prisoners, many hostages remained in England.^[10]

Rough Wooing

The Rough Wooing (December 1543 – March 1551) was a war between Scotland and England. Following its break with Rome, England decided to attack Scotland, partly to destroy the Auld Alliance, and prevent Scotland being used as a springboard for future invasion by France, partly to weaken Scotland, and partly to force Scotland to agree to a marriage alliance between its child Queen Mary and the English heir apparent Edward, son of King Henry VIII^[11]

Scotland had long been an ally of France, England's ancient enemy. In 1544, the English King Henry VIII's war of Rough Wooing with Scotland began in earnest as he sought to cement an alliance with Scotland using deceit through the marriage of Scotland's infant Queen Mary with his young son Edward; but when Henry's aim became apparent to the Scots, Parliament rejected the marriage and the scheme failed^[12]

With the continued ravaging of the Borderlands, and the severe treatment imposed upon the Scots, by Lord Hertford in 1544, 1545, and 1547, Protector and acting on the instruction of King Henry VIII, against any and all who opposed the English Crown, many of the Ellot's were to give a token of assurance, showing the allegiance to the English King "but as the English Warden complained, failed to send in their pledges, nor did they ever do so^[13]"Among the 7,241 'assured' Scots, there were 74 Ellots^[14]

Treaty of Boulogne

In March of 1550, The war between England and Scotland and France was ended with the signing of the Treaty of Boulogne. The English withdrew from Scotland.Treaty of Boulogne

On 21st May 1550, Sir Walter Scott of Branxholm and Buccleuch, (Warden of the Middle March--"betwixt Mynto Crags and Craycorse) and supporter of Regent Lord Arran; within a month of the signing of the treaty which occurred on 29th April 1550; "Buccleuch called the 8 most important men of the name of Scott, together with his eldest son Sir William Scott of Kirkurd and Robert Ellot of the Redheugh; to sign an undertaking to assist the Regent and to cause the inhabitants now in time of peace 'to use and possess their lands and rowes (places) freely and quietly'^[15]Sir Walter Scott was authorized to hold Justice Courts at Branxholm and Hawick and to meet the English Wardens of the West and Middle Marches of England for reparation of attempts (raids).^[16]

The Regent, Lord Arran, the Warden of the Scottish March; Buccleuch; and the Chief of the Ellots, Robert of Redheugh, all "co-operated toward a common aim" The establishment of settled frontier^[16]

On February 20 1552/1553 the Privy Council directed Robert Ellot of Redheugh, younger and Thomas Armstrong of Mangerton be appointed and be instructed to meet the Governor Arran at Dumfries to accept the charge of the keeping of Liddesdale and tom decide what other surnames they would answer for as well as their own clans^[16]

War broke out again with England; raids, counter raids between clans on each side, and quarrels and feuds among the nobles, until atlast peace was signed on upon with the Ratification of the Treaty of Berwick, February 27, 1559/60^[16]

Robert died before January of 1562/3; his wife's name is not known, leaving a son Robert.^[16]

Sources

1. ↑ Mosley's "Burke's peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, (as cited in the peerage; genealogical survey)
2. ↑ Pg 31 Story of a border clan and genealogical history
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Pg 18 Story of a Border Clan
4. ↑ Pg 19 Story of a Border Clan
5. ↑ Pg 20; The Elliots: Story of a Border Clan: A genealogical History
6. ↑ Pg 19-20 Story of a Border Clan
7. ↑ Pg 25 Story of a Border clan
8. ↑ Wikipedia contributors. (2018, March 3). Battle of Flodden. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 22:24, March 11, 2018, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Flodden&oldid=828560380
9. ↑ Wikipedia contributors. (2018, February 11). Battle of Solway Moss. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 22:14, March 11, 2018, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Solway_Moss&oldid=825178989
10. ↑ Pgs 25-26 Story of a Border Clan
11. ↑ Wikipedia contributors. (2018, February 12). Rough Wooing. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 22:16, March 11, 2018, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rough_Wooing&oldid=825222256
12. ↑ Pg 26 Story of a border clan
13. ↑ Footnote Pg 27 Story of a Border clan
14. ↑ Pg 29 Story of a Border clan
15. ↑ Pgs 29-30 Story of a Border clan
16. ↑ ^{16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4} Pg 30 Story of a Border clan; genealogical history

• The Elliots: The Story of a Border Clan, a Genealogical History p.15-20 - by the Dowager Lady Eliott of Stobs & Sir Arthur Eliott 11th Bart. of Stobs - pub: Anthony Rowe LTD. 1974 (Note: The book can be borrowed from https://archive.org/details/elliotsstoryofbo00elio)

• The Peerage; A genealogical survey of the peerage of Britain as well as the royal families of Europe; retrieved from http://www.thepeerage.com/p39708.htm#i397074

• Images of the Border reviever retrieved from Border Reiver Webliography; https://www.pinterest.com/pin/430304939378149999/?autologin=true

• TimeRef Medieval Timeline Reference website; Mark Needham (Copyright 1997 - 2017); retrieved 3/11/2018 from http://www.timeref.com/episodes/hstt62.htm

• http://www.elliotclan.com/history/redheugh/