Jedburgh Justice

April 6, 2023--Jedburgh Abbey

 

For centuries, The Borders were victimized by raiders; cattle rustlers and brigands all...to the point that rough justice was ultimately meted out.  Although the first known use of the term was in 1698, doubtless it was practiced for centuries.  By the mid-17th century, it had became known as Jeddart or Jedburgh Justice.  To wit:  Hang first; then have a trial.  As Sir Walter Scott styled it in Fair Maid of Perth-- "Jedwood justice—hang in haste and try at leisure."

April 6, 2023--Jedburgh Abbey

Jedburgh Justice is said to stem from the "summary pacification" (an official version of lynching) of the Borders imposed by James VI of Scotland (or James I of England depending on one's perspective).  It is also certainly true that Borderers and Reivers had been plying their questionable trade over several centuries of back and forth raiding.    

April 6, 2023--Jedburgh Abbey detail

To do his pacification work, James VI/I appointed Sir William Cranstoun (1605) Captain of the King's Guard.  It was a position in which he rapidly acquired a reputation for extreme ruthlessness.  Often armed with blanket pardons holding him harmless in perpetrating atrocities, he managed to bring law and order to The Borders (more or less), which remained in force ever since.  So, there's that.

But (more or less) is parenthetical.  It depends.  Peace is often greatly overstated.  And so too pacification.

April 6, 2023--Jedburgh Abbey detail

 

From 1653 to 1654, for example, one of the many royalist uprisings was once again in progress in Scotland.  Moss-Troopers substituted for Borderers.  And they were becoming a problem.  At least originally, Moss Troopers were deserters from one of the three armies engaged in the English Civil War in the mid-1600s.  Carrying their arms with them when they called it quits, they turned to brigandry at-large...civilian or military mattered not. 

To underscore Parliament's concern, the Moss Troopers Act of 1662 was passed.  And then a whole series of measures--1666, 1672, 1685 and 1695.  So, "law and order" in The Borders was always somewhat relative.

April 6, 2023--Jedburgh center (unicorn statue)

Jedburgh lies on the Jed Water, a tributary of River Teviot.  It is situated on the main road from the English Borders to Edinburgh.  As such, it is considered a gateway to Scotland--not necessarily a good thing, having been burned no less than six times over the ensuing centuries that followed.  

Jedburgh is said to date from the 9th century when a church was built on the present site of Jedburgh Abbey ruins by Ecgred of Lindisfarne, although this is far from certain.  For reference, Ecgred was Bishop of Lindisfarne from 830 AD to his death in 845 AD.

As is so often the case, the original church was established on an even earlier pre-Roman local sanctity site.  Roman altar stones have been found there and are on display in the Jedburgh museum.  

April 6, 2023--Roman altar stone at Jedburgh, reads:

To...(name of god missing)...the first loyal cohort of Vadulli, Roman citizens a thousand strong, part mounted and Gaius Quintius Severus, Tribune of the same cohort of the Camilian voting tribe from Ravenna gladly, willingly and deservedly fulfilling their vow.  [The Vadulli were in Britain by 98 AD.  Mid-2nd century they were stationed at Castlebury, Antonine Wall.  Apparently a detachment was sent to the Roman fort of Cappuck, 3 miles from Jedburgh.]

What is known is that by 1118, King David I of Scotland founded an Augustinian priory at Jedburgh which was elevated in 1147 to the status of an abbey, one of four mighty houses of worship in Scotland.  Given its location as a gateway, however, Jedburgh would be the victim of repeated damage incurred in Border warfare.  Burned in 1523 and again torched in 1544 and finally "suppressed" in 1559--when Church properties were confiscated.  Switching hands a few times, in 1913 it was eventually given to the National Monuments Commission in whose care it remains under the guise of Historic Environment Scotland.

April 6, 2023--Jedburgh dining hall

Also at Jedburgh, a castle formally stood above River Teviot, also erected by David I.  It was one of five fortresses ceded to England in 1174.  Having been so often captured by English forces, it became a menace to local defenses and was ultimately demolished in 1409.  The site is now occupied by the county prison (nee museum), a Georgian built facility that is still known as "Jedburgh Castle".

As for visitors, ample parking can be found at the public lot...and a vehicle charging station assuming you live in Scotland and have an account.  

When we arrived at Jedburgh following our visit to Elliot Mill in Selkirk, we went straight to Queen Mary's House.  Due to the relatively late hour, we wanted to insure that we got to see the Queen Mary house and museum.  Besides, Jedburgh Abbey ruin was mostly closed to the public for conservation repairs and high level masonry inspections.  If nothing else, it could wait for a walk about.  Queen Mary's house, not so much. 

April 6, 2023--Queen Mary's House pear trees

On the grounds at Queen Mary's House, where she spent a couple months recovering from a near death illness in October 1566, are ancient pears.  These are over a hundred years old and are said to be the stock of direct ancestors of the famed Jedburgh, or Jethart pear. 

Jedburgh at one time was a fruit producing market--specifically pears.  First introduced in the 12th century from France by Augustinian monks, the abbey pear orchard spanned five acres of Jethart pears.  In demand in markets all across Scotland and as far south as London, with the produce of a single tree as much as £557.56 in current money, meant every piece of ground possible was dedicated to pear growing.

April 6, 2023--Queen Mary's House--ancient pear

In 1793, two mature pear trees produced and incredible 60,000 pears.  Proving money does grow on trees.  And orchards were put in all along the Jed Water's banks, growing over 20 varieties of Jethart pears:  Greywife of Glasgow, Fair Maid, Red Honey, Lady Lamont, Scots Bergomot, Warden and Monk's Pear.  Grey Honey, Swan Egg, Longneville, Auchen and Bon Chretien (Good Christian).  And an equally celebrated plum called Cloth of Gold was also grown in Jedburgh.

April 6, 2023--Queen Mary of Scotland House

As with so many things, however, Jedburgh's orchards began to decline at the turn of the century with the Great War.  Thousands of trees were felled, and whole varieties were lost.  Orchards disappeared to be replaced with housing and industrial sites.  

In a survey done recently (2007) most pear production in Jedburgh now goes to waste...many from trees that are over a hundred years old.  A group of local volunteers (2006, Orchard Development Group) have taken to preserving and promoting the Jethart pear.  So perhaps at some point in the future, when factory farms no longer compete with family small producers, the famous pears of Jedburgh will once again be in demand.

April 3, 2023--cradle of James VI/I Traquair House

As for Border Reivers, Moss-Troopers and such, that too is unknown going forward.  What with the Scottish National Party having been electorally routed along with the Tories, it's a toss up on independence anytime soon.   

April 6, 2023--Entrance to Jedburgh Jail today