Lilliard Edge

Lilliard Edge, formerly Ancrum moor, is a bridge near the border between the parishes of Maxton and Ancrum, where a battle was fought between the Scots and English soon after the death of king James V, who died in the year 1542.

When the Earl of Arran was regent of Scotland, Sir Ralph Rivers and Sir Bryan Laiton came to Jedburgh with an army of 5,000 English to seize the Merse and Teviotdale in the name of Henry VIII, then king of England, who died not long after (1547). The regent and the Earl of Angus came with a small body of men to oppose them.

The Earl of Angus was greatly exasperated against the English, because some time before they had defaced the tombs of his ancestors at Melrose, and had done much hurt to the abbey there. The regent and the Earl of Angus, without waiting the arrival of a greater force, which was expected, met the English at Lilliard Edge, where the Scots obtained a great victory, considering the inequality of their number.

A young woman named Lilliard fought along with the Scots with great courage; she fell in the battle, and a tombstone was erected upon her grave on the field where it was fought. Some of the remains of this tombstone are still to be seen. It is said to have contained the following inscription:

: "Fair maiden Lilliard lies under this stane;": "Little was her stature, but muckle was her fame.": "Upon the English loons she laid monie thumps,": "an' when her legs were cuttit off she fought upon her stumps."

ee also

Battle of Ancrum Moor