A limk to the entire curse which was directed against my family (and others).

I wonder if its still in effect?

share.google/ZqWivwYivPjm...

One final thing.

The Archbishop of Glasgow put a curse on the Reivers in 1525 and its the most amazing thing.

Here is just a section:

"I curse them going and I curse them riding; I curse their crops, their cattle, their halls, their chambers, their cabbage patches, their plows, their harrows"

I had a theory that "bereaved" came from this time.
If the Reivers killed someone, which was common, the victim's family were said to have "been reaved" (or "reived").

However it seems the word is older and the Reivers are named after the word "Reive" which means "to rob by force"

"Red-handed" first appeared in Scottish legal texts and records during the Reivers period.
It referred to individuals apprehended with literal blood on their hands.
Over time, the meaning evolved to include being caught in the act of doing anything wrong, not just physical violence.

Such as "Blackmail" and "Redhanded".

"Blackmail" where "mail" meant "rent" or "tribute". The "black" part likely denoted the evil or illicit nature of the payment.

The Reivers were so fond of this that the word was created to describe it.

Reiver = Raider.

For about 300 years up to the early 1600s, the Scottish/ English border was lawless.

Those who lived there became "Reivers" to survive.

They owed no allegiance to Crown, State nor Church, but to their own bloid and friendships.

Their actions gave us some interesting words......

By "distant relative" I really mean it
He's my 4th cousin, 3 times removed
This means his 3rd Great Grandfather is the same person as my 6th Great Grandfather

So our connection is quite tenuous.
I also went to Westminster to see Newton's grave. Saw Earnest there, too, but didn't know if any kinship

Pics of unexemplary Rutherfords?
Only my teenage daughters.

Incidentally, I've recently found out that I am distantly related to Earnest Rutherford, of whom "Rutherfordium" is named after.
And that we are both descendants from a notorious "Border Reiver" family who were certainly not exemplary

It is great to have a new season and loving the exploration of the heavier members of the periodic table as a narrative device.

Selfishly, I'm hoping that the element "Rutherfordium" gets a mention, although Layne Staley would probably not want it covered.

"The Count halted, putting down my bags, closed the door, and crossing the room, opened another door which led into a small octagonal room lit by a single lamp, and seemingly without a window of any sort."

Woohoo
We are officially cousins

Note:

There were other battles between Scotland and England that took place after the Union of Crowns in 1603 such as The Wars of the Three Kingdoms which were bloody and far more important than the Redeswire Fray.

End of thread

"The Black Laird" is my 11th Great Grandfather.

So raise a glass today to commemorate the men of Jedburgh who won the last battle between these two warring countries and to the stout Black Laird.

(Does winning this last battle mean that Scotland wins overall? 🤣🤣)

Led by Thomas Rutherford, "The Black Laird", his sons and other notable men the Scots turned the tide

The English Warden was captured and the English soundly defeated

'Bauld Rutherfurd, he was fu' stout,
wi. a' his nine sons him about,
He led the town o Jedburgh out,
All bravely fought that day.'

Insults started to fly but soon it was arrows as the English (remember, this was a Truce Day) started shooting at the outnumbered Scots.

The Scots retreated but we're pursued.

Arriving late to the meeting, the men of Jedburgh met the fleeing Scots and joined the fray.

The opposing Wardens (one on each side of the Scottish/ English border )of the Middle Marches met with their countrymen during a "Truce Day" to air grievances and sort out arguments.

The Scots demanded the English hand over a "free loader" but the English refused, saying they knew not where he was

I love being predictable

I did indeed mean that but wasn't happy with it once it was shot. The owls just felt out of its setting

But after sitting with it for a while I think the original message works