Hume Castle
Sixteenth century and the Rough Wooing
Sixteenth century and the Rough Wooing
--------------------------------------

In August 1515 [Regent Albany](/wiki/John_Stewart%2C_Duke_of_Albany "John Stewart, Duke of Albany") imprisoned members of the Hume family at [Dunfermline](/wiki/Dunfermline "Dunfermline"), with Adam Tinmo, the Constable of Hume Castle. At this time, Scotland's Governor Regent Albany was planning to bring an army against the Hume family on the Scottish borders. Albany captured Hume Castle, but according to a report by [Cardinal Wolsey](/wiki/Cardinal_Wolsey "Cardinal Wolsey")'s chaplain, William Frankelayn, Chancellor of Durham, [Lord Hume](/wiki/Alexander_Home%2C_3rd_Lord_Home "Alexander Home, 3rd Lord Home"), [Lord Chamberlain](/wiki/Chamberlain_of_Scotland "Chamberlain of Scotland"), retook the castle on 26 August 1515, and kept Albany's captain, [Lord Fleming](/wiki/John_Fleming%2C_2nd_Lord_Fleming "John Fleming, 2nd Lord Fleming")'s uncle, prisoner. Lord Hume then [slighted](/wiki/Slighting "Slighting") his own castle, razed the walls, "and dammed the well for ever more."*Letters \& Papers of Henry VIII*, vol. 2 (London, 1864\), no. 861\.

Before the advent of [artillery](/wiki/Artillery "Artillery"), Hume castle was considered almost impregnable. However it was captured in 1547 during the "[Rough Wooing](/wiki/Rough_Wooing "Rough Wooing")", by the [Lord Protector Somerset](/wiki/Lord_Protector_Somerset "Lord Protector Somerset"). The Scottish ruler, [Regent Arran](/wiki/Regent_Arran "Regent Arran"), had sent 12 [gunners](/wiki/Arquebus "Arquebus") to defend the castle in August 1547\.*Accounts of the Treasurer of Scotland*, vol. 9 (Edinburgh, 1911\), 100\. [George Home, 4th Lord Home](/wiki/George_Home%2C_4th_Lord_Home "George Home, 4th Lord Home"), was injured at the [Battle of Pinkie](/wiki/Battle_of_Pinkie "Battle of Pinkie") and his son Alexander captured. After stout resistance by [Mariotta (or Marion) Haliburton, Lady Home](/wiki/Mariotta_Haliburton "Mariotta Haliburton"), the castle fell and an English garrison was installed. According to an English account, the castle was rendered by the negotiation of Lady Home after the English army encamped nearby at [the Hirsel](/wiki/The_Hirsel "The Hirsel") or Hare Craig. Although English artillery was placed to commence bombardment, no shot was fired by either side. [Somerset Herald](/wiki/Somerset_Herald "Somerset Herald") conveyed Lady Home's instructions to the reluctant garrison who would have preferred Lord Home's word as a warrant for their surrender.[Patten, William](/wiki/William_Patten_%28historian%29 "William Patten (historian)"), *The Expedition into Scotland, 1547* (London, 1548\): A. F. Pollard, *Tudor Tracts* (Constable, 1903\), pp. 142\-145\.

### Baron Dudley holds the castle for England

[Sir Edward Sutton](/wiki/Edward_Sutton%2C_4th_Baron_Dudley "Edward Sutton, 4th Baron Dudley"), a cousin of the [Earl of Warwick](/wiki/John_Dudley%2C_1st_Duke_of_Northumberland "John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland"), was made Captain of Hume, and received the keys from Andrew Home, [Commendator of Jedburgh and Restennet](/wiki/Abbot_of_Jedburgh "Abbot of Jedburgh"), on Thursday 22 September 1547\. There were seventy\-eight Scots within, and Edward Sutton found guns including; 2 [batard culverins](/wiki/Culverin "Culverin"); a [saker](/wiki/Saker_%28cannon%29 "Saker (cannon)"); 3 [brass falconets](/wiki/Falconet_%28cannon%29 "Falconet (cannon)"); and eight other iron guns. More guns were brought to hold the castle, and an English [inventory of December 1547](/wiki/Inventory_of_Henry_VIII_of_England "Inventory of Henry VIII of England") lists 21 cannons including 4 [fowlers](/wiki/Veuglaire "Veuglaire"), and 40 [hand\-guns](/wiki/Arquebus "Arquebus").[David Starkey](/wiki/David_Starkey "David Starkey"), *The Inventory of Henry VIII*, vol. 1 (Society of Antiquaries, 1998\), p. 143\. Minor strengthening work was carried out by the English, on the advice of the military engineer William Ridgeway, but only £734 was spent, the local stone was unsuitable and limestone at [Roxburgh](/wiki/Roxburgh "Roxburgh") too far away.[Howard Colvin](/wiki/Howard_Colvin "Howard Colvin"), *The History of the King's Works*, vol. 4 part 2 (HMSO, 1982\), 699, 706, citing PRO SP15/2 f.81, SP10/15/11\.

Mariotta, Lady Home, complained to the Duke of Somerset on 2 November 1547 that she had, "been very sore examined for the rendering of Hume", and accused of taking money. She thought it marvellous that anyone could think she could keep the "sober barmkin" of Hume against the English army, when all the nobles of Scotland could not keep the field.*Calendar State Papers Scotland*, vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1898\), p. 36 no. 75\. Hume Castle was nearly lost in February 1548, when Captain Pelham travelled to [Warkworth Castle](/wiki/Warkworth_Castle "Warkworth Castle") to collect pay for the Spanish mercenary garrison. The soldiers planned to rob him and change sides. Loyal members of the garrison fired the beacon and Sir John Ellerker's men arrested the would\-be deserters. One was killed escaping, and [Grey of Wilton](/wiki/William_Grey%2C_13th_Baron_Grey_de_Wilton "William Grey, 13th Baron Grey de Wilton") planned to hang six of them, but the two leaders escaped into Scotland.*Calendar of State Papers Scotland*, vol. 1 (1898\), 76\-7, 101: *Calendar of State Papers Spain*, vol. 9 (London, 1912\), 260\.

### Lord Home recaptures the castle

After the death of his father, captive in the [Tower of London](/wiki/Tower_of_London "Tower of London"), the young [Alexander, 5th Lord Home](/wiki/Alexander_Home%2C_5th_Lord_Home "Alexander Home, 5th Lord Home"), with the help of his brother Andrew the Commendator, recaptured the castle in December 1548\. The first man in was Tulloch, a servant of the laird of Buccleuch.[Annie Cameron](/wiki/Annie_Cameron "Annie Cameron"), *Scottish Correspondence of Mary of Lorraine* (Edinburgh, 1927\), pp. 280\-281, 283, 288, Tulloch was killed while firing the gate of [Ferniehirst Castle](/wiki/Ferniehirst_Castle "Ferniehirst Castle") in February 1549\. Edward Sutton was blamed for losing the castle by negligence to a night assault. [Jean de Beaugué](/wiki/Jean_de_Beaugu%C3%A9 "Jean de Beaugué"), a French soldier gave an account of the re\-capture. He said that an inside\-man let in seven Scots, and at night an eighth man climbed in. These then overwhelmed the garrison. In Jean's account the man who climbed the wall was a Home, aged 60\.Jean de Beaugué, *History of the Campaigns of 1548 and 1549* (Edinburgh, 1707\), pp. 77\-82\. Sutton was taken to [Spynie Palace](/wiki/Spynie_Palace "Spynie Palace"),*HMC Longleat: Seymour Papers*, IV (London, 1968\), p. 109\. and was still a prisoner at the end of the war, when the [Earl of Shrewsbury](/wiki/Francis_Talbot%2C_5th_Earl_of_Shrewsbury "Francis Talbot, 5th Earl of Shrewsbury") was asked to organise his release by the exchange of French hostages.John Roche Dasent, *Acts of the Privy Council*, vol. 2 (London: HMSO, 1890\), p. 421\.

Mariotta, Lady Home, sent the news to [Mary of Guise](/wiki/Mary_of_Guise "Mary of Guise") on 28 December 1548 from Edinburgh. [Regent Arran](/wiki/Regent_Arran "Regent Arran") thanked John Hume of Cowdenknowes for his service recovering the castle. The English unsuccessfully attempted to recapture Hume in February 1549\.*Accounts of the Treasurer of Scotland*, vol. 9 (Edinburgh, 1911\), 264, 285\. Lady Home was once again installed in the castle in March 1549 and complained to Mary of Guise in March 1549 of the behaviour of the French and Spanish garrison obtaining credit from the villagers.Annie I. Cameron, *Scottish Correspondence of Mary of Lorraine* (SHS, 1927\), pp. 280\-281, 283, 296\-297\. When the English abandoned their fort at [Lauder](/wiki/Thirlestane_Castle "Thirlestane Castle") the guns there were dragged by oxen to Hume Castle.*Accounts of the Treasurer of Scotland*, vol. 9 (Edinburgh, 1911\), pp. 421, 423\.

Mary of Guise ordered the people of Sherriffdom of Berwick and Lauderdale to provide 320 oxen to remove the guns from Hume in February 1558\. The cannons were taken to the fort at [Eyemouth](/wiki/Eyemouth "Eyemouth").Accounts of the Treasurer of Scotland, vol. 10 (Edinburgh, 1913\), pp. lxxi, 333\-334\. The castle was again besieged in April 1570, during the [Marian Civil War](/wiki/Marian_Civil_War "Marian Civil War"), by the [Earl of Sussex](/wiki/Thomas_Radclyffe%2C_3rd_Earl_of_Sussex "Thomas Radclyffe, 3rd Earl of Sussex") during his raid into Scotland. The defenders capitulated within twelve hours, in awe of his superior numbers and the firepower of "three battery pieces and two [sakers](/wiki/Saker_%28cannon%29 "Saker (cannon)")" brought from [Wark Castle](/wiki/Wark_on_Tweed_Castle "Wark on Tweed Castle").[Edmund Lodge](/wiki/Edmund_Lodge "Edmund Lodge"), *Illustrations of British History*, vol. 3 (London, 1791\), p. 43\. [Regent Morton](/wiki/Regent_Morton "Regent Morton") gave money to Agnes Gray, Lady Home, in the 1570s to keep the castle garrisoned for [James VI](/wiki/James_VI "James VI").*HMC 12th report appendix part VIII, Earl of Home* (London, 1891\), p. 100\.

### Downfall

The 17th century saw the demise of Hume Castle as a habitable fortress. The Earls of Home had already established another seat at [Dunglass Castle](/wiki/Dunglass_Castle%2C_East_Lothian "Dunglass Castle, East Lothian") and, by 1611, at [The Hirsel](/wiki/The_Hirsel "The Hirsel"). Hume Castle finally succumbed to the forces of [Cromwell](/wiki/Oliver_Cromwell "Oliver Cromwell") in 1650 during the [Wars of the Three Kingdoms](/wiki/Wars_of_the_Three_Kingdoms "Wars of the Three Kingdoms"). [James, 3rd Earl of Home](/wiki/James_Home%2C_3rd_Earl_of_Home "James Home, 3rd Earl of Home") was a prominent member of the [Kirk Party](/wiki/Kirk_Party "Kirk Party"). After Cromwell's successful investiture of [Edinburgh Castle](/wiki/Edinburgh_Castle "Edinburgh Castle"), he sent [Colonel George Fenwick](/wiki/George_Fenwick_%28Parliamentarian%29 "George Fenwick (Parliamentarian)") with two regiments to besiege the Earl's Castle. Catherine Morrison, Lady Wedderburn, paid £6 to bring cannon to defend Hume.*HMC Home of Wedderburn* (London, 1902\), p. 102\. The governor of the castle, [Colonel John Cockburn](/wiki/John_Cockburn_%28Scottish_officer%29 "John Cockburn (Scottish officer)"),Cockburn, Sir Robert, and Harry A. Cockburn, *The Records of the Cockburn Family*(London: [T. N. Foulis](/wiki/T._N._Foulis "T. N. Foulis"), 1913\). engaged in witty repartee with the [Roundheads](/wiki/Roundheads "Roundheads"), but refused to deliver the castle. He claimed that he had no idea who Cromwell was and that the castle stood on a rock. He sent a note to Fenwick with the following doggerel: 
"I, Will of the Wastle
Am King of my castle
All the dogs in the town 
Shall gare gang me down!"

However once the bombardment began, it became clear that there was no option but submission. Fenwick's troops entered the castle, and accepted Cockburn's surrender. Cockburn and his men were given quarter for life only. They retreated and Fenwick [slighted](/wiki/Slighting "Slighting") the fortification.

### Resurrection

[thumb\|250px\|Crenellation at Hume](/wiki/File:Hume_Battlements.JPG "Hume Battlements.JPG")
In the early 18th century, Hume and its environs came into the possession of the [Earls of Marchmont](/wiki/Lord_Polwarth "Lord Polwarth"), wealthier and more influential cadets of the main line of the family. The Castle at this point was level with the ground that it was built upon. 
At some point before his death in 1794, Hugh Hume\-Campbell, 3rd Earl of Marchmont, 3rd Lord Polwarth, restored the castle as a [folly](/wiki/Folly "Folly"), from the waste left from its destruction, on the original foundations of its [curtain wall](/wiki/Curtain_wall_%28fortification%29 "Curtain wall (fortification)"). He adorned the wall tops with enormous [crenellations](/wiki/Crenellations "Crenellations") that are more picturesque than practical.

### The Great Alarm

In light of its function as a mediæval early warning system, the castle was used again as a beacon during the [Napoleonic Wars](/wiki/Napoleonic_Wars "Napoleonic Wars"). In 1804, on the night of 31 January, a sergeant of the Berwickshire Volunteers in charge of the beacon mistook charcoal burners' fires on nearby [Dirrington Great Law](/wiki/Dirrington_Great_Law "Dirrington Great Law") for a warning. Lighting the beacon at Hume Castle, he set in train the lighting of all the Borders beacons to the West, and 3,000 volunteers turned out in what became known as 'The Great Alarm'.

Again, during the [Second World War](/wiki/Second_World_War "Second World War") it functioned as a lookout post, and was also to act as a base for resistance in the event of a German invasion.

### Today

The castle is still seen as the spiritual home of the many Homes and Humes in Scotland and abroad. The castle was bought by the state in 1929, and in 1985 a restoration programme was undertaken by the [Berwickshire Civic Society](/wiki/Berwickshire_Civic_Society "Berwickshire Civic Society") funded by the [Scottish Office](/wiki/Scottish_Office "Scottish Office"). It re\-opened to the public in 1992\. 
In 2006 the Civic Society handed over the castle to a charitable trust run by the Clan Home Association, under the auspices of [Historic Scotland](/wiki/Historic_Scotland "Historic Scotland"), to maintain its preservation in the future.


How did the Great Alarm impact the local population during the Napoleonic Wars?