Oldest Diplomatic Act in Scots

The background to the Common Ridings was the lawless nature of the borderlands which persisted between the 13th and 17th centuries. There were often feuds between kindreds and frequent raiding by armed gangs known as reivers (‘thieves’). On a national scale, Scotland was often at war with England during the period beginning in 1296 and not finally ending until 1652. The wardens of the marches – those lords appointed to defend and administer the frontier regions – often had to conduct diplomacy with their opposites and frequently to appoint truces. One such truce, agreed on 27 June 1386, at Billymire (between Reston and Chirnside in Berwickshire)), is now the earliest known example of a diplomatic act written in the Scots language. In this document the earls of Douglas and March, wardens of the east march of Scotland, agreed a truce with their English counterpart Lord Neville. The text is as follows:

At Billymyre the 27th day of Juyne, the year of Grace 1386, it is ccordit between the Lord Nevill Wardeyn of the Est marche Ingland agayne Scotland on the ta part, and the Erles of Douglas and of the Marche, Wardeyns of the Est marche of Scotland agaynes Ingland on the tother part. That ferme trewes abstinance of wer and special assurance sal be betwixt yaym and thair bondys entrechangeably of Scotland and Ingland and inhabitants in their bondys forsayde, baithe be see and be lande. In yis manere That warnyng sal be made to thaym that is in land as sone as it may be goodly withoutyn fraude And to thaym that is upon the see as sone that thay be for outyn fraude or gyle So that the wardeyns be nocht charged befor the warnyng be made as befor is sayd. Swa yat yir forsayd Lordes ne nan yar bondys sal do no trespass no attemptat in the bondys of the tother part, nouther be brining ne slayhter of men takyng and ransoming of prisoners, takyng of Castelds of Fortresses, Walled Tounes na nane othir harmis in outyn manere fir to do na evel fra the makyng of yis endentures to ye last day of May next command to sone gangand to rest. To yis effect yat the commissairs of baith partys that meete about xiv of mars yat next comes at place accordable betweene the wardeyns for to trete of a Pees Perpetual or a lang trewe betweene France and Scotland on the ta part and Inglande on the tuyer part. Item It is accordit that Durant yis time forsayd yat gyf ony gretter or smaller of the Reaumes shapes to do harme in to the bondys of the tother part, by chivance or any other manere, the Lordis forsayd sal set letting you in after yair leal Pooer & in cais yuy may not let, that aythair part sal make warnyng til uthir of 15 days, and yuy sal not be at yair Rydings na Harm doynges ne man of thair Bondys at yaim wyttynglely; and gif ony of yair Bondys Trespas in yat manere the Lordis sal gar that be amendyt as far forth as they trespass. Item it is accordit that nane of outyrsyde of the Bondys forseid for Thift, Murther, Treson, or Ref sal change fays or be Receifin othyrs Bondys, &, gif yar be, zai sal be restorit entrechangeably. Item it is accordit that speciale Assurance sal be on the see, fra the Water of Spee to the Water of Tamyse for all merchandes of bath the Roialmes & their Gudes.