[MR] Scottish Book on Close-out

[Garth Groff]

Noble friends,

E.R. Hamilton Booksellers ( http://edwardrhamilton.com/ ) is offering an 
important Scottish history book in their close-out catalog: THE STEEL 
BONNETS: THE STORY OF THE ANGLO-SCOTTISH BORDER REIVERS (stock # 
2399679) by George Macdonald Fraser. The Reivers were English and 
Scottish families who perpetrated extensive cross-border raids during 
the 1500s. Of the three books I have on the Border Reivers, this is the 
most extensive (the other two are short works from Osprey, but have nice 
illustrations). This book is a fascinating story, and is written with a 
somewhat dry humorous style. Some of you know Fraser at the author of 
the marvelous Flashman novels. This work is a trade paperback and is now 
priced at $4.95, certainly a bargain (plus $3.50 shipping PER ORDER, not 
per book). If, as I suspect, this important book is going out of print 
again, now is the time to grab a copy for your library. It is well worth 
the money. Finally, I have been a satisfied ERH customer for several 
years, but have no connection with the company.

Just as an aside, one of my real Napier ancestors, Archibald Napier, 
from the Merchiston side of the family (being a cousin about 14 times 
removed) was robbed by one of the Scotts (yes, Sir Walter Scott's 
ancestors, notorious Reivers all). This wasn't cattle theft (which had a 
small bit of honor to it), it was pure highway banditry. Archie drew his 
sword and ran Scott through. End of his story. Scott's old man, the 
infamous Buccleuch of Scott, took exception to having his thieving son 
cut down so, and sent a large hit squad to Edinburgh in search of 
Archie. When the Scotts caught up with him,they stabbed Archie several 
dozen times with their dirks, and left him to bleed to death in a 
gutter. The usually peaceful Napiers began arming for a counter stroke 
when King James (VI &I) stepped in and ordered everyone to put up their 
swords. Buccleuch was never held accountable for the crime. Sadly, this 
story is not Fraser's book.

You can read a bit more about the Border Reivers at 
http://www.nwlink.com/~scotlass/border.htm . This web site is an 
excellent introduction to this exciting, bloody chapter in 
Anglo-Scottish history.

Kind regards,


Lord Mungo Napier, That Crazy Scot