[MR] Death of Archibald Napier

[Garth Groff via Atlantia]

Noble Friends, Especially Fellow Scots:

Recently I hinted at the tragic death of Archibald Napier of Woolmet, 
brother of John Napier of Logarithms. So here is the story, summarized 
from Patricia Napier's A DIFFICULT COUNTRY, THE NAPIERS IN SCOTLAND 
(London: Michael Joseph Ltd., 1972).

Archie (1575-8 November 1600) was one of John's four younger brothers, 
the others directly involved in this story being Alexander and William. 
It was late in 1600 when someone stole one of Archie's horses in 
Edinburgh. Archie and some of his friends rode south, probably acting on 
a tip. Along the way they met Scott of Bowhill, a well-known 
ne'er-do-well and member of the infamous Scott family of border reivers 
and cattle thieves. Scott and Archie took an instant dislike for each 
other, Scott possibly believing that Archie had accused him of stealing 
his horse, something
Scott probably would have proud to do, but hadn't). Scott challenged 
Archie to a duel, but the young man simply laughed and rode on. Scott 
decided to kill Archie upon his return, and with some friends set an 
ambush. The trap was sprung, but badly. Archie and his friends fought 
their way out, and Archie killed Scott during the fray.

Bad move. Scott of Bowhill was a relative of Sir Walter Scott, "The Bold 
Buccleuch", one of the most powerful and dangerous men in southern 
Scotland. Buccleuch was at various times Warden of the West March, and 
also keeper of Liddesdale. This was much like having the fox guard the 
hen house. As Warden and keeper, it was his duty to maintain the peace, 
apprehend law-breakers, and suppress the border reivers. This was hard 
to do when Buccleuch was one of the worst criminals himself, and 
commanded a private army of relatives and followers who frequently 
killed their neighbors and lifted their cattle. It was Buccleuch who had 
personally led the famous commando raid on Carlisle in 1596 to free a 
notorious border reiver named Kinnamont Willie Armstrong who had been 
illegally captured by the English during truce day.

When Bowhill's companions whined to Buccleuch about the "unfair" actions 
of Archie, he authorized a hit squad. Seven Scotts caught Archie alone 
on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh opposite Hollyrood Palace gate. There 
they proceeded to dagger him most severely, leaving his lifeless body in 
the gutter. King James VI was not amused.

Alexander and William vowed revenge, and began collecting arms and 
followers for a counter strike, even vowing to kill Buccleuch himself. 
Their parents, and Sir John Napier, could not dissuade them. King James, 
however, who didn't appreciate violence on his doorstep, ordered both 
sides to stand down.

Five of the assassins were tried in 1601. They were sentenced to one 
year of penance in their local church. Supposedly there was a 
1,000-pound payment from Buccleuch to the Napier family, but they never 
received it. It is thought to have somehow stuck in the King's pocket. 
The whole settlement seems to have been an appeasement to Buccleuch, 
whom James VI had good reason to fear.

Is it any wonder the English so often described we Scots as "dagger happy"?

Yours Aye,


Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge