| He succeeded his father 24 July 1526, and being under age, his uncle, George Ker of Pawdonside, was appointed Tutor of Cessford. He had sasine of the barony of Cessford, Caverton, Old Roxburgh, Altonburn, and Castlesteid, Roxburgh, all of which lands had been in the hands of the King for two years, 15 June 1528. He was Cupbearer to King James V 1528 to 1536. He had sasine of the lands of Smailholm, Caverton, Rutherford, Hownam, and Primside in 1538. On 19 August 1538 Walter Ker of Cessford had a Commission of Justiciary with Robert, Lord Maxwell, for the punishment and justiflcation of transgressors and delinquents within the bounds of Liddesdale and Teviotdale. He claimed the lands of Ernheuch and Windydurris in 1541, and was tenant of Bourhope the same year. He held the office of Warden of the Middle Marches before June 1541, and is designed as Warden in a letter from Rutland to Norfolk, and as having been present at a day of truce at Hexham 19 September 1542. He had a Grown charter to him and his heirs-male of the King's lands in Gaverton, forfeited by Robert, Lord Boyd, with remainder to Mr. Mark Ker and Andrew Ker, his brothers-german, to George Ker of Fawdonside, Mark Ker of Dolphingstoun, Gilbert Ker of Prymsydeloch, James Ker of Mersington, George Ker of Linton, and Lancelot Ker of Gateshaw, and their heirs-male in succession, 23 April 1541-42. He had a charter of Primside and others, co. Roxburgh, to himself, and the lawful heirs-male of his body, failing whom, with remainder as in foregoing charter, failing whom, to the nearest lawful heirs-male of the said Walter, bearing the name Ker, and the arms of the house of Cessford, 21 September 1542. He had also at the same time a novodamus of the lands and barony of Cessford. He was still Warden on 17 March 1542-43, when he was reported by an 'espiall' of the English Warden to be in favour of the young Queen Mary's marriage to Edward, Prince of Wales. He, however, signed 24 July 1543 the 'Secret Band' of Cardinal Beaton and others, his name coming next after that of Walter Scott of Buccleuch. On 22 October 1544 the Regent Arran issued a letter inhibiting Ker from holding his 'alleged' office of Warden of the Middle Marches, accusing him of having given assistance to Archibald, Earl of Angus, and George Douglas, his brother, and of intercommuning with 'oure auld inymyis of Ingland.' He showed his loyalty later, however, by signing a band, 4 October 1545, with other Border lairds, agreeing to the Governor's proposal to pay 1000 horsemen for employment and defence on the Borders. Walter Ker of Cessford sat in the Parliament of June and August 1546, held at Edinburgh and Stirling. After the battle of Pinkie, 10 September 1547, he was one of those who gave in their submission to Somerset at Roxburgh. In October 1548 Walter Ker of Cessford, with John Ker of Ferniehirst and Mark Ker, were imprisoned in the castle of Edinburgh. He was knighted with Walter Scott of Buccleuch, John Home of Cowdenknows, and other Border gentlemen, by the Regent Arran in June 1552, during his survey of the Borders. On 4 October 1552 he murdered Sir Walter Scott of Buccleach in the High Street of Edinburgh, an outcome of the long feud of twenty-six years, since the death of Sir Andrew Ker of Cessford in 1526. For this deed Sir Walter and his friends and followers engaged in the murder were declared rebels, but on 13 July 1553 received remission by royal letters for it, and for previous offences. He was appointed one of the Commissioners of Francis and Mary to treat with the English in 1559. He sat in the Reformation Parliament of 1560, and signed the letter from the Estates of Scotland ' to move Queen Elizabeth to take the Earl of Arran for her husband.' On 22 March 1564-65 he entered into a contract of peace and marriage with Walter Scott of Buccleuch, grandson of the murdered Sir Walter, and with his curators, binding himself and certain of his specified friends and followers, to 'bury the past in oblivion and live in amity in the future,' Sir Walter Ker further binding himself to appear next day in the church of St. Giles in Edinburgh, and there upon his knees to ask God's mercy for the slaughter of Sir Walter Scott and the forgiveness of his friends, who should be present, which it was agreed by them to accept. The marriages agreed on, of which further on, did not, however, take place. Sir Walter Ker was Warden of the Middle Marches at the time of Queen Mary's visit to Jedburgh in September 1566. He was present with the associated Lords at Carberry Hill in 1567, and fought at Langside, on the King's side, 13 May 1568. In the Marian Parliament, held in Edinburgh in August 1571, he and his son and heir, William Ker, were declared forfeited. He sat in Parliament 4 November 1572. Sir Walter Ker was one of the faction against Morton who marched to Stirling from Edinburgh 11 August 1578, with the avowed purpose of delivering the young King James from Morton's control. He was appointed one of the six gentlemen 'extraordinar' of his Majesty's chamber 14 October 1580. He was one of those who signed, 23 August 1582, the 'Secret Band' in which the 'Ruthven Raid' originated.9 |