Waterloo50,
Have you forgotten about the 300 year border war between England and Scotland? Or are you considering it a period of "ancient history"? I'm not sure I'd call the 1600's ancient history.
From->
http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/The-Border-Reivers/
The story of the Reivers dates from the 14th century and continued through into the late 17th century. It concerns the border between the two sovereign countries of England and Scotland. In those days, this Border displayed all of the characteristics of a frontier, lacking law and order. Cattle rustling, feuding, murder, arson and pillaging were all common occurrences.
It was a time when people owed their tribal or clan loyalty to their blood relatives or families. And it was common for these families to straddle the Border.
The Reivers were the product of the constant
English-Scottish wars that would often reduce the Border area to a wasteland. The continuing threat of renewed conflict offered little incentive to arable farming. Why bother planting crops if they may be burned before they could be harvested?
More at the link--and rather fascinating, too.