and many lands in Lanarkshire, were conferred upon Sir Walter and his son by the same monarch.

"After the period of exchange with Sir Thomas Inglis, Branksome became the principal seat of the Buccleuch family. The castle was enlarged and strengthened by Sir David Scott, the grandson of Sir William, its first possessor. But in 1570—1, the vengeance of Elizabeth, provoked by the inroads of Buccleuch and his attachment to the cause of Queen Mary, destroyed the castle and laid waste the lands of Branksome. In the same year the castle was repaired and enlarged by Sir Walter Scott, its brave possessor; but the work was not completed until after his death, in 1574, when his widow finished the building. This appears from the following inscriptions. Around a stone, bearing the arms of Scott of Buccleuch, appears the following legend: "Sir W. Scott, of Branxheim Knyt Yore of Sir William Scott of Kirkurd Knyt began ye work upon ye 24 of Marche 1571 zeir quha departit at God's pleisour 17 April 1574.” On a similar copartment are ́sculptured the arms of Douglas, with this inscription;

Dame Margaret Douglas his spous completit the forsaid work in October 1576." Over an arched door is inscribed the following moral verse:

In. Varld. is. nocht. nature. hes. vrought. yat. sal.

lest, ay.

Tharfore. serve. God. keip. veil. ye. rod. thy. fame. sal. nocht. dekay.

Sir Valter Scot of Branxholme Knight. Margaret Douglas 1571.

Branksome Castle continued to be the principal seat of the Buccleuch family, while security was any object in their choice of a mansion. It has been since the residence of the commissioners or chamberlains of the family. From the various alterations which the building has undergone, it is not only greatly restricted in its dimensions, but retains little of the castellated form, if we except one square tower of massy thickness, being the only part of the original building which now remains. The whole forms a handsome modern residence, and is now inhabited by my respected friend, Adam Ogilvy, Esq. of Hartwoodmyres, commissioner of his Grace the Duke of Buccleuch.

The extent of the ancient edifice can still be traced by some vestiges of its foundation, and its strength is obvious from the situation on a steep bank surrounded by the Teviot, and flanked by a deep ravine, formed by a precipitous brook. It was anciently surrounded by wood, as appears from the survey of Roxburghshire, made for Pont's Atlas, and preserved in the advocates' library. This wood was

cut about fifty years ago, but is now replaced by the thriving plantations which have been formed by the noble proprietor, for miles around the ancient mansion of his forefathers.

Nine and twenty knights of fame

Hung their shields in Branksome hall...Ver. 3, p. 16.

The ancient barons of Buccleuch, both from feudal splendor, and from their frontier situation, retained in their household, at Branksome, a number of gentlemen of their own name, who held lands from their chief for the military service of watching and warding his castle. Satchells tells us, in his doggrel poetry,

No baron was better served in Britain ;

The barons of Buckleugh they kept at their call,
Four and twenty gentlemen in their hall,
All being of his name and kin;

Each two had a servant to wait upon them
Before supper and dinner, most renowned,
The bells rung and the trumpets sowned;
And more than that, I do confess,
They kept four and twenty pensioners.
Think not I lie, nor do me blame,
For the pensioners I can all name:
There's men alive elder than I,

;

They know if I speak truth or lie;
Every pensioner* a room did gain,
For service done and to be done ;
This I 'il let the reader understand,
The name both of the men and land,
Which they possesed, it is of truth,

Both from the lairds and lords of Buckleugh.

Accordingly dismounting from his Pesagus, Satchells gives us in prose, the names of twenty four gentlemen, younger brothers of ancient families, who were pensioners to the house of Buccleuch, and describes the lands which each possessed for his border service. In time of war with England, the garrison was doubtless augmented. Satchells adds, "These twenty three pensioners, all of his own name of Scott, and Walter Gladstanes of Whitelaw, a near cousin of my Lord's, as aforesaid, were ready on all occasions when his honor pleased cause to advertise them. It is known to many of the country better than it is to me, that the rent of these lands, which the lairds and lords of Buccleuch did freely bestow upon their friends, will amount to above twelve or fourteen thousand merks a year." History of the name of Scott, p. 45. An immense sum in those times.

*Room, portion of land.

And with fedwood axe at saddlebow....Ver. 5, p. 171

"Of a truth," says Froissart, "the Scottish cannot boast great skill with the bow, but rather bear axes, with which in time of need, they give heavy strokes." The Jedwood axe was a sort of partizan, used by horsemen, as appears from the arms of Jedburgh, which bear a cavalier mounted, and armed with this weapon. It is also called a Jedwood or Jeddart

staff.

They watch against southern force and guile,
Lest Scroope, or Howard, or Percy's powers,
Threaten Branksome's lordly towers,

From Warkworth, or Naworth, or Merry Carlisle.
Verse 6, p. 17.

Branksome castle was continually exposed to the attacks of the English, both from its situation and the restless military disposition of its inhabitants, who were seldom on good terms with their neighbours. The following letter from the earl of Northumberland to Henry VIII. in 1533, gives an account of a successful inroad of the English, in which the country was plundered up to the gates of the castle. It occurs in the cotton MS. Calig. B. VIII. f. 222.

"Pleasith yt your most gracious highnes to be aduertised that my comptroller with Raynald Carnaby desyred licence of me to invade the realme of Scot