LADY GRIZZLE BAILLIE. 37 



but the bard of Ercildoune was only wise above his time, and — like others, 

 viewed through a superstitious medium — as little of a prophet as Virgil was 

 of a necromancer. 



In the west extremity of the village, Rhymer's tower, part of the poet's 

 residence, is still pointed out to the inquisitive stranger ; and in the parish 

 church, built into the wall, a stone is inscribed, with 



" Auld Rymer's race 

 Lies in this place." 



Earlston has also, in later times, been the residence of men whose distinguished 

 merits have been justly appreciated, and who have had more to do with the stern 

 realities than the romance of life. As the chief of these, we may quote George . 

 Baillie, of Jerviswood, the son of the venerable patriot who fell a sacrifice to 

 that tyrannical violence which disgraced the reign of the second Charles. 

 Driven into exile, but latterly filHng offices of high distinction in his native 

 land, his life and principles, under every circumstance, were marked by ^an 

 elevation of mind, a fervency of rehgious feeling, and a strictly conscientious 

 discharge of social and public duties. The wife of this distinguished patriot 

 was the celebrated Lady Grizzle Baillie, whose filial tenderness and vigilant 

 precautions, while yet a child, preserved the life of her father, the earl of 

 Marchmont, when compelled, as we have already stated, to screen liimself 

 from the living, by taking shelter among the dead. Every night, when dark- 

 ness and silence had lulled suspicions and left a free path to the churchyard, 

 she carried the necessary supply of food to the dreary vault where her father 

 lay concealed, without the secret of his lurking-place having ever transpired.* 

 In her conjugal and maternal duties, this lady manifested the same greatness 

 of mind ; and through the numerous trials of her fortitude and christian prin- 

 ciples, which afterwards assailed her, maintained a course marked by every 

 estimable quality, and at its close, left one of the brightest examples on record 

 of the noble union of piety and heroism. The memoirs of this lady, now 

 published, are full of deep and varied interest.f 



• In addition to the usual terrors of the place, a watch-dog, belonging to the manse, is said to have 

 rendered these visits doubly precarious, by continuing to bark with violence while she was engaged 

 in the pious errand, and thereby making her tremble for a discovery. This sentinel, however, who was 

 evidently in favour of the arbitrary party, was at length silenced ; a report was ingeniously circulated that 

 he had been bit by a mad dog, and was therefore a dangerous retainer. The suggestion was improved by 

 the master, and the dog having disappeared, the amiable little messenger between the living and the dead 

 continued her midnight walks without farther molestation. 



t The same admirable principles were exemplified by another member of this family, the late M rs. Baillie, 

 of Jerviswood. Although confined to her bed during the last thirty years of her life, her active benevo- 

 lence suffered no diminution ; every day was charged with the performance of some good work, and no 



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