32 SCOTLAND ILLUSTRATED. 



Lauderdale. This district was, in ancient times, a separate Regabty, 

 or nearly independent jurisdiction, under the name of a Bailiary. 



The first object of prominent interest, is Thirlestane Castle, the seat of the 

 Earl of Lauderdale, situated on the banlvs of the Leader, and surrounded by 

 a magnificent park, which has lately been much enlarged and enhanced by 

 numerous embellishments. The castle is spacious and massy, and contains 

 in its state apartments an excellent specimen of the style prevalent in the 

 reign of Charles II. It is believed, traditionally, to have been founded by 

 Edward I. during his invasion of Scotland, and was long designated by the 

 title of Lauder Fort. It was, in a great measm-e, however, rebuilt by Chan- 

 cellor Maitland, who, it may be remembered, attended James VI. in his 

 matrimonial excursion to Denmark, and there became intimately acquainted 

 wdth Tycho Brahe. The Chancellor is represented as an able and upright 

 statesman : he was liiglily instrumental in promoting, by his influence, moral 

 and political, the best interests of the national church ; and at the close of 

 his career, an epitaph, composed by his learned sovereign, bore testimony 

 to the high estimation in which he had been held. 



In the park of Thirlestane, there is much fine timber, and several trees of 

 extraordinary dimensions. One elm, at three feet firom the ground, measures 

 fifteen feet in girth, and with others of the same kind, is supposed to be little 

 short of two hundred years old. 



The town of Lauder * is the only royal burgh in the county ; and on its old 

 charter from James IV., in 1302, being destroyed, had it renewed in l63o. The 

 hne of a Roman road has been distinctly traced through a considerable part of 

 this parish, and is still perceptible. On Lauder hill ai-e the remains of a military 

 station ; at Blackchester the vestiges of an oval camp ; and on TuUius liill, 

 another of similar form, but larger dimensions. Various Roman, Spanish, 

 English, and native coins, have been found from time to time. On Lauder- 

 moor, the scene of remote conflicts, many tumuH are still observable, and 

 numerous fragments of swords, bows, and arrows, have been taken from the 

 soil. The arrows were pointed with flint-heads tapering from the juncture, 

 and about an incli in length. 



From the monastic chartularies, and various title deeds of estates, it ajjpears 

 that Lauder, and certain lands adjoining, were granted by David I. to Sir Hugh 

 Moreville, Constable of Scotland, who presented those of Thirlestane to one 



• In July 1482, when James III. and his army were encamped in the vicinity of Lauder, the nobles 

 held in the old church their celebrated conferences, which terminated in the murder of six of the king's 

 minions, whom they hanged over a bridge which formerly crossed the Leader a little below the castle. 



