196 SCOTLAND ILLUSTRATED. 



Roxburghshire — the poetical and warlike Teviotdale — occupies the largest 

 central proportion of the soutliern border, between the Solway Frith and 

 Berwick-on-Tweed. The general appearance of the district is mountainous, but 

 intersected by many beautiful valleys, and watered by innumerable streams, 

 which maintain freshness and fertility, and, in many instances, figure in that 

 poetry and romance which have lent their lasting charms to the Liddel, the 

 Teviot, and the Tweed.* The middle and northern districts are tolerably fertile, 

 greatly improved by judicious cultivation, and embellished with many noble 

 mansions. The country is traversed by a ridge of hills — part of the " Cheviot 

 range" — from the highest of which the spectator may descry both the eastern 

 and western seas. The hills and valleys that so richly diversify this territory, 

 as well as its monastic ruins and feudal towers — are all familiar in Border 

 minstrelsy. 



Of the monastic antiquities which were once the glory, not only of this county 

 but of the whole kingdom, we have selected for illustration those of Jedburgh, 

 Melrose, and Kelso. In their flourishing state, the monasteries of Scotland are 

 believed to have equalled, if they did not surpass, in wealth and splendour, most 

 estabUshments of the same kind in the other countries of Europe.-f- Their lands 

 and domains equalled in extent the possessions of the most powerful- barons, and 

 were the richest and best cultivated in the kingdom. The members of their 

 communities were, for a long period, revered as the learned instructors and 

 spiritual guides of the people, the indulgent masters of numerous vassals and 



Bcattie, therefore, anxious to prevent bloodshed, offered his " white mare," an animal remarkable for its 

 fieelness, for Maxwell's immediate escape. The offer was accepted, and the rider, mounting in haste, 

 never drew bitt till be alighted at Scott's of Branxholm. Here he was secure ; but, forgetting Beanie's 

 generosity, and determined to avenge himself by selling what he could not occupy, offered the king's grant 

 to this ancestor of the Buccleuch family, for an equivalent. His offer was readily accepted. Scott, 

 then warden of the Middle Marches, and holding a numerous force at his command, mustered his full 

 strength, attacked, slew, and expelled the diminutive force of the Beatties — seized their possessions, ( liord. 

 Ant.) and divided between forty and fifty of their estates and farms among his followers, viz. the Scotts of 

 Harden, Davington, Johnston, Raeburn, liennelburn, Baillielee, and Branxliolm. {Paroch. Stat, by the 

 Rev. Dr. Brown.) The Beatties, .ifter this " legalized plunder," retired partly to the north of Scotland, 

 •o Ireland, and Galloway, (where they gave their name to Dalbeattie,) the English Border, &c. With the 

 exception of Beattie of Meikledale, {Sir WaUer Scott, vol. vi. p. 22,) and two or three others, they have 

 regained no hold in their ancient district—" Batti veteris sacrum sepulchrum." Catull. Ad. Lcsb. 1. 6. 



* Of this county three of our most admired poets are natives — Gavin Douglas, Bishop ofDunkeld; 

 .lames Thomson, author of" The Seasons :" and Dr. John Armstrong, whose poem on "The Art of pre- 

 serving Health" is so justly admired. To these may be added the name of Elliot — afterwards ennobled — 

 whose admirable defence of Gibraltar, and other heroic actions, have assigned his name so distinguished 

 a place in the martial annals of his country. 



■(■ See "Morton's Monastic Ruins oj Teoiotdale." Hanc antiquam Scotorum religionem sat indicat 

 templorum magnificentia ct .splendidissimus eorum apparatus, &c. &c. 



