1882-83-] Edinburgh Naturaiisls Field Club. 83 



of Hertford, whon so much wanton mischief was clone throughout 

 the length and breadth of the Lowlands. 



These introductoiy remarks regarding the ancient town of Selkirk 

 have been given, partly on account of the interest attaching to the 

 subject, but chiefly because of the intimate connection of the old 

 town with our present theme. For Selkirk is said to have stood, 

 when thus burnt down in the reign of Henry VIIL, on what is now 

 part of The Haining estate. On entering by the handsome gate- 

 way situated in what is yet called " The Green," though now a 

 public thoroughfare leading to the market-place, the site of the old 

 town is shown on the left hand. This place, known as tlie " Cliicken 

 Acre," is also traditionally said to be the burial-place of that noted 

 freebooter Willie Armstrong and of nine of his followers, who were 

 tried at Selkirk, and hanged on the Gallows Knowe, still pointed 

 out. Seeing, therefore, that we are thus inside The Haining, it 

 may not be out of place to say a few words concerning the history 

 of the estate. As regards the name itself — " The Haining " — it 

 simply means that part of Ettrick Forest which was hained — i.e., 

 set apart, preserved, or enclosed — for the king's use.-^ Anciently 

 the whole county was termed Ettrick Forest, or briefly The Forest ; 

 and in this favourite hunting-place of our early kings there seems 

 to have been no want of sport. One of the oldest of Scottish bal- 

 lads, " The Song of the Outlaw Murray," describes it as containing 



" Baith clae and rae, and hart and hynd, 

 And of all wild beasts great plentie." 



The Scottish kings, in imitation of the Anglo-Norman monarchs, 

 issued from time to time " Forest Laws," and amongst these are 

 found very stringent enactments as to the privacy of The Haining. 

 The castle was occiipied as a royal residence during the hunting 

 season for more than two hundred years — viz., from David L to 

 Alexander II T. — and was a favourite abode of William the Lion. 

 Its site is now known as Peel Hill, but no trace of any building is 

 left above-ground — nothing except a large Yew-tree to mark the spot 

 where the castle stood. In this castle, during the 12th and 13th 

 centuries, the Scottish kings occasionally held " assizes," as they 

 were termed, and issued thence — " In curia regis apud Selechirche " 

 — Acts of Parliament. These old Acts have been preserved, and 

 reprinted, with others of that time. They are hardly Acts of Par- 

 liament, however, as we now understand these, but rather quaint 

 exhortations regarding the manners and morals of the king's 

 subjects. The castle of Selkirk changed hands frequently after it 

 ceased to be a royal residence — now being held by the English, and 



^ " It is defended and forbidden that anie man dwelling within the wood, 

 or anie other, sail enter within the close or hanit parts of the wood with their 

 beasts or cattell." — Forest Laws, c. i. s. 1. 



