SESSION 1904-1905. 



L—YABROW: ITS LITERATURE AND ROMANCE. 



By the Eev. ROBERT BORLAND, F.S.A.(Scot.) 



{Comnmnicated Nov. 23, 1904.) 



There are two points of view from which we might survey 

 the subject of our lecture this evening. We might deal with 

 it from the historical standpoint, and trace the stream of the 

 Yarrow literature and tradition from the earliest times down 

 to the present day, paying special attention to the old ballads 

 associated with the valley, — a body of literature unique of its 

 kind. But I have thought it well on the present occasion 

 to adopt what may be called the topographical standpoint. 

 There will be thrown upon the screen views of many of the 

 more interesting historical places, and around these I shall 

 endeavour to weave the literary associations of the ballad- 

 haunted Vale. 



We begin at Philiphaugh, a house for generations intimately 

 associated with the Murray family, of yore one of the most 

 powerful on the Scottish Border, and of which more anon. The 

 property is now in the possession of William Strang Steel, 

 Esq., by whom it has been greatly improved. It was here 

 the famous battle took place between Leslie and Montrose in 

 the autumn of 164:5. Montrose had at one time been an 

 ardent Covenanter, but for some reason or another he joined 

 the Eoyalists, and threw the whole weight of his influence 

 against his quondam friends. He had raised a considerable 

 army in the North, made up of Highlanders and Irish ; and 

 Leslie, who had been at the battle of Marston Moor, hearing 



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