164 Yarrow: Its Literature and Romance. [Sess. 



We pass now to another phase of the fascinating story. 

 In the neighbourhood of Yarrow Kirk, near the picturesque 

 " broken-down brig " (Plate XVI.), there stood a " keep " of 

 the Outlaw Murray, and under its shadow and protection was 

 the chapel of Deuchar. By some it has been supposed that it 

 was here Sir William Wallace met the Border chiefs, and was 

 by them recognised as the Warden of Scotland. Wallace's 

 trench is on the Lewinshope ridge, not far away. It was a 

 fitting place and convenient centre for such a meeting. 



Yarrow Kirk is near by (Plate XVII.) It was removed 

 from St Mary's, eight miles farther up the valley, in 1640, 

 and the old bell of Deuchar Chapel was hung in the belfry of 

 Yarrow Church, and to this day it calls the people to worship. 

 This church has gathered around it, in the course of the 

 years, many interesting associations. Sir Walter Scott's great- 

 grandfather was minister of Yarrow for nineteen years : born 

 1641, ordained minister of Yarrow 1691, died 1710. His 

 son, the famous Prof. Eutherford, familiarly known as " The 

 Yarrow doctor," was one of the first men to bring the Edin- 

 burgh medical school into something like European fame. He 

 composed the Latin inscription on his father's tombstone, 

 which takes the form of a mural tablet in the north wall of 

 the church. It may be translated thus : — 



" To the memory of the Rev. Dr John Rutherford, minister of Yarrow, 

 most upright and most vigilant : And to Robert his son, in his fourth 

 year. Christiana Shaw, his monrning wife, was careful to erect this 

 monument. Died May 8, 1710, in the 19th year of his ministry, and 

 69th of his age. 



" Tho\i wast a faithful pastor, a beloved brother, a sure friend, a gentle 

 master, a genial husband and father. Having laid aside the gift of an 

 upright and pure life, thou hast yielded to the fates. Thy years passed 

 happily. 0, thrice blessed ! thy fame is above the high hills and the 

 green banks of Yarrow, thy soul above the stars." 



Prof. Rutherford, the son of the minister, was the father of 

 Mrs Scott, Sir Walter's mother. 



After an interval Dr Lorimer, who was for twenty years 

 minister of Mouswald, became minister of Yarrow, being 

 succeeded in course of time by Dr Cramond, who died in 

 1791. In that year Dr Robert Russell became minister of 

 the parish, being succeeded by his gifted son, Dr James 



