Sir W. Elliot on Denholm and its Vicinity. 307 



use to which this comb appendage can be put is to dress the 

 beard and keep it free from gossamer and dust. 



The specimen exhibited at the June meeting was shot in 

 the neighbourhood of Longformacus near Dunse. 



Denholm and its Vicinity. By Sir Walter Elliot, 



K.C.S.I., of Wolfelee. 

 The name of Denholm is of Saxon origin and is evidently 

 derived from its position in the holm or haugh of the Teviot, 

 near the den or dene which has this day afforded one of the 

 most agreeable objects of interest presented by this neigh- 

 bourhood, to the botanists and lovers of the picturesque of our 

 party. Reliques belonging both to the Celtic and Roman 

 periods have been found in the vicinity of the present village, 

 (and Minto and Cavers are both believed to have a Celtic 

 etymology), but of the modern name no ascertained record 

 exists of an older date than the thirteenth century, when we 

 find Gwy of Denum among those who swore fealty to Ed- 

 ward I. and signed the Ragman Rolls in 1296, together with 

 other names of note in the neighbourhood.* 



At this time the Baliol family was paramount in this local- 

 ity, and Gwy of Denum was probably a follower of Alexander 

 Baliol of Cavers, who also signed the roll, and died in 1307, 

 leaving two sons Alexander and Thomas. Gwy's successors 

 in the barony of Denum were John and William, both of 

 whom were recognised successively by Edward III. as barons 

 of Denum.f But during this period of unremitting struggle 

 between the Bruce and his English opponents there was little 

 certainty or permanence of tenure. As soon as the Scottish 

 king was established on the throne he conferred the barony 

 of Cavers together with Denholm on Thomas the thirteenth 

 earl of Mar. The earl of Mar appears to have been related 

 to the Baliol family and also to William earl of Douglas, 

 both of whom are called his brothers-in-law, but in what 

 manner cannot now be ascertained. Be that as it may. Mar 

 conferred these newly acquired possessions, in fee, upon 

 Thomas de Baliol, and on his death and that of Mar, both with- 

 out issue, the lands of Cavers and Denum passed to Douglas. J 



* As Thomas de Roule, William de Fairningstohe, Johan de Harden, Richard 

 de Chesehelm, Aymer de Rotherforde, Johan de Lillesclif, Robert del Counte de 

 Kokesburgh, and others, p. 127-8. 



t Rolls of Edward III., 1353 to 1357, Orig. Par. 1. 335. 



X According to Surtees, Thomas Baliol, lord of Cavers, sold that estate to 

 William earl of Douglas, in 1368. R. White, Bat. of Otterburn, 93. Mag. 

 Sigill, V. 83,, p, 143. Doug. Peer., I,, 866. 



