290 The Ancient Burgh of Roxburgh, by Thomas Craig. 



there was a ford and a ferry across the river a short distance 

 £>elow their sites within the memory of persons still living. At 

 a long prior date, however, a bridge facilitated communication 

 across the river. In the time of King David of pious memory, 

 as mentioned by Haig, in his " History of Kelso," Old Roxburgh 

 was defended by a wall and ditch ; but it became so over-popu- 

 lated that either under that King or before his time a new town 

 was built to the eastward of the old, and distinguished by the 

 name of Easter Roxburgh. The old town had a mint during a 

 part of its history, and coins are still preserved which were struck 

 there — some being those of the time of William the Lion, and 

 some those of James II., the latter having, it is supposed, been 

 made and issued while that monarch besieged the Castle in 1460. 

 It could also boast of a burgh or city seal, having been one of 

 the first royal burghs erected by David L, its affairs being ad- 

 ministered by a provost or alderman and bailies. It was famous 

 also for its schools, which were under the superintendence of the 

 Abbot of Kelso, who would have less than a mile to travel to 

 visit them. It had also the privilege of an annual fair, named, 

 probably after the patron saint of the burgh, " St. James's 

 Fair," which is still held on the 5th of August. Haig, in his 

 " History," states that " at present [1825] this fair is held on the 

 site of the Old Town, or, as some authors say, on the site of the 

 church." This statement received confirmation upwards of 20 

 years ago, for in the course of some levelling operations on the 

 Green, several stones were dug up \vhich had evidently belonged 

 to the church or churchyard. These, as bringing a message 

 from the buried past, possess- a peculiar interest, and have a 

 claim upon the tender regards of those who take a kindly concern 

 in the ways and men of past centuries. The stones were found 

 at no great depth below the surface, and it is quite possible that 

 a little more extended search would have increased the number 

 and value of the relics thus restored to the light of day, though 

 they can scarcely be said to have obtained much of the regards 

 of men. They were found within stone-throw of the Tweed, and 

 near the western limits of the Fair ground, as defined by recent 

 practice. The following are a few particulars regarding them : — 

 I. The most interesting is a fragment of a stone of a hard and 

 slaty nature, altogether unlike any of the others in material. 

 Unfortunately, it has been broken right through from top to 



