An Account of Simprin, Berwickshire, by Jas. Hardy. $11 



and the words " Memento mori" on the top of the one 

 next Gibson's, which has also a skull or hour-glass, and a spade 

 and cross-bones on it in high relief. The tops or heads of 

 both these stones were quite covered with a foot and a half of 

 soil, to which these words owe their preservation. Of Boston's 

 father's tomb, I could find no trace, nor indeed did I come on 

 any other tombstone worthy of notice in the churchyard. All the 

 four stones alluded to lie (evidently in situ) horizontal with the 

 ground. The man who was with me at Simprin, and who lived 

 there, told me that on one stone close by the south side of the 

 church, there used to be a brass plate, with D. L. upon it — which 

 plate was wrenched out, some years ago, and stolen — no one 

 knows by whom." At the Club's visit, an inscription on a stone 

 lying at the end of the church, was copied to the following effect ; 

 but of the man himself we know nothing. 

 "1610. 



Heir lyes under this ston 



the body of Willeam 



Coockburn whos dayes 



was feu. his glass it 



was soon run. al that 



him knew their lov 



he wan who departed 

 July 28." 

 The church has been a small oblong structure, without any 

 peculiar feature. In Armstrong's Map of Berwickshire, pub- 

 lished in 1771, Simprin church is entered as "Kirk in ruins." 

 It only ceased to be used in 1761 ; so that its dilapidation must 

 have been rapid ; only ten years. The manse which Boston had 

 built, was still standing, a few years before the last Statistical 

 Account was written, in 1834.* It stood in the garden, and a 

 built up gateway in the churchyard wall, is shewn as that 

 through which Boston, who enjoys quite a monopoly of local 

 fame, passed to and from the church. Even the cow-house used 

 by Boston, who refers to it in his " Memoirs," claims a passing 

 mention for his sake ; and the gamekeeper's cottage close beside 

 it, still contains his study door. The " Manse-well" still yields 

 a refreshing supply ; much prized from the difficulty of obtain- 

 ing pure water in the neighbourhood. 

 * p. 192. 



