318 D. Milne Home, Esq., on a Visit to Or ailing. 



doubt in our minds, that the caves had been occupied by 

 human beings, and probably about two centuries ago. 



From the concealed and inaccessible situation of the caves, 

 I also conclude, that the people who occupied them, lived at 

 a period of social disquiet ; and that in all probability, they 

 belonged to that class, then very numerous on the Borders, 

 who lived by plunder. 



There are many other parts of Roxburghshire where simi- 

 lar caves, of ancient date, have long been known. On our 

 way to Crailing, we observed from the railway carriage two 

 on the right bank of the Teviot near Roxburgh. At Ancrum, 

 two or three miles distant, there are no less than 15 caves, — 

 which are described in the statistical account of that parish. 

 Similar caves occur on the banks of the Jed, above Jedburgh ; 

 — on the banks of the Esk, near Hawthornden ; — at Crickup 

 Linn, near Closeburn, Dumfriesshire ; — at Corby Castle, near 

 Carlisle, and at the Giants' caves, near Penrith. In all 

 these cases the caves are in red sandstone strata, — which have 

 no doubt been preferred, on account of their softness, for such 

 excavations. 



With regard to these Border caves, and to the character of 

 the people who occupied them, it is only necessary to consult 

 Redpath's Border History, or Mr. Jeifrey's History and An- 

 tiquities of Roxburghshire. In the last mentioned work 

 especially, there will be found an interesting account of the 

 numbers of persons tried at Jedburgh between the years 

 1400 and 1700, for the theft of cattle and sheep, as well as 

 for robbery, housebreaking, and murder. 



The troublous state of these days, is still manifested by 

 many circumstances which arrest attention and court enquiry. 

 The " Crailing Guard " is one of these. It consisted of a 

 party of soldiers whose special function it was to apprehend 

 and lodge in Jedburgh Castle all persons whose names were 

 in the Roll of persons indicted by the Lord Advocate to be 

 tried before the lords of Justiciary. It was the duty of the 

 same guard, to keep in custody the prisoners during their 

 trial at the Jedburgh Circuit Court, — this guard required to 

 be furnished by the Coroner of the county, and also to escort 

 the judge, and maintain order. To enable this functionary 

 to fulfil his obligations, he had certain lands bestowed on him 

 by the crown, which were held under that express tenure. 

 These lands formed originally part of the large estate of 

 Crailing, Avhi';h ultimately came into the hands of Lord 

 Cranstoun, upon whose bankruptcy they Avere sold in differ- 



