162 Notice of Stone Cannon Balls, by David Milne Home. 



On the 7th August, Mr Dickson says the King had established 

 his quarters at Upsetlington, on the north bank of the Tweed, im- 

 mediately opposite Norham ; and he is found there playing cards 

 with the Spanish Ambassador, and others of his retinue. This 

 was no good trait of the King, when he ought to have been 

 looking after his troops, and planning the siege of a most formid- 

 able stronghold. 



Mr Dickson observes that "the Bishop of Durham (to whom 

 Norham Castle belonged) being forewarned of King James' ex- 

 pedition, had garrisoned and strengthened the Castle so effectu- 

 ally that the King found it impregnable. News at the same 

 time came of the rapid advance of the Earl of Surrey with a 

 numerous force. King James immediately withdrew into Scot- 

 land. Surrey followed, hoping to overtake the retreating army, 

 and failing in this, laid siege to Ay ton Castle." 



On the 30th September, 1497, a truce was entered into between 

 " England and Scotland, to last for 7 years. It was signed in the 

 Church of Ay ton, on behalf of King James by Andrew Forman 

 (Prothonotary and Prior of May), Patrick Home of Fast Castle, 

 and Mr Lawson, Justice Clerk of Scotland. Hostilities being 

 thus at an end, orders were given for the home bringing of the 

 artillery, and Sir Eobert Ker accordingly collected and brought 

 back to Edinburgh the guns which had been placed at Wedder- 

 burn. Home, and other strengths on the Borders." 



*' During the hostilities of this and the preceding year, the lands 

 on the East March (holding of the Crown), had suffered so much 

 that an abatement was allowed on the rents, — ''propter vastita- 

 tum terrarum de Hersell, Gradene, Letheme, Grenlaw, et Birgham, 

 vastatas per guerras Anglorum." 



Mons Meg was, in the year 1745, carried off from Edinburgh 

 Castle to the Tower of London, where she remained till the year 

 1825. It is understood that the gun was restored to Scotland, 

 by means of a personal application by Sir Walter Scott to King 

 George lY., when His Majesty visited Scotland. 



It is uncertain where the quarries were from which these large 

 Cannon Balls were taken. The Treasurer's Accounts show that 

 there were quarries belonging to government at Dunbar and 

 Stirling. In the Lord Treasurer's Accounts, frequent reference 

 is made to one Johne Quarreour ; this surname being synonimous 

 with our word "quarry man;" and this Johne is also spoken of 



