Notes on Branocholrne. By W. Elioit Lockhart, 423 



Branxholine to be held in feu and heritage for ever— for pay- 

 ment yearly in the church of Hawick, on the feast of the 

 Assumption of the Virgin Mary, of a silver penny in name of 

 blench farm, if asked only — for all other service. 1 Robert Scott 

 died in 142G, and was succeeded by his son Walter, who was 

 knighted in 1436 by the designation of "Walter Scott of the 

 Buccleuch." He was also formally styled "Lord of the 

 Buccleuch." 2 



Sir Walter Scott very soon made his influence felt throughout 

 the Borders ; and during his long possession of the family 

 estates — during which time they were very largely added to — he 

 was renowned for his prudence, loyahy, and courage. In 1446, 

 on Thomas Inglis of Menar complaining to Sir Walter Scott, of 

 the depredations committed on his lands of Branxholme, by the 

 frequent incursions of the English borderers, he at once took 

 advantage of the opportunity of acquiring the other half of these 

 lands in exchange for his lands of Murthockstone f on which 

 occasion he is said to have made the significant remark, that 

 "the Cumberland cattle were as good as those of Teviotdale." 

 This is also alluded to in the notes of the " Lay of the Last 

 Minstrel." 1 The Charter of Thomas Inglis is dated 23rd July 

 1446, and confirmed by William, Earl of Douglas, the feudal 

 superior, on the same date. 5 



"This exchange of lands, and the traditionary reasons which 

 induced it, were quite characteristic of the courageous qualities 

 of Sir Walter Scott. His ancestors, as well as himself and his 

 descendants, nurtured on the Borders, acquired a spirit of daring 

 and adventure which was frequently of service to the State, and 

 lay which they were enabled successfully to hold their own 

 against the English." 



In June 1455, the estates of James, Earl of Douglas, were 

 declared forfeited by Act of Parliament ; and as a reward for 

 their services, the king granted a charter dated at Stirling, 10th 

 Sept. 1455, to David Scott, eldest son of Walter Scott of Kirkurd, 

 of the lands of Quhytchestir in the barony of Hawick ; and the 

 family rose so high in the estimation of the king, that they 



1 Frazer, Scott* of Buccleuch, i., p. 2(i-7 : ti., 22. - Ibid, i., p.30. 



3 In the barony of Bothwell, Co. Lanark, acquired by the marriage of 

 his ancestor, Richard Scott, to the heiress of Mnrthockstone. — Scott* of 

 Buccleuch, i. p. 553: and T)ou.<j]ox Peerage, p. 100. 



1 Lay of the Lust Minstrel, notes, canto 1. 



5 Scotts of Buccleuch, u., p. 33-5. 6 Ibid. i. p. 32. 



