Notes on Branxholmt. By W. Eliott Lockhart. 425 



our modern luxuries and peaceful avocations — the manners and 

 customs, as well as the stirring and turbulent mode of life pre- 

 valent on the Borders up to, and for some time after the Union 

 of the Crowns — present a most extraordinary contrast. 



At the time of its acquisition by the Scotts, Branxholme was 

 probably one of the ordinary peels or towers, of which there were 

 many, placed generally in commanding situations, and as far as 

 possible within view of each other, built with very thick walls, 

 and secured by double doors, the inner one of grated iron. These 

 "iron yettis," after the Union, were, by an Act of Parliament of 

 the Scottish Council, 20th Nov. 1 606, ordered to be removed from 

 Border houses and strengths belonging to persons not being 

 answerable barons, and converted into " plew irnis." 1 



Most of these peels were sui'rounded by an outer wall or 

 barmeykin, which by an Act of Parliament 1535, was directed to 

 be one ell thick, and six ells in height, and enclosing a space of 

 at least 60 feet, into which cattle could be driven. 2 They were 

 sometimes further surrounded by a moat. The lower room was 

 usually vaulted, those above being reached by a turnpike stair, 

 each story being capable of defence. They also had projecting 

 battlements or machicoles, from which the defenders could 

 annoy their assailants with stones, arrows, shot, etc. The usual 

 mode of attack was by setting fire to damp straw in the base- 

 ment ; but it was seldom that the occupants attempted to 

 withstand a siege, preferring to retire to some fastness with their 

 cattle, and either again assemble to resist an attack, or leave the 

 stronghold to its fate. 3 Eound these peels or strongholds were 

 the " cottajies or cabbagnes " of the poorer classes, which if 

 •' bront of one daye," the people would "the next day maik 

 other and not remove frome the ground, so wretchedlie could 

 they live and induir the pain that no Englesheman could suffre 

 the lyke." 4 Owing to the want of security and constant risk of 

 destruction, or of having to leave them to their fate, in the event 

 of an attack by a superior force, the Border peels or strongholds 

 on the Scottish side were devoid of all comfort or luxury. 



Leslie thus contemptuously writes of them : — 



1 Armstrong's Hist, of Liddisdale, vol. I., p. 75. 



2 Ibid., p. 75 ; Acts of Pari., vol. n., p. 376. 



3 Ibid. ; also Patten, p. 36 (attack on Tower of Anderwicke.) Border 

 Antiquities, lx. ; and App. iv. 



* Ibid., p. 75, fr. Ca%. B. vij. f. 312, 

 2B 



