Notes on Branxholme. By W. Eliott Lockhart. 443 



and Mark Ker, and commanded them to ward in Edinburgh 

 Castle, — on the 3rd October, Andrew Kerr, brother to Cessford, 

 with all his retainers and the " Haill clans and surnames" 

 of East Teviotdale, along with Lord Grey, came to Ale water 

 on Friday the 5th October 1518, and there burned, harried, and 

 destroyed the cornis, goods, and houses of the inhabitants thereof 

 pertaining to the said Sir Walter Scott and his friends. 1 



An attack was also made on the 8th October, on Buccleuch's 

 lands in the vicinity of, though not on Branxholme itself. 

 Letters of Diligence of the 3rd Dec. 1549, at the instance of 

 AValter Scott of Branxholme knight, and others, bear that on the 

 above-named date, Walter Ker of Cessford, John Ker of Phair- 

 nehurst, Mark Ker of Liteldane, George Ker of Lyntoun, and 

 others, in company with Patrick Lord Gray, 2 had burnt and des- 

 troyed houses, corn, and other goods, and taken away cattle from 

 Todsehawhill Qnhilhays, Wiltonburn, and Borthauch, 



" in clois tyme of harvist," also on " the landis of Goldland barnis, and 



barnyardis thairof. twa hundreth thraves beir, esfcimat to aue huudreth 

 bollis beir, price of the boll with the fodder xlv.s, and diuers vtheris 

 cornis, cattell, and guidis of syndrie prices, like as at mairlenth is contcnit 

 in the said summondis." 3 



According to the Memo., this must have been an extensive raid, 

 as the town of Hawick is stated to have been again burnt and 

 destroyed, and Sir Walter Scott's lands on the Slitrig harried, 

 besides those already named on the Teviot and Borthwick. 4 



On the 19th October, Lord Grey accompanied by the Kerrs, 

 made another incursion up the Waters of Ettrick and Yarrow, 

 burnt the Castle of Newark with all its plenishings, Sir Walter 

 Scott's mother was also burnt in the Tower of Catslak, and the 

 town of Selkirk, whereof Sir Walter Scott was Provost, was 

 burnt and harried. 5 



1 Scotts of Buccleuch, vol. II., p. 180. 



- William Lord Grey of Wilton ? 



:| Scotts of Buccleuch, vol. II., pp. 193-4. 



4 Ibid., pp. 183-0. 



5 Scotts of Buccleuch, vol. II., pp. 185-6. [1 have riot been able to verify the 

 raid on Ale Water on the 5th, the burning of Hawick on the 8th, or the 

 raid up Ettrick and Yarrow, with the burning of Buccleuch's mother at 

 Catslak on the 19th Oct., from any documents of which I have been able 

 to obtain information, either in the British Museum, Record Office, or 

 Register House ; and Mr Fraser does not state the Collection in which the 

 Memo, between the Scotts and Kerrs is to be found, but presumably it is 

 amongst the Buccleuch Muniments.] 



