448 Notes on Branxholme. By W. Eliott Lock] i art. 



1552, by a party of the Kerrs, including John Hume of Colden- 

 knowes, and Walter Kerr of Cesford. 1 



His grandson, Sir Walter Scott, was only 3 years of age when 

 he succeeded in 1552, and during his ruinorit}' Branxholme does 

 not appear to have been the scene of any stirring events. 



In 1569 the Regent Murray, in order to attempt to put an end 

 to the state of disorder on the Borders, made a second expedition 

 there, and met the English wardens. He was accompanied by Sir 

 Walter Scott of Buccleuch, Lord Home,Cessford, and Fernihurst. 



Buccleuch and Fernihurst were appointed to burn and destroy 

 Liddesdale. Sureties were offered, but not being deemed satis- 

 factory by the Regent, the whole district was devastated, not a 

 single house being left standing. 2 



Following on this, a large number of Barons and others bound 

 themselves to concur in resisting the rebellious people of Liddis- 

 dale, Ewesdale, etc., and especially to assist Buccleuch and others 

 whose estates were near the disturbed district. 3 



Sir Walter Scott espoused very warmly the cause of Queen 

 Mary ; and such was his power and influence, that he could raise 

 within his own district a force of above 3000 men. 4 He was 

 appointed keeper of Newark Castle', and chamberlain of Ettrick 

 Forest, on the 24th March 1566. 5 



The assassination of the Regent Murray took place on the 

 25th Jan. 1570 ; and on the very day after, Sir Walter Scott 

 and Fernihurst made a furious incursion into England at the head 

 of a powerful force, laying waste the country with fire and sword. 6 

 On this account the lands of Buccleuch and Fernihurst were 

 amongst the first to suffer at the hands of Sussex, when by order 

 of Queen Elizabeth, he very shortly afterwards invaded Scotland. 



The following is the account given b} r the Earl of Sussex and 

 Lord Hunsdon to the Queen, written from Berwick on the 23rd 

 April 1570. 



" It move please youre moste excellente Majestie .... at o in- 

 coming to Barwike, we found no cawso to alter the former resolucons ; and 

 so wrate to the L. Scrope and Sir John Forster, to procede according to 

 the resolucons at Newcastell. So as the xviitti daye, at nighte, we entered 



1 Scotts of Buccleuch, i., pp. 118-9 ; n., pp. 209-10. 



2 Ibid. i., pp. 148-9. 



s Ibid. i., p. 149 (from Pitoairn's Criminal Trials.) 



4 Ibid. i., p. 151 (from Sadler's State Papers, n. ; p. 384.) 



5 Ibid. i., p. 151; ii., p. 220. 

 « Ibid. i., p. 152. 



