42 REPORT OF MEETINGS FOR 1906 



While most of the party were occupied with the examina- 

 tion of the Castle, a few descended to the bed of the river, 

 and following its course in a Southerly direction towards 

 Crichton bog applied themselves to the study of its Sedges. 

 Particular interest attached to this because from this station 

 the rare species, Carex Boenninyhauseniana, had been reported. 

 Owing to the prevailing wet weather, however, the bog was 

 very difficult to negotiate, and could not be thoroughly 

 worked, so that the botanists were beaten off without having 

 obtained their prize. It is of interest to note that this glen 

 between Crichton and Borthwick abounds in glow-worms, 

 Lampyris noctilnca L. Meanwhile under the leadership of 

 Rev. Mr Bickerton, the main section walked by a right-of-way 

 along its East side till they reached the railway line, and 

 having crossed it and entered the parish of Borthwick, 

 continued their march by the banks of the Gore water, 

 which winds between the Castle and an adjacent hill, on 

 which Cromwell is said to have placed his cannon when he 

 unsuccessfully besieged it. A few houses are scattered in 

 the valley and supply a modern aspect to the locality, but 

 the Castle dominates the scene, retaining in their entirety 

 its picturesque and formidable outlines. It occupies a tongue 

 of land at the junction of the Middleton burns, 

 Borthwick and dates from a license to build a castle at 

 Castle. Lochwarret granted by James I., on 2nd June 



1430, to Sir James Borthwick, whose family 

 seat was Cateune Castle, and whose progenitor is said to 

 have been a Livonian knight called Burtick, who in 1067 

 came to Scotland with Edward Atheling and his sister, 

 Margaret, better known as the pious consort of Malcolm 

 Canmore. During the period of its erection, its founder was 

 created Lord Borthwick in recognition of national services, 

 and on his death in 1458 he was buried in the Church of 

 St. Mungo hard by, where his recumbent effigy, along with 

 that of his lady, now lies. Its general plan is a parallelogram 

 with two projecting wings on the West side. The enclosing 

 walls contain a courtyard of irregular shape on the top of 

 steep banks, surrounded by a ditch. Their angles and 

 curtains are defended with towers and bastions, that flanking 

 the gate-way being circular and of great strength. The 



