246 REPORT OF MEETINGS FOR 1908 



and towers would seem to have been considered needful. 

 In general plan therefore it allies itself with a type of 

 fortified building most frequently met with in the Highlands 

 and Islands of Scotland. As "Sentinel of the Merse " it is 

 depicted by the historian as keeping guard through many 

 ages over that part of Berwickshire, its written history 

 dating from the thirteenth century, when it became the 

 property of the Homes. In their capacity of Warden of 

 the Marches they were conservators of the peace of the district 

 lying between Berwick and Dunbar; and as the greatest 

 stake in the game of war, their Castle often changed hands 

 according to the varying strength of the Scots; or of their 

 " auld enemies." The principal entrance is 

 Hume believed to have been on the West side, on 



Castle. which are trnceable roads of access and many 



ramparts. The donjon is supposed to have 

 extended from the North- West to the centre, and to have included 

 the well, which for the present stands full of water. Lying im- 

 mediately to the South is a field known as the Post-lands, in 

 explanation of which it is said that Lord Home once ordered 

 a retainer to ride to Edinburgh with dispatches, and on seeing 

 the messenger in, the neighbourhood of the Castle next morning, 

 expressf^d surprise that he had not carried out his instructions. 

 Upon his answering that he had accomplished the double 

 journey between sunset and sunrise, he bestowed this field upon 

 him as a reward. To the North-West is the Bow-butts, which, 

 as the name indicates, was the ground set apart for the 

 practice of archery, while, in the "Barracks" field to the 

 North-East of the village, the retainers had their quarters. 

 The last occasion on which the artillery of Hume Castle is 

 mentioned occurs about the time of the '45 Rebellion. A 

 body of rebels were marching towards Kelso, when the 

 inhabitants in great alarm made a request for the support 

 of its cannon. In later days the Castle was used as a 

 signalling station, and the watchmen of Hume were credited 

 with the " false alarm " in 1804. Some historians assert that, 

 mistaking a fire in Northumberland for the long-expected 

 signal, they lit their beacon, which caused those on the 

 Dunion and on Boon Hill to blaze forth. Others are of 

 opinion that the fires were ordered to be lit, to test the 



