REPORT OF THE MEETINGS FOR 1899 53 



The two latter ramparts are cut, and large portions are 

 obliterated, by a cultivated field, and by the Kelso road, 

 which is here 236 feet above sea level. 



" Dr Christison makes very slight reference to Eingley Hall 

 in his 'Early Fortifications in Scotland' (Edin., 1898), but 

 considers it a Mote or fortress ; while Sir George Douglas, 

 in his 'History of the Border Counties' (Edin., 1899), says 

 the terrace-work or terraced fortification on the landward side 

 of Eingley Hall serves to ally it to the motes or fortresses 

 defended by palisades. Dr Christison points out that there 

 is an essential difference between a mote or fortress and a 

 mute hill or meeting-place. It is interesting to find, in such 

 close proximity, instances of both a Mote like Eingley Hall 

 and a Mute hill like The Law, which is a short distance to 

 the east. 



"The story goes that, during one of the incessant Border 

 wars, the English held Eingley Hall, whilst the Scots con- 

 cealed themselves on the opposite side of the Tweed, in a 

 place subsequently called * The Scots' Hole.' The English 

 being superior in numbers, resolved to attack the Scots by 

 fording the Tweed at a ford some 500 yards above Eingley 

 Hall ; but whilst they were in the act of fording, the 

 Scots sallied from their ' Hole ' and utterly defeated them. 

 Hence the old Scottish pun that the English learned to 

 ' Eue-the-ford ' of Eutherford, a place-name (formerly spelt 

 Euderfurde) derived from ancient terms for red, and perhaps 

 from the Old Eed Sandstones there. 



" The Mutehill or Moothill, termed ' The Law,' is about 

 half-a-mile down the Tweed from Eingley Hall, and also 

 on the right bank of the river directly opposite Makerstoun 

 House. It is an isolated conical mound, which I found, 

 by aneroid, rises about seventy feet above the adjoining 

 ground. Here, as in the days of the Anglo-Saxon Witena- 

 gemot, or 'meeting of wise men,' the village elders assembled. 

 Such Mutehills are common in Scotland, and the term occurs 

 in such place-names as Muthill, Muitlaw, Mutelaw, Muttoun- 

 bray, and Muttonhole, an instance of the last being quite 

 near, in Maxton parish. The Law is also called ' The 

 Plea Hill,' pointing to one of its original uses as a forum 

 commune." 



