ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS II 



conveying lands and pasturages to the Brethren of the 

 Hospital of Lauder, there was no interference with the 

 rights of the community of Lauder. He gave to the 

 brethren lands and rights to common pasturage on Pilmuir, 

 and all the advantages enjo3^ed thereon by the people 

 of Pilmuir and Trabrown ; but there was no interference 

 with the common lands and pasturage of Lauder, though 

 these lay between the lands of St. Leonard's, given to 

 the brethren, and Pilmuir and Trabrown, where they 

 had the right of pasturage. In none of the titles to 

 the lands which surround the common-lands of Lauder 

 is there found any evidence of any part of the commonty 

 ever having been included in their boundaries. It seems 

 evident, therefore, that in Lauder commonty we have a 

 possession of lands which had its origin in pre-historic 

 times. These lands were not given to the people by 

 any charter. The charter to the burgh — as a Burgh of 

 Regality or a Royal Burgh — did not interfere with their 

 rights to their possessions, but confirmed and established 

 rights and customs which were then in existence, and 

 which exist in the present day. 



In a short Address I cannot enter into questions 



connected with the origin and growth of 

 Rights of such a community. I must content myself 

 Burgesses, with giving an account of the " rights and 



privileges " of the burgesses of Lauder, and 

 their " lights " to the possession and enjoyment of 

 the commonty or common-lands. In order to insure 

 accuracy in my account [ use freely " A Statement of 

 Facts for the Royal Burgh of Lauder, and Magistrates 

 and Councillors thereof" This document was drawn up 

 in 1865, in defence against an action brought by some 

 persons who asserted the " right " of all the inhabitants 

 of Lauder to share in the common-lands, which at present 

 is enjoyed fully by resident burgesses, and in part by 

 proprietors of burgess-acres and widows of burgesses. 

 After referring; to the charter of the burgh which confirms 



