6 ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS 



It seems also from the existence of bailies that Lauder 

 was then a burgh. Tradition, founded 

 Burgh of probably on this charter, has led to the 

 Regality. belief that it was then a Royal Burgh. 

 But though it was then a burgh, it had 

 only the position of a Burgh of Regality. Its superior 

 was, not the king, but De Morville who at the time 

 was over-lord of Lauderdale. This charter then proves 

 that Lauder was not a Royal Burgh in the 12th 

 century, and it may also be granted that there is not 

 sufficient evidence to prove that it had attained this 

 position at the close of the 13th century. At the 

 same time Lauder was a town of great importance at 

 this period. The over-lord of Lauderdale then was John 

 Baliol, who was recognised as King of Scotland by Edward, 

 King of England. Baliol had possessions in the district 

 through his mother, and the inhabitants of Lauderdale 

 and Lauder must have been interested in the great national 

 events in which their over-lord was so deeply concerned. 

 History does not inform us what part they took in the 

 struggle, or what position they adopted when Baliol 

 was dethroned by King Edward. We know, however, 

 that in 1296-7 Kdward came to Scotland, and, according 

 to the " Ragman Rolls," he was twice at Lauder in the 

 course of that journey. During this visit a number of 

 burghs are mentioned, whose magistrates and burgesses 

 took the oath of allegiance to Edward; but Lauder is 

 not in this list. This fact has been adduced as conclusive 

 proof that Lauder was not then a Royal Burgh. But 

 it could also be used to prove that Lauder was not a 

 burgh at all, yet we know that it was at least a Burgh 

 of Regality long before this period. The supremacy of 

 Edward was acknowledged by " William le Brown of 

 Laweder, William le Fiz Aleyn le Clerk of Loweder, 

 Robert del Hospital, and Rauf Master of the Hospital of 

 Laweder." From this we may infer that Lauder, though 

 a burgh, was then without bailies. Possibly Baliol's 



