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hospital (d). (7.) At Legerwood in Lauderdale there was founded an hospital,
during the Scoto-Saxon period, perhaps, by Walter, the son of Alan, who
obtained this manor from Malcolm IV. In 1296, Nicol de Lychardeswode, the
chaplain, guardian of the hospital at Lychardeswode, swore fealty to Edward I.,
and no doubt had his revenues in return (e). (8.) Robert Byset, who obtained,
during the 12th century, the manor of Upsettlington on the Tweed, founded in
the reign of David I. an hospital, which was dedicated to St. Leonard at Horndene.
The master of this hospital witnessed a charter of Hye de Simprine during the
short reign of Malcolm IV. (f). Robert Byset granted this hospital with its
pertinents to the monks of Kelso, on condition that their abbot should keep
a chaplain there ; and should maintain in it two poor persons, whom the
donor and his heirs should have the right of placing therein (g). At the end
of the 13th century, those monks had, at Horndene, this hospital, with sixteen
acres of land, a fishing in the Tweed, and a park within the manor of Upsett-
lington, for which they thought themselves obliged to support a chaplain, for
celebrating divine service in the hospital chapel, and to maintain two paupers
under the pious donation of Byset (h). (9.) An hospital for lepers was founded
at Aldcamus during the 12th century, but by whose charity is unknown.
William the Lion, confirmed a donation of half a carucate to this hospital (i);
and it appears to have been placed under the protection of the monks of
Coldingham, and to have partaken of their fate. Such, then, were of old
the religious and charitable establishments in Berwickshire, originating from
the well-meaning piety of the valorous fathers and credulous mothers of the
present inhabitants.
The parishes in this extensive district may be traced back to the epoch of
charters, beyond which every event is obscure. Those parishes were certainly
more numerous formerly than they are at present (k). At the era of the
Reformation, the ecclesiastical polity of this shire was completely changed,
and the bishopric and deanery were displaced by the synod and presby-
teries under very dissimilar auspices. When the ecclesiastical districts were
formed in 1593, the Mers was divided into the two presbyteries, of Chirnside
(d) Prynne, iii., 662 ; Rym., ii., 724. Near the site of this hospital there were two hamlets, which
were called Spital, orer and nether, Spital. Pont's Map of Lauderdale, in Blueu's Atlas Scoti�. A
gentleman's seat in this vicinity still bears the name of St, Leonards.
(e) Prynne, iii. 661.                                           (f) Chart. Kelso, 272.
(g) Ib., 230.                           (h) Ib., 23.                            (i) Chart. Coldingham, 4.
(k) Soon after the Reformation, it was resolved by the Church judicatories to reduce the number
one third. Melville's MS. Acts of the Church.