J. F. Campbell Collection > Minstrelsy of the Scottish border

INTRODUCTION.
almost inaccessible by torrents, by rocks, or by morasses, sufficiently indicated
the pursuits and apprehensions of its inhabitants. — " Locus horroris et rastce soli-
tnd'mis, aptus ad proedum, hahilis ad rapinam, habitatorihus suis lapis erat offensionis et
petra scandali, ntpote qui stipendiis suis minime contenti totum de alieno p>arimi de suo
possidebant — totius provincice spoVmni." No wonder, therefore, that James "V., on
apiH'oaching the castle of Lochwood, the ancient seat of the Johnstones, is
said to have exclaimed, " that he who built it must have been a knave in
his heart." An outer wall, with some slight fortifications, served as a pro-
tection for the cattle at night. The walls of these fortresses were of an
immense thickness, and they could easily be defended against any small
force ; more especially, as, the rooms being vaulted, each story formed a
separate lodgment, capable of being held out for a considerable time. On
such occasions, tlie usual mode, adojjted by the assailants, was to expel the
defenders by setting fire to wet straw in the lower apartments. But the
border chieftains seldom chose to abide in person a siege of this nature ; and
I have not observed a single instance of a distinguished baron made prisoner
in his own house *. — Patten's Expedition, p. 35. The common people resided
in paltry huts, about the safety of which they were little anxious, as they con-
tained nothing of value. On the approach of a superior force, they imthatched
them, to prevent their being burned, and then abandoned them to the foe. —
Stowe\ Chronicle, p. 665. Their only treasures were, a fleet and active horse,
with the ornaments which their rapine had jirocured for the females of their
family, of whose gay appearance the borderers were vain.
Some rude monuments occur upon the borders, the memorial of ancient
valour. Such is the cross of Milholm, on the banks of the Liddel, said to
have been erected in memory of the chief of the Armstrongs, murdered
treacherously by Lord Soulis, while feasting in Hermitage castle. Such also,
a rude stone, now broken, and very much defaced, placed upon a mount on
the lands of Haugh-head, near the junction of the Kale and Teviot. The
inscription records the defence madebyHobbie Ilall, a man of great strength
and courage, against an attempt by the powerful family of Ker, to possess
themselves of his small estate t.
* I ought to except tbe famous Dand Ker, who was made prisoner in his castle of Fair-
nihirst, after defending it bravely against Lord Dacres, 24th September, 1523.
t Tbe rude strains of the inscription little correspond with tbe gallantry of a
village Hampden, who, with dauntless breast,
The little tyrant of his fields withstood.
It is in these words :
Here Hobble Hall boldly maintained his right,
'Gainst rief, plain force, armed wi' awles might.
Full thirty pleughs, barnes'd in all their geir,
Could not his valiant noble heart make fear :
But wi' his sword, be cut tbe foremost's soam
In two ; and drove baith ploughs and pleughmen home.
1620.
Soam means the iron links, which fiisten a yoke of oxen to the plough.