DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61904#0199
MELROSE ABBEY.
I87
the Scots who refitted their fchemes of aggreffion was mixed
ftrongly with that of enmity to popery. In the year 1545, it was
twice burnt and ranfacked by the Engliih, firft under Sir Ralph
Eyre and Sir Bryan Layton, and again by the Earl of Hertford.
At the Reformation, when all its lands and immunities were
invetted in the Crown, they were valued at .£1,758 Scots,
befides large contributions in kind. Amongft them, in addi-
tion to much corn, was one hundred and five ftones of butter,
ten dozens of capons, twenty-fix dozens of poultry, three
hundred and feventy-fix moor-fowl, three hundred and forty
loads of peats, etc. Queen Mary granted Melrofe and its
lands and tithes to Bothwell, but they were forfeited on his
attainder. They then patted to a Douglas, and afterwards to
Sir James Ramfay, who refcued James VI. in the confpiracy
of Gowrie ; then to Sir Thomas Hamilton in 1619, who was
made Earl of Melrofe, and afterwards Earl of Haddington.
About a century ago they became the property of the family of
Buccleuch, in which they remain. The Douglas built himfelf
a houfe out of the ruins which may ftill be feen about fifty
yards to the north of the church. The ruins are preferved
with great care, and are Ihown by a family which is at once
intelligent and courteous. The perfon going round moft
generally, points out the (battered remains of thirteen figures at
the great eaftern window, in their niches, faid to have been
thofe of our Saviour and his Apoftles. They were broken to
pieces by a fanatic weaver of Gattonfide. A head is alfo
pointed out, faid to be that of Michael Scott, the magician,
who exerted his power fo wonderfully, according to tradition,
in this neighbourhood, as to fplit the Eildon Hill into three
parts.
Much as they have been hackneyed, we cannot omit the
I87
the Scots who refitted their fchemes of aggreffion was mixed
ftrongly with that of enmity to popery. In the year 1545, it was
twice burnt and ranfacked by the Engliih, firft under Sir Ralph
Eyre and Sir Bryan Layton, and again by the Earl of Hertford.
At the Reformation, when all its lands and immunities were
invetted in the Crown, they were valued at .£1,758 Scots,
befides large contributions in kind. Amongft them, in addi-
tion to much corn, was one hundred and five ftones of butter,
ten dozens of capons, twenty-fix dozens of poultry, three
hundred and feventy-fix moor-fowl, three hundred and forty
loads of peats, etc. Queen Mary granted Melrofe and its
lands and tithes to Bothwell, but they were forfeited on his
attainder. They then patted to a Douglas, and afterwards to
Sir James Ramfay, who refcued James VI. in the confpiracy
of Gowrie ; then to Sir Thomas Hamilton in 1619, who was
made Earl of Melrofe, and afterwards Earl of Haddington.
About a century ago they became the property of the family of
Buccleuch, in which they remain. The Douglas built himfelf
a houfe out of the ruins which may ftill be feen about fifty
yards to the north of the church. The ruins are preferved
with great care, and are Ihown by a family which is at once
intelligent and courteous. The perfon going round moft
generally, points out the (battered remains of thirteen figures at
the great eaftern window, in their niches, faid to have been
thofe of our Saviour and his Apoftles. They were broken to
pieces by a fanatic weaver of Gattonfide. A head is alfo
pointed out, faid to be that of Michael Scott, the magician,
who exerted his power fo wonderfully, according to tradition,
in this neighbourhood, as to fplit the Eildon Hill into three
parts.
Much as they have been hackneyed, we cannot omit the