T h i r l e s t a n e
CASTLE.
with a great chain of gold about his neck, to the value of(j
hundred -crowns ; and four blowing horns, with both the end]
gold and filk, fet with precious ñones. His horn was tipped4
fine gold at every end, and a precious ftone, called a berryl, ha
in the midft. This Cochran had his heumont born before him ovd
gilt with gold, and fo were all the reft of his horns ; and all]
pallions were of fine canvas of filk, and the cords thereof of J
twined filk ; and the chains upon his pallions were double ovl
gilt with gold He was feized, thus equipped, his chain J
his horns torn from him, and, with his comrades, hanged ot]
in fight of a bridge (now demolifhed) the king and the >
army.
Near the town is Thirlejlane caftle, a Angular old houfe of tj
Earl o i Lauderdale. The front fmall, bounded on each fide with]
great round tower, capt with flated cones. The infide had bJ
.heavily ftuccped by the Duke of Lauderdale, one of the noted can
in the time of Charles II. His portrait, by Lely, is to be feen her]
a much more advantageous one than that by the noble hiftoran,dj
paints him infolent, imperious, flattering, diflembling, had couraj
enough not to fail, where it was abiolutely neceffary, and no in
pediment of honour to reftrain him from doing any thing - |
| might gratify any of his palfions.f.’
After riding two miles through a long trail; of coarfe flieep-waHcj
turn out of the great road, and enter the lbire of
R o x b u r g h .
Pafs by Lhreepwood, infamous in former days for mofs-trooperl
* P. 78. folio ei. f III, I24.
■defcend into a little vale, and fee fome ruined towers at Colmjlie
¡and HUJlap ■, afcend again, and foon after fall into a pretty
valley well wooded and watered by the Gdla; and at a houfe of the
fame name receive every civility from its owner John Scott, Efq.
We have now crofted the water, and are in the county of
If the foreft of Etrick, which was formerly referved by the Scettijh
pinces for the pleafure of the chace, and where they had fmall houfes
forlhe reception of their train. One in Gala Shields, the adjoining
village ftill keeps the name of Hunter’s Hall.
This country is fupported chiefly by the breed of fbeep, which
fell from eight to twelve pounds a fcore. They are generally fold
into the fouth ; but fometimes into the highlands, about the month
Hfcrci, where they are kept during fummer ; and after being im-
ioved by the mountain grafs, are returned into the low-lands the
Inning of winter. The ufual weight of a wether is from thirteen
toKghteen pounds of twenty-two ounces per quarter. The fleece
1*1. m of late much improved by the ufe of oil and butter, inftead
rfpr; and. the wool, which once was fold at five ihillings and
Ppcnce, now fells for ten ihillings per ftone of twenty-four pounds*
|he fheep inhabit the hills ; but the ground is fo indifferent that
Mlacre will maintain but one. A fheep farm of fifteen hundred
**b is fet for eighty pounds. Numbers of cattle are reared here •,
■much cheefe and butter made, but the laft very bad in general,,
■chiefly ufed for greafing the fheep. The Dorfetjhire breed haa
■ introduced here, but in this northern climate,, in two or three
pirt they lofe their prolific nature*
lam
G a l a .
S he e p '*