In addition to the above valuable account, tranfmitted by the Reverend Mr Thomson, the prefent minifter, it may not be improper to fubjoin the following fhort extracts, from a "Defcription of the parish of Melrofe," published in 1743, by the Reverend Mr Milne, then pastor of that parish.

Abbeys.-The Monaftery of Old Melrofe was probably founded about the end of the fixth century. Bede* gives us an account of its fituation on the bank of the Tweed †, and likewife of its abbots. This place was a famous nursery for learned and religious men; and probably continued till the other one at the present Melrofe was founded by King David. The convent of Old Melrofe was inclosed with a

ftone

L. 87, 5s. Until lately, the heritors made a demand of one half of the weekly collections, and allowed the other half to be diftributed by the kirk-feffion; but confidering that their terms of meeting are distant, and that a great deal of distress might intervene, which would require inftant relief, they have now given up the whole collections, to be distributed by the feffion. These collections are employed to meet the wants of fuch as may, through disease, be reduced to a temporary poverty; to augment the penfions of those upon the heritors roll if found neceffary; and if the funds will admit, the heritors fometimes recommend fome of their petitioners for a temporary fupply, to be relieved out of them. For these reasons, there are no beggars in the parish,-that nuifance to fociety, and oppreffion upon the public, particularly upon well-difpofed people in the lower ranks, who are lefs able to bear it. In no place, indeed, are the poor better attended to, or supported at fo fmall an expence. Charity is her reduced to a regular system of operation, which does not leave its objects to a precarious fubfiftence, but fecures for them a certain wellregulated relief in the day of poverty and diftrefs; and the objects of is are as happy as their reduced circumftances will admit..

*The Venerable Bede was born A. D. 673,

Bede's Hiftory, IV. 27.

ftone wall, reaching from the fouth corner to the west corner of the Tweed, where the neck of land is narrow; and the foundations of the wall are ftill to be feen. I do not think there has been any great building about it; for as Bede acquaints us, their churches then were all of oak, and covered with reeds. The fituation of the place is moft pleafant and agreeable, being almoft furrounded by Tweed, and having a fine profpect towards Gladfwood.

About a mile to the west of this on the Tweed, ftands the village of Newftead, a place remarkable for another abbey on the eaft fide of it, called Red Abbey-feed.

About half a mile from Newftead, on the fame fouth fide of the Tweed, ftands the prefent ibbey of Melrofe. It is famous for its monaftery, which was very large and fpacious, as appears from the ruins of it yet remaining; one of the most magnificent in the kingdom; and continues ftill to be the admiration of ftrangers, who, in refpect of the height and embellishment of its columns, with all kind of fculpture, the beauty of its ftones, and fymmetry of its parts, reckon it one of the best of the Gothic structures they have feen. It was founded by King David in 1136; dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and endowed with large revenues and many immunities, as appears by the charters granted to the abbot and convent, by our kings. The monks were Ciftertians, and the monastery of Melrofe was a mother church or nursery for all of that order, in many various and remote regions of Scotland.

The church is built in the form of St John's cross. The chancel, which is a very stately fabric, is flill standing; its roof is very curious, and has much of the fcripture hiftory upon it. I have taken the measure of what is standing of this church, although much of the weft part is fo entirely demolished, that we cannot know how far it has reached in that direction. Its juft length is 258 feet; breadth 13725 VOL. IX.

M

circumference

circumference about 943; height of the fouth window 24, breadth 16; height of the east window 34, breadth 151; height of the steeple 75; the fpire gone. The eaft window, at which was the great altar, is a beautiful 1tructure; confifting of 4 pillars or bars, with a great deal of curious work between them; and on each fide, a great number of niches for ftatues. On the top, an old man with a globe in his left hand, refting on his knee, and a young man on his right; both in a fitting pofture, with an open crown over their heads. On the north and fouth of this window, are two others of smaller dimenfions. The niches are curioufly carved, both the pedeftals and canopies, and on which feveral figures of men and animals are curiously cut. On the fouth-eaft of this church are a great many musicians admirably cut, with much pleasantnefs and gaiety in their countenances, accompanied with their various inftruments. Alfo nuns with their veils; fome of whom richly dreffed. The fouth window is very much admired for its height and curious workmanship: Niches are on each fide and above it, where have been ftatues of our Saviour and the apottles. Befides, there are many other figures on the east, or on the weft fide of this window: Monks curiously cut, with their beards, cowls and beads: A cripple on the back of a blind man : Several animals cut very nicely, as boars, greyhounds, lions, monkies and others. There are about 68 niches in whole ftanding; the ftatues were only demolished about the 1649.

So far, with refpect to the outfide of the church. Within, on the north fide of the crofs are beautiful pillars, and the fculpture as fresh as if it had been newly cut. On the weft fide is a ftatue of St Peter with a book open, his right hand on it, and two keys hanging on the left. On the fouth fide of this ftatue, is that of St Paul with a fword. In the middle of the cross stood the steeple, a piece of noble architecture,

3

chitecture, a quarter of it yet ftanding, but the spire gone. The roof of the fouth fide of the cross is ftill standing, where is a beautiful stair-cafe, much admired by ftrangers, the roof of it winding like a fnail cap. There was within the church a vast number of fonts curiously carved, and where were altars dedicated to various faints. In the portion of the church where worship is at present performed, are two rows of pillars of excellent workmanfhip, especially that to the fouth-eaft, which for the finenefs of it, looks like Flander's lace.

With regard laftly, to what was in part, or altogether, separated from the body of the church, there was a cloyster on the north fide, a part of the walls of which is still remaining; and where may be obferved pleasant walks and feats, with a great deal of fine flowers nicely cut as lilies, &c. alfo ferns, grapes, house-leeks, efcalops, fir cones, &c. The door at the north entry of the church is curiously emboffed, and the foliage here, and in feveral places of the church, very beautiful. There were also here a vast many fine buildings within the convent, for the refidence and fervice of the abbot and monks, with gardens and other conveniencies; all this inclosed within an high wall, about a mile in circuit. Befides the high church, there has been a large fine chapel, where the manse now is, and another house adjoining to it, where the foundations of the pillars are still to be feen. On the north fide of this house, there has been a curious oratory or private chapel, the foundations of which have been difcovered this year, and a large ciftern of one ftone, with a leaden pipe conveying the water to it.

Camps, &c.-A little to the fouth of Melrofe are the three Eildon hills. The bafe of them may be in compass

6

6 or 7 miles; the height of two of them to the north about 11⁄2 mile. On the top of the north-eaft hill are plain veftiges of a Roman camp well fortified, with two foffes and mounds of earth, more than 1 mile in circuit, with a large plain near the top of the hill, on which may be seen the prætorium, or the general's quarter, furrounded with many huts. It has all the properties of a well chofen camp, according to the rules of Vegetius. There is a large prospect from it of all the country; it has many fprings of good water near it; the fides of the hill have been covered with wood, and the camp is of that extent, that neither man, beast nor baggage could be ftraitened for room. On the north fide of the middle hill, Mr Milne feems to place a fecond camp, from which he fays is a large ditch for 2 miles to the weft, reaching to another camp on the top of Caldfhielhill. This camp (probably he means, that on the north fide of the middle hill) has been ftrongly fortified with a double trench, and the circumvallations of it continued for a good way. This camp, with that called Castlefteed, makes almost a triangle with the large camp on Eildon hills.

To the S. W. of thefe hills there has been a beautiful military road, raised in fome places high above the ground, and of a confiderable breadth, with military ftations in fome places upon it. In fome parts it is carried through lakes and marthes, and has had a communication with the camp at Caldfhiels, and likewife with another camp on the north fide of the Tweed called the Rink.

On the head of the hill, on the fide of which the village of Gattonfide is founded, north of the Tweed, there has been a large camp. It has a wall around it of stone, about half a mile in compass. About half a mile from this camp to the east, on the top of the hill, oppofite to Newstead,

there