TEIFIDALE.
TEifidale, that is to say, the Valley or Dale by the Riverd 1.1 Tefy or Teviot, lying next to England, amongst cliffs of craggy hills and rocks, is inhabited by a warlike peo∣ple, who by reason of so frequent encounters between the Scots and English in former ages, are always ve∣ry ready for service and sudden invasions. The first place we meet with amongst these, is Jedburg, a Bo∣rough well frequented, standing near the confluence of the Tefy and Jed, from whence it takes its name; and Mailros,* 1.2 a very ancient Monastery, wherein, in the Church's infancy, were Monks of that antient instituion, that gave themselves to prayer, and with the labour of their hands earn'd their living. And more Eastward, where the Twede and the Tefy joyn in one stream,* 1.3e 1.4 Rosburg, called also Roxburgh, and in antient times Marchidun, from its being seated in the Marches; where stands a Castle, that by its natu∣ral situation, and tow'red fortifications, was in times past exceeding strong. Which being surprized by the English; while King James 2. of Scotland was be∣sieging it, he was untimely slain in the flower of his youth, by a piece of Cannon that casually burst. He was a Prince much missed and lamented by his Sub∣jects. Notwithstanding this, the Castle was surren∣der'd, and being mostly demolished, is now scarce to be seen. But the adjacent Territory (called from it the Sheriffdom of Roxborough* 1.5) hath an hereditary She∣riff of the family of Douglass, who is usually called the Sheriff of Teviotdale. And nowf 1.6 Roxborough, by the favour of King James 6. is also a Barony, in the per∣son of Robert Kerr,* 1.7 of the house of the Kerrs, a very noble and numerous family in this tract; from which are descended the Fernhersts, and others, who being educated in the school of Arms, have render'd them∣selves very illustrious.
Twede* 1.8 aforesaid runs through the middle of a Val∣ley or Dale, that takes its name from it, abounding in sheep, whose wool is very valuable. This is certainly a Noble River; which having its source a∣mongst the hills more inwardly Westward, and run∣ning as it were with a streight Channel by Drimlar-Castle, by Peeblis* 1.9 a Market-Town* 1.10 (which hath for its Sheriff Baron Zester) as alsog 1.11 Selkirk* 1.12† 1.13 hard by (which hath one out of the family of Murray of Fallo-hill;) it receives the little River Lauder, upon which appearsh 1.14 Lauder, together with Thirlestan. Here Sir John Maitland, not long since Chancellor of Scotland, for his singular prudence created by K. James the 6. Baron of Thirlestan,* 1.15 hath a very beautiful seati 1.16. Then being increased by the accession of the River Teviot beneath Roxburgh, it watereth the Sheriffdom of Berwick, which is most of it the Estate of the Humes, wherein the Head of that Family exer∣ciseth now the Jurisdiction of a Sheriff: and then run∣ning under Berwick, the best fortified Town of Bri∣tain, (whereof I have already spoken) with a pro∣digious plenty of Salmon, it emptieth it self into the Sea. [b]