Camden's Britannia newly translated into English, with large additions and improvements ; publish'd by Edmund Gibson ...

SELGOVAE.

BEneath the Gadeni to the South and West (where now lie the small Territories of Liddesdale, Eusdale, Esk∣dale, Annandale, and Nidisdale,q so called from Rivulets running through them, which all lose themselves in Solway-Frith) were anciently seated the Selgovae; the reliques of whose name seem to me, whether to others too I kn••w not, to remain in the name Solway.

IN Liddesdale we have a high prospect of Armitage, so called because anciently dedicated to a soli∣tary life. But now it is a very strong Castle, which belonged to the Hepburnes, who deduce their Original from a certain English Captive, whom the Earl of March, for delivering him out of a danger, much enriched. They were Earls of Bothwell, and for a long time Admirals of Scotland by inheritance. But by a sister of James Earl of Bothwell, last of the Hepburnes, married to John Prior of Colding∣ham, a natural son of K. James 5. (who had se∣veral such issue;) both title and estate devolved to his son. Hard by is Brakensey, the seat of the war∣like Family of Baclugh, sirnamed Scot, with many other little Forts of men of Arms up and down the Country.

In Eusdale, I should be apt to think from the affi∣nity of the name, that the ancient Uzellum mention∣ed by Ptolemy, lay upon the River Euse.

In Eskdale, some are of opinion that the Horesti dwelt; into whose borders Julius Agricola, after he had subdued the Britains that inhabited this Tract, led the Roman Army; especially if we read Horesci for Horesti. For the British Ar-Esc signifies a place by the River Eske. As for Aesica in Eskdale, I have spoken of it before in England, and need not re∣peat it here. [a].

ANNANDALE.

JOined to this on the west-side lies Annandale, that is the Valley or Dale upon the river An∣nan, into which the access by land is very dif∣cult. The places of greatest note are, a Castle upon Lough-Maban, which is three parts surrounded with water, and strongly walled. And Annandale Town, almost upon the very mouth of the river Annan, divested of all its glory by the English War in the reign of Edward 6.

In this Territory the Jonstons are men of greatest name, a family born for Wars; between whom and the Maxwells (who by ancient right preside over the Stewartry, for so 'tis term'd) there hath been too long an open enmity and defiance, even to blood∣shed. This Valley Edgar King of the Scots, upon his restoration to his Kingdom by the Auxiliaries he had out of England, gave for his good services to Robert Brus, Lord of Cleaveland in the County of York; who bestowed it, by the King's permission, upon Robert his younger son, being unwilling himself to serve the King of Scots in his Wars. From him are branched the Bruses Lords of Annandale, of whom, Robert Bruse married Isabella the daughter of William King of Scots by the daughter of Robert Avenel: his son likewise, Robert the third of that name, married the daughter of David Earl of Hun∣tingdon and Garioth; whose son Robert sirnamed the Noble, upon the failure of the issue of Alexander the third, King of Scotland, challenged in his mother's right the Kingdom of Scotland, before Edward I. K. of England (as the direct and superior Lord of the Kingdom of Scotland, as the English give out; or, as an Honorary Arbitrator, as the Scots will have it) as being more nearly related in degree and bloud to King Alexander the third, and to Margaret daughter to the King of Norway, although a second sister's son. Who soon after resigning up his own right, granted and gave over to his son Robert Brus Earl of Carrick, and to his heirs, (I speak out of the very Original) all the right and claim which he had or might have to the King∣dom of Scotland. But the point was determined in favour of John Baliol (who sued for his right, as descended from the eldest sister, though in a more remote degree,) in these words: Because the person more re∣mote in the second degree descending in the first line, is to be preferred before a nearer in the second line, in the suc∣cession of an inheritance that cannot be parted.

Nevertheless, the said Robert, son to the Earl of Carriot, by his valour possess'd himself of the King∣dom, and establish'd it in his posterity. A Prince, who as he was illustrious for his glorious Actions, so did he successfully triumph over Fortune, (so often his Adversary) with a courage and presence of mind in∣vincible. [b].

NIDISDALE.

CLose to Annandale on the West lies Nidisdale, abounding in arable and pasture grounds; so named from the River Nid, by Ptolemy falsely written Nobius, for Nodius or Nidius, of which name there are other Rivers in Britain full of muddy shallows, as this Nid is. It springs out of the Lake Lough-Cure, upon which stood anciently Corda, a Town of the Selgovae. It takes its course first by Sanqhar, a Castle of the Creightons, who were long honoured with the Title of Barons of Sanqhar, and the authority of hereditary Sheriffs of Nidisdale: next by Morton, which gave the Title of Earl to some of the family of Douglass, of which others are seated at Drumlanrig upon the same River; near the mouth whereof stands Dunfreys between two Hills, the most flourishing Town of this Tract, which still shews its ancient Castle; a Town famous for its woollen Ma∣nufacture, and remarkable for the murder of John Commin, a man of the greatest Interest amongst the Scots, whom Robert Brus, lest he should oppose his coming to the Crown, ran through in the Church, and easily got a pardon of the Pope for a murder com∣mitted in a sacred place. Nearer to its mouth, Solway, a Village, still retains somewhat of the old name of Selgovae. Upon the very mouth is situated Caer-La∣verock, Ptolemie's Carbantorigum, a Fort looked upon as impregnable, when K. Edw. I. accompanied with the flower of the English Nobility, besieged and took it. But now 'tis a weak Mansion-House of the Ba∣rons Maxwell, who being of ancient Nobility, were long Wardens of these Western Marches, and lately advanced by a marriage with a Daughter and Coheir of the Earl of Morton; whereby John Lord Max∣well was dec••ared Earl of Morton; as also by the Daughter and Heir of Hereis Lord Toricles, whom J. a second son, took to wife, and had by her the title of Baron Hereis. In this valley also, upon the lake, lies Glencarn, of which the Cunninghams, about whom I shall speak under another head, long bore the title of Earls. This Nidisdale, together with Annandale, breeds a warlike sort of people, but infamous for their depredations. For they dwell upon Solway, a fordable Arm of the Sea, through which they often made excursions into England for booty; and in which the Inhabitants on both sides, a pleasant fight and sport, hunt Salmons (whereof there is great plenty) with spears on horseback, or, if you had rather call it so, fish for them.

What manner of Cattle-stealers they are that inhabit these Valleys in the Marches of both Kingdoms, John Lesley, a Scotchman himself, and Bishop of Ross, will inform you. They sally out of their own borders in the night in troops, through unfrequented by-ways, and many intricate windings. All the day time they refresh themselves and their horses in lurking holes they had pitch'd upon before, till they arrive in the dark at those places they have a design upon. As soon as they have seized upon the booty, they in like manner return home in the night thro' blind ways, and fetching many a compass. The more skil∣ful any Captain is to pass through those wild Desarts, crooked turnings, and deep precipices, in the thickest mists and darkness, his reputation is the greater, and he is looked upon as a man of an excellent head. And they are so very cunning, that they seldom have their booty taken from them, unless sometimes, when by the help of Bloud∣hounds following them exactly upon the track, they may chance to fall into the hands of their adversaries. When being taken, they have so much persuasive Eloquence, and so many smooth insinuating words at command, that if they do not move their Judges, nay and even their Ad∣versaries (notwithstanding the severity of their natures) to have mercy, yet they incite them to admiration and com∣passion. [c].

Additions to the SELGOVAE.

[a] THree of those branches which our Author makes part of the ancient Selgovae, viz. Eusdale, Eskdale, and Lidesdale are reckoned part of the Shire of Rosburgh. That the Horesti mention'd by Tacitus, were seated in the habitations of the se∣cond of these (as our Author conjectures) is not by any means probable, if we consider the circumstan∣ces of that Action. It was in the latter end of his Government, that he led his Forces against them: whereas, we find, that even in his fourth year, all to the South of that neck of land between the two Friths, was added to the Roman Province; so that we must go further northward to seek for them. And Tacitus himself in effect, forbids us to look after them hereabouts, when he says, that the people against whom Agricola was then fighting, were the Populi Caledoniam incolentes, and Novae Gentes; namely, those beyond the Friths, who by the fortification of that neck of land, were Semoti velut in aliam insulam, i.e. Driven as it were into another Island. So that if the relation the Horesti may have to Esk be of any moment, it would better suit the people dwelling be∣tween South-Esk, and North-Esk in Angus. But that name really seems to imply no more than 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Mountaineers or High-landers.

[b] The other two Branches, Annandale and Ni∣disdale, to which we may also add Wachopdale, make up the Shire of DUMFRISE; taking its name from from the chief burgh of the Shire. On the west it hath Galloway and Kyle, on the east 'tis bounded with Solway-Frith, and the March of Scotland and Eng∣land; on the north with part of Clidsdale, Twedale, and Tiviotdale, and on the South with the Irish-sea. From west to south-east, 'tis about fifty miles long; and in breadth about thirty four. The Inhabitants were a stout warlike People, in former times the bul∣wark of the Kingdom. The soil generally is not so good for corn as pasturage; so that they deal most∣ly in Cows and Sheep, which turn to considerable gain.

[c] ANANDALE runs in a streight line from west to east, about twenty four miles in length, and fourteen in breadth. Their tradition about the Lough-Maban (mentioned by our Author) is, that a Castle stood formerly in the middle of it: that which now stands upon the brink is going to decay. The town of Logh-Maban is a Royal burgh, situate upon the south side of the water of Anan, in the middle of the Country. Near the source of which river stands Moffet, famous for its medicinal-well.

Between Anandale and Eskdale lyeth WACHOP∣DALE, so called from the water of Wachop running through it; and is much of the same nature with the adjacent Countries already described. The most an∣cient monument remarkable hereabouts is St. Ruth's Church, where is a Pillar curiously engraven; with some Inscription upon it. Near this place the peo∣ple have a way of making salt of Sea-sand; and the salt is something bitterish, which probably proceeds from the niter in it.

Another branch of Dumfrise is NIDISDALE, encompassed with a ridge of Hills on all sides, and in the bottoms has abundance of Corn. It is di∣vided into the Overward, containing the Parishes in the Presbytery of Penpont; and the Netherward, con∣taining those of Dumfrise Presbytery. Here Sanchar is famous for its Castle, the residence of the Duke of Queensbury, who hath built a noble house at Drumla∣nerick, and is now adorning it with stately avenues, gardens, and Terras-walks. Within this tract also is Dumfrise, upon the river Nith, over which there is a stone bridge of nine arches. The streets are large, and the Church and Castle very stately. For the convenience of Trade (which is much helpt by the tide flowing up to the town, and making a harbor) they have an Exchange for the Merchants.

Notes

• q

  To which add Wachopdale.
• ••••dd••s∣••••••e.
• ••••rls of ••••thwell.
• ••••pburnes
• ••••akensey.
• ••••••d ••••clugh.
• Eusdale.
• Uzellum.
• Eskdale.
• Horesti.
• Annan∣dale.
• Lough-Maban.
• The Jon∣stons.
• The Stew∣artry of Annan∣dale.
• The Bruses.
• The River Nid.
• Corda.
• The Creigh∣tons Ba∣rons of Sanqhar.
• Earls of Morton.
• Dunfreys.
• Caer-La∣verock.
• Barons Hereis.
• Glenca••••
• Salmo••
• ••••ire of ••••••frise.
• Anandale
• Logh-Ma∣ban.
• Moffet.
• Wachop∣dale.
• Nidisdale.
• Sanchar.
• Dumfrise.