gb0551ms-36-2-156

Transcription

[Page] 156
[Continued from page 154]

Duns Law
outcrop. There are numerous circular foundations
in the interior. There appears to have been an en:
:trance to the East. Leslie’s so-called camp is a
small redoubt 200 ft. sq. [feet square] with small bastions of
earth at each angle. The mounds are low
and narrow. Some distance down the W. [West] slope immediately
below the plantation on the top of the fields known
as the Brunton’s park runs a regular, substantial
mound about 5 ft. [feet] high for several hundred
yards. On the lower side of it the Brunton’s park
is supposed to be the site of the town burned in
Hertfords invasion in 1545 – the Brunt town.
All fully described by Dr. [Doctor] Christison.
The stone on wh. [which] the covenant was signed has been exposed & railed in.

Duns Castle
We arrived at Duns Castle and found Mr. Hays
treasures being inventoried and valued by a
man from Waring & Gillow’s. There was an
exquisite silver partial gilt backgammon and
draught board with silver men & gold dice which
had been given by Mary Q. [Queen] of Scots to Mary Seton.
The arabesque chasing & the workmanship was
remarkably fine. In the house there appear to be
many fine articles of vertu. The old tower built
by Randolph Earl of Moray is incorporated in
a house of various dates. It has been greatly
altered and is not easily recognisable except internally
by its 8 ft. [feet] thick walls. It occupies the E. [East] end of the
castle. (Fully described by MacGibbon & Ross.)

Borthwick Castle
Of Borthwick Castle situated on the estate of Langton
about 1/2 m. [mile] to the W. [West] of Duns Castle, very little remains.
It is a complete ruin. At the E. [East] end a few feet of
walling remain and about a couple of courses of
masonry remain standing on the North, but it is
structureless & unmeasurable. Returned to Duns to
lunch & afterwards walked out to Nesbit which
belongs to Lord Sinclair & is occupied by Capt. [Captain] Aitken.
In the West gable of the row of Estate cottages is beneath
a helmet
[Margin] See sketch book

In the vault to the N.W. [North West] of the house are several
grave slabs with heraldic devices on them. I [1] The tomb
of “ane worthie gentilman” John Carre of West Nisbet
“brothergerman to Sir Thomas Carre of Cavers died 15 Nov.
1667 aged 70 – and of his wife Lady Jean Carre eldest
daughter of Sir James Carre of Crelinghall apparent
of Jedburgh who died 30 April 1681. aged 45
bears a shield
[Margin] see sketch book

Another slab, broken, is that of – (piece missing) Carre
Lady Cavers eldest daughter of Sir John Carre of Cavers
died 18 Feb. 1702. It shows on a shield

[Continued on page 158]