by evidence drawn from the interesting volumes of the _Rotuli
Parliamentorum_. The Bishops of Glasgow had a religious establishment in
the neighbouring sunward village of Nether Ancrum. Of their buildings,
of the vicar's house, or of the ancient gardens existing in the memory
of persons living, not a vestige now remains. In the first volume of the
_Rotuli_, p. 472., there is a Petition, of uncertain date, by the Bishop
of Glasgow to Edward I., then in possession of Scotland, in these
terms:--

"Derechief pry ly dit Evesqe a soen Segur le Roy qe ly plese
aider &c.... e sur ceo transmettr', sa lettre al vesconte de
Lanark. E une autre, si ly plest, a ses Forresters de Geddeworth
de autant de Merin [meremium, meheremium, wood for building]
pour fere une receite a Allyncrom (Ancrum) desur la marche, ou
il poet aver recett e entendre a ses ministres qut il le
voudrent aver."

To which the King's answer is,--

"Héat Bre Ten' locu R. in Scoc. qd fae'. ei hre meheremiu in
Foresta de Selkirk et de Maddesleye usq ad numum quinquaginta
quercu."

Thus, no doubt is left that oak woods abounded in the district; and it
was under the influence of these beliefs that the sonnets were
composed:--

I.

"'Twas on this spot some thousand years ago,