Minstrelsy of the Scottish border - National Library of Scotland

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THE SCOTTISH BOJIDER. 353
of Queen Mary. The castle and barony of Hoddom were
sold about 1630^ and were then, or soon afterwards, ac-
quired by John Sharpe, Esq., in whose family they have
ever since continued. Before the accession of James VI.
to the English crown, Hoddom castle was appointed to
be kept "with ane wise stout man, and to have with him
" four well-horsed men, and there to have two stark foot-
" men, servants, to keep their horses, and the principal
" to have ane stout footman." Border Laws, Appendix.
On the top of a small, but conspicuous hill, near to
Hoddom Castle, there is a square tower, built of hewn
stone, over the door of which are carved the figures of a
dove and a serpent, and betwixt them the word JRepent-
ance. Hence the building, though its proper name is
Trailtrow, is more frequently called the Tower ofRepent-
ance. It was anciently used as a beacon, and the Border
laws direct a watch to be maintained there, with a fire-
pan and bell, to give the alarm when the English crossed,
or approached, the river Annan. This man was to have
a husband-land for his service.
Spottiswoode, p. '606.
Various accounts are given of the cause of erecting the
Tower of Repentance. The following has been adopted
by my ingenious correspondent, as most susceptible of
poetical decoration. A certain Lord Herries—about the
date of the transaction tradition is silent—was famous
among those who used to rob and steal {convey, the wise
it call.) This lord, returning from England, with many
prisoners, whom he had unlawfully enthralled, was over-
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