M for Muckle Mou'ed Meg & Melrose in "My Scottish Borders""

Welcome to a Look Around 

"My Scottish Borders"

M is for: 

 "MUCKLE MOU'ED MEG"& MELROSE

The story of 'Muckle Mou'd Meg' is told in the ballad  "The Fray of Elibank" by Borders poet James Hogg.  

Sir William Scott of Harden  (an ancestor of writer Sir Walter Scott) was captured on a raid  to the Murray stronghold of Elibank Castle above the River Tweed,

Soon weapons were clashing, an’ fire was flashing,

An’ red ran the bluid down the Ashiesteel brae:

The parties were shouting, the kye they were rowting, 

An’ rattling an’ galloping aff frae the fray

 [kye  - cattle] 

William was given the choice of being hanged or marrying the Laird's notoriously plain daughter  Muckle Mou'd Meg' (big mouthed Meg). He decided on marriage!  

Now Meg was but thin, an her nose it was lang,

An’her mou it was muckle as ane could weel be;
Her een they were gray, an her colour was wan
But her nature was generous, gentle, and free. 

 "My Meg, I assure you, is better than bonnie;

I rede you, in choicing let prudence decide;

Then say which ye will; ye are welcome to ony;

See, there is your coffin, or there is your bride.”

He fand the last gleam of his hope was a fadin

The green braes o Harden nae mair he wad see.

The coffin was there, which he soon must be laid in;

His proud heart was humbled,—he fell on his knee

So Willie took Meg to the forest sae fair,

An’ they lived a most happy an’ social life;

The langer he kend her, he lo’ed her the mair,

For a prudent, a virtuous, and honourable wife.

The small town of MELROSE  is noted for its famous abbey, as the home of 19th century writer Sir Walter Scott at nearby Abbotsford, the birthplace of the game of Rugby Sevens,   and a winner of Beautiful Scotland in Bloom. 

Nestling under the triple Eildon Hills, it on the route of several long distance walks - the Border Abbeys Way, St. Cuthbert's Way and the Southern Upland Way.

Melrose Abbey, founded in 1136 by David I, was the first monastery of the Cistercian order established in Scotland. The heart of King Robert the Bruce is  said to be buried there.  The exterior of this  ruin is decorated by unusual sculptures, including hobgoblins, cooks with ladles and a bagpipe playing pig. 

More fascinating facts on the Scottish Borders

• The only silver staircase in the world you will find  at Manderston, Berwickshire -  an opulent Edwardian country house which epitomizes the "upstairs/downstairs" lifestyle at the time, with extensive kitchens and pantries, a marble dairy and sumptuous stables.  

                            

•  Mellerstain House in Berwickshire is an 18th century  masterpiece by William and Robert Adam. 

 

• The small village of Morebattle  on the edge of the Cheviot Hills has a Teapot Street.  The name is thought to be a corruption of "Tip -it  Street" after the midden (rubbish dump) at the end of the road. 
  
• The Mill towns of Hawick, Selkirk and Galashiels were the centre of the Scottish Borders knitwear and tweed industry.  By the mid 19th century, over 2000 of Scotland's 2600 knitting frames were located in the Borders, over half in Hawick producing  over a million pairs of stockings a year.  This hosiery trade gave way tothe fine outerwear garments that we know today. 

• Follow the next stage of this A-Z journey 
  through the Scottish Borders
  
  
  N is for:
  NEWARK TOWER AND  NATURE
  
  
  The Scottish Borders 
  The old counties of Berwickshire, Peeblesshire, Roxburghshire & Selkirkshire  
  
  
  

  Do take a look at earlier  posts in "My Scottish Borders

  A-Z Challenge Preview
  A-Z Challenge A - Abbeys,Abbotsford and Armstrongs
  A-Z Challenge B - Border Reivers, Border Ballads and Blackmail

  A-Z Challenge C - Common Ridings and Carter Bar 

  A-Z Challenge D - Dryburgh Abbey,  Duns Scotus & The Douglas Tragedy 

  A-Z Challenge E - Elliots, Earlston, Enigma Hero and Eyemouth Tart 
  A-Z Challenge F - Flodden, Fletcher and Flowers of the Forest 
  A-Z Challenge G - A Green & Pleasant Land and Galashiels 
  A-Z Challenge H - Hermitage Castle and Hawick
  A-Z Challenge I - Inspirational Land of Poets James Hogg and Will Ogilvie 
  A-Z Challenge J -Jedburgh, Jethart Justice and Jethart Snails  
  A-Z Challenge K - Kaleidoscope, Kelso and Kinmont Willie  
  A-Z challenge L - The Fair Lilliard and Leaderfoot Viaduct