212
follows the sweep of the hill till it reaches the river (m). On the east of
Edin's Hall, there are the vestiges of several camps, which, as they are not
said to he rectilinear, we may easily suppose, are circular camps of the Britons,
which no doubt existed before and without any connection with Wooden-hall.
Soon after the introduction of Christianity into this shire, religious houses were
erected within it, by the accustomed zeal of the new converts. The Coludi urbs
of Bede, the Colingham of Hoveden, was founded for the reception of female
and male votaries, under the holy government of St. Ebb, the daughter and
sister of kings. This monastery, though it had St. Cuthbert for its guide, was
not fortunate. It was burnt in 679 A.D., as an infliction for its infirmities,
rather than the casualty of fire, from its construction of wood. It was again
burnt in 870, by the Danish Vikingr, from the hope of plunder, rather than
the gratification of enmity. St. Bothans was also established during those ages
on the same principles of piety, yet encountered the same misfortunes (n).
The ruined castles form another class of antiquities, which may be considered
as still more modern. They were all mostly built after the year 1097 A.D.,
the remarkable epoch of the Scoto-Saxon period. The castle of Berwick was the
residence of David I.; it was strengthened by Edward I.; it was repaired by
Robert I.; and it was ruined by the neglect of Elizabeth (o). At the end of the
twelfth century, the site of Home castle became the seat of the family of Home.
This pile increased in strength with the gradual augmentation of the wealth of
that warlike race. As Home castle could not resist artillery it became ruinous
from inattention (p). Billy castle, which had furnished shelter to quiet negotiators,
shared the same fate when it could no longer resist modern hostility. The tower of
Cockburnspath was probably built by the earls of Dunbar to guard the pass which
led to their principal castle; and it no doubt followed the ruinous fortunes of that
unfaithful family (q). Fast castle, which was perched on a rocky cliff over-
hanging the sea, shared the same fate (r). In this ruinous condition is the castle
(m) See the position of Edins Hall on Blackadder's map of Berwickshire, where it is called Wooden-
hall as it is indeed named in other maps. This name, in popular tradition, seems to intimate that
this singular building may have been dedicated by the Pagan Saxons to their national god. There is
a minute description of this remain in the Scots Mag. 1764, 431.
(n) Smith's Bede, 162 ; Holland's Oamden, Scotia, 10, 11.
(o) There is a drawing of this ruin in Grose's Antiquities, i. 108, as it appeared in 1789; and there
is another view of it in Cardonnel's Picturesque Antiquities, part ii.
(p) There is a drawing of this lofty castle in Grose's Antiquities, facing p. 98.
(q) There is a drawing of it in Grose's Antiq. 93-4.
(r) Its remains may be seen in Oardonnel's Picturesq. Antiq. part. ii.