Page:Medieval Military Architecture in England (volume 1).djvu/275

 Borthwick Tower, in Midlothian, 255 completely, while perfect, to exclude the rain. This roofing has lasted well, and even now only needs relaying and the replacing of a few broken stones. The gables are of cut stone. The stair-heads are about 8 feet high, circular, with conical roofs of ashlar. There seems to have been a low parapet all round, set out upon corbels, and between each pair a square machicolation. There is a clear walk all round, only broken by the chimney-shafts. The parapet has been removed, probably to prevent the tower being held as a military post. The east wall near the top is much injured, it is said, by Cromwell's shot, when he battered the castle from this side, beyond the ravine. Borthwick Tower was built under a licence from James II. to Sir William Borthwick of that ilk, dated the 2nd of June, 1430. Billing gives an excellent view of this tower from the south-west, and a good drawing of the interior of the hall, showing the great fireplace before its fall, and the lord's seat. HISTORY. The family of Borthwick, though for centuries the owners of this estate, derive their name from a place on the shore of Borthwick- water, in the shire of Selkirk, whence, at a remote period, they migrated to the lands and castle of Catcune, holding it with Legert- wood and Herriot Muir, whence they again removed to Locherwart, to which they gave the name of Borthwick, an inversion common in Ireland, but rare in England and Scotland. Their predecessors at Locherwart were the Hays of Yester. The first of the name on record was, I., Thomas de Borthwick, temp. David II., and who held lands in Berwickshire. His son, II., Sir William Borthwick, of Catcune, was living 1378, and his son, III. , Sir William Borthwick, in 1387-1401, and who was father of, IV. , Sir William, of Legertwood, who, in 1410, had a 'grant from Robert Duke of Albany of the lands of Borthwick and Thoftcotys, in Selkirk ; V., another William, son of the last, was one of the hostages sent to England for the ransom of James I. To him, as Willelmus de Borthwic, miles, the king granted, 2nd June, 1430, a letter of licence, " construendi castrum in illo loco qui vulgariter dicitur le Mot de Lochorwort ac in eodem castro et forta- licio Constabularium, Janitorem, custodesque necessarios et optimos pro sua voluntate providendi, removendi, et omnia alia quse ad secu- ritatem et fortificationem dicti castri necessaria fuerint faciendi." Such a licence is rare in Scotland, where the nobles were very independent of the Crown, and the country commonly so disturbed that a castle was almost a necessary of life. To the castle so licensed to be built was given the name of Borthwick. It is pro- bable from the term " Le Mot " that there was already a strong place there, for which indeed the position was very suitable. This Sir William seems to have been the first Lord Borthwick. His lineal male descendant, John, the eighth lord, held out his castle for a time