who expiated his alleged offense on the block in October, 1516. But the influence of his heirs long availed in Rulewater.

For rather more than quarter of a century after the above remission, local history maintains silence regarding Fulton. But in September, 1545, the vindictive Border raid by Hertford's forces did not spare this dale, in the lower stretch of which twelve inhabited places were devastated— including "Fotton" (an obvious error for "Folton," i.e. Fulton). And again when Sussex marched unopposed through Teviotdale in April, 1570, to punish the partisans of the abdicated Queen Mary and other adherents to the Catholic party, the fortalices, towns, and lands of the lairds of Fernieherst, Huntill, and Bedrule especially suffered; and undoubtedly Fulton Tower then felt the heavy hand of the southern invader. Because of the Turnbulls' espousal of the cause of the exiled queen, James VI on 20th January, 1571, granted to Margaret Hume, daughter of John Hume of Cowdenknowes, the lands of " Fultoun " and " Crocecleuch " in the barony of Bedrule.

Soon the laird of Bedrule regained favour, and his valour at the Raid of Reidswire in July, 1575, enhanced his popularity and renown. Clad in his serviceable coat of mail, and followed by "all his Turnbulls" (including doubtless the laird and retainers of Fulton), "auld Bedrule"—as Andrew Turnbull was popularly called—helped manfully to trounce the hereditary foe on that stirring occasion. After the Union of the Crowns, Borderers often found it difficult to accommodate themselves to the new political conditions. One such was "Andro Patersonne in Foultoune, "who in 1623 was accused of stealing an ox and a cow from a woman in Newton, Glendale. When he was tried on this charge at Jedburgh, a patriotic jury exculpated him.

In his account of the parish of Bedrule (written in 1837), Rev. Alexander Craig gives some account of a current tradition that the last occupant of this tower was a strong Turnbull who was at deadly feud with the Kers of Fernieherst. Obtaining stealthy access to the tower, some of the latter pounced upon him as he, oblivious of his danger, was holding his infant child on his knee, and amusing it by singing the old Scotch ballad: "Little wat ye wha's coming." Echoing this, the Kers rushed on him; but not before Turnbull, leaping up, had seized his sword, and prepared to resist. This he was prevented from doing by the entreaties and still more the clinging of his wife—with a result that has apparently not been transmitted to posterity. An embellished account of this legend or tale may be found in these "Transactions" for 1882 (p. 39), which, if untrustworthy, has at least the merit of graphic or vivid writing.

It is possible that in this legend we have an echo of or a sequel to the feud between the Kers and the Turnbulls, which occasioned a battle in the streets of Jedburgh in 1601. Whatever the value or merits of this story, the Turnbulls of Fulton disappeared so early and so completely that the genealogist of " Rulewater and its People " could give no account of any one of them. A recent inquiry in the "Weekly Scotsman" for descendants evoked no satisfactory reply.

The sober truth seems to be that about the time of the Union of the Crowns the Turnbulls of Rulewater were getting into difficulties with their creditors as well as with the law. Failing to farm his lands adequately and hence expending more than his income, Turnbull of Bedrule mortgaged his Rulewater properties to Ker of Cavers-Carre. On the other hand, the laird and various of the clan so broke the law (probably by theft of wood from their neighbour Stewart's land) that they were summoned to appear before the Privy Council. To this court John Stewart of Traquair complained in July, 1619, that Walter Turnbull of Bedrule, Walter Turnbull in Fulton