Muckle Moo’d Meg

Willie Scott (Sir William Scott of Harden) lived in the Yarrow Valley. He was a well-liked, handsome young man, and like so many men of his day, was not averse to bit of reiving. One day, Willie mounted a raid on Elibank, but things did not go according to plan, and he found himself a prisoner in Sir Gideon Murray’s dungeon. Arrangements went ahead for Willie Scott to be hung as a dire warning to all other potential miscreants.

Meanwhile, Lady Murray, being most impressed with the bearing and appearance of the young man in the dungeon, felt that ti was a shame so desirable a young man should die. Here was a husband for their youngest daughter Meg decided Lady Murray, and Sir Gideon agreed with enthusiasm. Reportedly Meg (real name Agnes), had a large mouth and Meg’s lack of suitors had long been a burden to bear.

Willie was brought out of his cell and given a choice, marry Meg, or hang. Willie knew of Meg and indeed had encountered her. This was a choice, he thought, he could not make lightly, and he asked to be returned to the dungeon to consider. Weighing all the considerations, he decided that living, even with Meg, was better than dying. He chose to marry Meg.

As it turned out, Meg and Willie had a happy marriage and many children. Their story was immortalised in music and song by Alan G Brydon & Ian W Ladles in “1514 The Musical” which premiered in Hawick in November 2014.