This tale is taken from The Fray of Ellibank by James Hogg (the Ettrick Shepherd) in which he tells us about Sir Gideon Murray and his daughter, Agnes. In Borders folklore Agnes is known as ‘Meg with the Muckle Mouth’. Perhaps she was given this name because she spoke up for herself…

The Murrays and the Scotts were two warring families who lived along the Border between Scotland and England. Up until the seventeenth century the Clans who lived there raided and stole from each other and were known as Border Reivers. Sir Gideon Murray lived with his family at Elibank Castle, the ruins of which can still be seen, on the banks of the river Tweed in the Scottish Borders. At night when they sat down to dinner within the stout walls of his castle keep, the conversation often turned to the same topic – a husband for his daughter. The Scott family owned lands at Harden, Bowhill and Abbotsford, but at the time of this story their main home was Aikwood. The eldest son of Auld (Old) Wat of Harden was William Scott.

The lands of the Murrays of Elibank bordered and abutted those of the Scotts of Harden. The two families were constantly at ‘feud’ whereby each took every opportunity to steal from the other' both families suffered from the endless reprisals. The animosity and hatred which prevailed between the two families was to be overcome when young William was married. What began as yet another of the endless raids between the two families would have a novel outcome.

Muckle Mou'ed Meg was the daughter of Sir Gideon Murray of Elibank. She was one of many daughters who blessed the union of Sir Gideon and his wife. Where some of the others were comely and attractive wenches, Meg was ugly. Her most notable feature was her mouth. Set in a face that invited derision from its angular and protruding jaw, it was wide, oh so wide; her lips were thick and full and, though conscious of the effect they had on any onlooker, Meg was a happy lass and could not refrain from smiling at any given opportunity. When she smiled or laughed her mouth seemed to cover her face from ear to ear. Embarrassed she might be but she could not refrain from giving vent to her disposition for happiness. A smile was a wonder to behold. The eligible young men of the district of Elibank were uneasy in her presence and gave her a wide berth.

It seemed that Meg, or to be more exact, Lady Agnes Murray, would remain unmarried much to the concern of her parents who were proud of the endearing qualities of their unfortunate daughter. She was loving, considerate and gentle, a source of great content to her doting parents. They had, however, grown resigned that their daughter would be with them until it was time for them to die.

One day, William Scott's avarice overcame his common-sense and he set off with a raiding party intent on lifting Murray’s cattle. The foray went badly awry and young William soon found himself held at Sir Gideon’s pleasure. The dungeons of Elibank were dark, damp and inhospitable. Sir Gideon was intent on making a great show of the punishment he would dole out to William and advertised to neighbours and friends far and wide that there was to be a hanging. There were all cordially invited to attend.

Lady Murray had other ideas. She was well taken by the appearance of the handsome young man and ventured the proposition to her husband that his life should be spared if he would agree to marry their daughter Meg. Initially, Sir Gideon would have none of it but, on reflection, his wife’s proposal had more than one advantage. He would marry off his daughter and cement a relationship with the House of Harden. The wiles of women are sometimes hard to estimate, he thought, but this was a first-rate idea.

The handsome William knew well of Muckle Mouthed Meg. Her ugliness was renowned throughout the valley of the Ettrick water. When he was approached by Sir Gideon and offered marriage to Meg as an alternative to standing the drop that would end his life, he asked for time to consider the proposal. Eventually, though he loved life to the full, he declined the offer and resigned himself to the noose. Hanging would be quick; the thought of a life-time with Meg was a far greater punishment.

On the next day, he was taken up from the dungeons and out into the woods beyond Elibank. As he approached the tree from which hung the rope that would end his life he saw that Meg was standing there, tearful, ready to intercede for his life even should he spurn her. He was much taken by her solicitude and woeful appearance. As he approached the tree, the rope swinging lazily in the slight breeze, he stopped dead in his tracks. The burly men, who stood at each side of him as escorts to his death, grappled with him and tried to force him forwards. William resisted and looked at the pitiful face of the young woman, ugly as she was. She was clearly tormented by the action that was unfolding. His heart melted at the sight of her distress. He threw off his warders with a mighty and determined show of strength and ran to her open arms.

Meg and young William were married within a short space of time and history tells us that, as the years passed by, it was a loving union, full of happiness and respect. Meg made an excellent wife and a devoted mother. William Scott succeeded his father as Baron of Harden and he was knighted by King James VI.