GRISELL HOME, A SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY HEROINE
The Merse has given many a gallant man to the mother-country, oftentimes
a fighter, now and again a martyr, but no fairer flower has ever
blossomed in that stretch of land that has the North Sea for one of its
boundaries, and looks across fertile plains to the long, blue line of
Cheviots in the south, than one whose name must ever find a sure place
in the hearts of those whom courage and fortitude, sweetness and merry
humour, exquisite unselfishness, and gay uncomplainingness in the face
of dire emergency are things to be honoured and held dear.
Grisell Home was the eldest of eighteen children, two of whom died in
infancy. She was born at Redbraes Castle--now Marchmont--on December 25,
1665. There is a belief that Christmas babies always have an extra large
share of the nature of Him who was born on Christmas Day; and truly
Grisell Home was one of those who never seemed to know the meaning of
Self. Her father, Sir Patrick Home, a man of strong character and large
fortune, was known to be a rigid Presbyterian, no friend to the house of
Stuart, and he was regarded by the Government of his day as "a factious
person." His great friendship with his neighbour, Robert Baillie of
Jerviswoode, in no way increased the favour with which either of those
good men was regarded in high places.
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