Author: Bower, John
Title: Description Of The Abbeys Of Melrose And Old Melrose With Their Traditions
Description: printed for the author by J Orphoot, Blackfriars Wynd, 1822, 2nd edition, Improved Original Paper spined boards, F. [title page]+125pp, folding engraved frontis, some offsetting to the title page, an attractive copy. Hardback , no dustjacket. ¶ A history of the Abbey at Melrose, written by the Keeper of The Abbey, who dedicated this work to Sir Walter Scott. Scott had described the Abbey by moonlight in his 'Lay of the Last Minstrel'. Bower was later to state that he had never given the Key of the Abbey to Scott after dark, so the description must have been written from Scotts imagination. Bower also engraved the frontis & sold the books from his house at the Abbey.

Keywords: melrose, scotland, topography, ecclesiology, history