The castle of Thirlestane is situated upon the Leader, near the town of lauder.
"Minstrelsy of the Scottish border (3rd ed) (1 of 3)"
Walter Scott
Sir Richard Maitland, the hero of the poem, seems to have been in possession of his estate about 1250; so that, as he survived the commencement of the wars betwixt England and Scotland, in 1296, his prowess against the English, in defence of his castle of lauder, or Thirlestane, must have been exerted during his extreme old age.
"Minstrelsy of the Scottish border (3rd ed) (1 of 3)"
Walter Scott
lauder and Earlston are the only places of importance in the valley.
"In the Border Country"
W. S. (William Shillinglaw) Crockett