Transcictions. 67 



It was here, Spottiswood tells us, John Duns Scotus the 

 subtle doctor was clothed with the habit of St. Francis. But 

 of course the great event in its history was the death of the 

 red Comyn in the church, with that of Sir Eobert Comyn in 

 the sacristy. 



The effusion of a layman's blood seems to have damaged 

 the character of the place. But the friars still lingered on, 

 and in 1504 King James IV, gave them 14s., probably a piece 

 of the nature of our half sovereign. The buildings, or some 

 of them, appear to have survived the era of the Eeformation ; 

 for Arthur Johnston, the Scottish physician and poei speaks 

 of them as existing in his time. He says : — 



Surgit in hac aedes, cui cedunt templa Dianas 

 Vel venerabilius Grsecia si quid habet, 

 Proditor hie patriiB Brussii virtute Cuminus 

 Concidit, et sacrani sanguine tinxit liumum. 

 Scotia Drumfrisii reUquis altaria prefer, 

 Hie tibi Hbertas aurea parta fait. 



Scotland, I prefer this spot of earth to all others in the 

 land, for here thy precious liberty had its birth-place I 



The materials were at length aU taken and used, as in the 

 case of Kelso Abbey and others, in the construction of houses 

 in the neighbourhood. 



The Makket Cross. 



This is the next object of interest conspicuous by its 

 absence. It was taken down within memory, and perhaps 

 escaped an earlier fate by being removed from its original 

 position to a more shady side of the mid-steeple. Here was 

 the chief market-place of the town for provisions, and the 

 common place of resort. And here accordingly the laws were 

 published in old times, proclamations made, summonses exe- 

 cuted, and whatever of a secular nature which required 

 publicity or solemnity was ordinarily done. So here too a 

 party of dissentients, opposed to the union with England, 



