70 Transactions. 



hath very good houses. This is a very thriving town, and 

 hath a good face of trade." 



In conclusion, to sum up all in a few words, let us take 

 the table of our fancy — for the reality is now gone from our 

 eyes — and picture on it a plan of the fair town of Dumfries 

 surrounded by the town wall on all sides but the west, where 

 the winding Nith flows past in all the width of the fine old 

 bridge, 400 feet in length, or about one-fourth more than it is 

 at present. At the town head stands the massy and com- 

 manding Castle with its walls and gates ; and near it the 

 Monastery wall enclosing the conventual buildings. Then 

 see the spacious High Street down to the parish church of St. 

 Michaels about half a mile ofif ; with the Market Cross on the 

 breast of the town, and near it the town-council buildings : on 

 the one side the town the large and convenient cattle-market 

 and, perhaps, the Lady Chapel ; and on the other side of the 

 town the coromon place of execution with, perhaps, ground for 

 the May Games, and the old or Kirsty's Chapel with all its 

 sad yet glorious recollections. 



Such was the fair town of Dumfries in the olden time. 



