TRANSACTIONS. 



Notes on some Antiquities and Old Records of Dum- 

 friesshire AND Galloway. By James Starke, F.S.A. 

 Scot. 



The Siller Guns. 



Read 5th April, 1864. 



I HAVE had an opportunity of seeing the "Siller Gun," 

 which is in the hands of Mr Martin, Town-Clerk of Dum- 

 fries ; and have thus been induced to note down a few 

 particulars respecting it. 



The Gun came into the possession of the Town-Council 

 about twelve years ago, having been given over to them by 

 the Incorporated Trades of Dumfries, to whom it was pre- 

 sented by King James VI. 



Authors have spoken of this royal gift in a slighting 

 way, as a toy, a trinket, and so forth. This is difficult to be 

 accounted for: it would imply a total misapprehension of 

 the nature and object of the gift. 



It was not given as a field-piece, and the precious metal 

 of which it is composed precludes our expecting a Mons Meg. 

 It was given simply as a prize to be shot for ; and is in tlfe 

 nature of a medal, expressive enough, as such, like the silver 

 arrow of the Royal Archers, and would be correctly termed 

 a Gun Medal to be worn on the person of the victor at the 

 annual shooting match or weapon-schawing. 



The Burgh of Kirkcudbright is also tn possession of a 

 Sdler Gun from the same royal donor, as a prize to encouracre 

 the Trades there in the use of fire-arms as implements of wir 

 instead of the bow and arrow. 



There is also sometimes mention made of another Siller 



