Transaclions. 169 



XIV. The Enyliah OcciijjatUni (1384). 



In those Baliol war.s England got a fast grip of Annandale 

 wliich Edward Baliol, in consideration of favours received and 

 expected, had ceded to Edward III. For over half a century 

 Annan remained in Englisli hands. There is slender means of 

 gauging the feeling of the town towards its temporary masters. 

 This, however, is certain — the Scottish feeling never flagged. An 

 interesting legal document* dated 24th July, 1 347, is a formal 

 inquest made in course of the service of an heir to a property in 

 Annan. The jury in precise and regular fashion speak of Annan 

 not as a city, not as a vill, but as a burgh. As early as the 

 middle of the 13th century the town had begun to give surnaraef 

 to persons in diffierent parts of the country. William of AnantJ 

 was in the Scots garrison of Stirling in 1304. John of Anand, 

 was a Scottish sailor§ wrecked in 1320. Walter of Anand, in 

 1335, was nomineell for the rectory of Dornock. There are manyll 

 other instances, mostly names, and nothing more. But Sir David 

 of Anand, was one of the most distinguished men of the 14th 

 century, a soldier^ such as Annan might well be proud of, could 

 the claim to hiui as a native be substantiated. 



In 1363 Roger Clifford received a license from Edward III. to 

 retain in his .service for three years John, son of Robert Corry, 

 of the town of Annan, whose father dwells in Scotland at the 

 Scottish faith ; a striking documentary voucher of the patriotism 

 of the place. Still more interesting is a safe conduct granted in 

 1368 to John Clerc and John Belle, of Annan, merchants to 

 travel with goods and merchandise into England^ — an industry 

 which happily is still far from extinct ! In spite of the English 

 occupation the town continued to enjoy such a precarious measure 

 of prosperity as the dangerous time allowed. The inhabitants 

 were exposed alike to the rapacity of their English masters, 

 and the attacks of the Scots, their fellow countrymen struggling 

 to rid them of the English yoke. The " vills " of Annan and 



* Bain's Cal, Hi. 1499. 



fRcg. Glasfi. , i. , p. 1 83. Rerj. Domnn de Sollra, p. 34. 



XF(edera, 24th July, 1304. 



^Bain'x Gal., iii. 713. 



WReij. Olasg. i , p. 249. 



^Rohcrinon'n Index. 



\^Bower, Scotichronicon, ii. 319. Rohdi Scotw, i. 879a''. 



^Rotvli Scotio-, i. 926/'. 



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