Transacltoiis. 181 



same town had over been a verie noisome neighbour to England. 

 The Englishmen had conceived such spite towards this town that 

 if they saw but a piece of wood remaining unburnt they would 

 cut the same in pieces witii their bills." Wharton's own despatch 

 is to the same purpose. "Upon Teusday mornynge cutt and 

 raiced down the church wallis and steplee and brent the towne, 

 not leving anything theriii unbrent, which was the best towne in 

 Anerdaile. We caused also vii fisher boottis lying on the river 

 to be taken and sent into England." Another authority* declares 

 tliat they "burnt tlie spoil for cumber of caryage." " The English," 

 says Lesley! " wer so warlyeantlie resisted be the Lorde Maxwell, 

 Lairdis Johnestoun, Cokpule, and utheris cuntrey men that thay 

 wan litill honour in thair jornay, sauffing that thay brint the 

 Kirk of Annan and blew it up with pulder, quhilk wes ane 

 wicked and ungodlie act." Wharton's fell design had been 

 achieved in its vindictive entirety — Annan, town and tower, was 

 utterly destroyed. 



And here meantime in the dust we must leave her. From 

 her position on the border she was born to such misfortunes, 

 and knew how to bear them. She had graced her recently 

 renewed honours as a burgh with one more justification for the 

 compliments of King James. 



* Fatttn^s Account in DalzeU's Fratjments, p. 95. 

 iLeslty'.'i Historic, p. 202. 



