52 Tue CasTLE oF DuMFRIES. 
The open part of the east ditch is excellently preserved and 
very formidable in apprearance. It measures 60 feet in 
width at the top and 20 feet and upwards in depth, and its 
preservation is probably due to the requirements of a small stream 
of water flowing through it. 
First ENGLISH OCCUPATION. 
Prior to the death of Alexander III., Scotland was pros- 
perous and peaceful, and during this period history does not 
record any particular acts of warfare, either defensive or as 
issuing from the castle gate. Of its civil use there is a glimpse. 
About the year 1259 inquisition was held in the Castle, Richard, 
son of Robert, son of Elsa, being arraigned for the murder of 
Adam, the miller. The two had met in St. Michael’s Cemetery 
on a Sunday, when Adam defamed Richard, calling him 
“ galuvet ’’ (considered equivalent to thief). On the following 
Thursday, in a scuffle on the street, Adam was mortally wounded, 
Richard alleged by accident. He said at the time, “I have not 
killed thee, thou thyself didst it.’’ The barons jurors concur 
“in omnibus ’’ with the burgesses jurors. They all say that 
Richard was faithful, but Adam was a thief and a defamer. 
Not long after the King’s death war broke out as.appears by 
the following extract from John Baliol’s Pleas for the Crown :— 
“The seventh reason is that when the Bishops and great men of 
Scotland had sworn to defend and preserve the kingdom of Scot- 
land for their Lady, the daughter of the King of Norway, and 
that they would do fealty to her as their liege Lady, and keep the 
peace of her land. But the aforesaid Sir Robert de Brus and 
the Earl of of Karrick, his son, dared to take by force of arms 
with banners displayed the aforesaid Lady of Scotlands castle of 
Dumfries, against her peace. And thence the aforesaid Sir 
Robert advanced to the castle of Botil, and there he caused one 
Patrick M‘Cuffok within the bailey of the same castle to proclaim 
that all the should immediately depart from the land. 
(The document is here illegible.) The Earl of Karrick with the 
assent and power of his father took the aforesaid Lady’s Castle of 
Wigton, in Galloway, and killed many of her men there.’’ 
In the year 1288 the watchman and gatekeeper were paid, as 
a gratutity, £1 12s, on account of extra watching by reason of the 
war raised after the death of the King. The castle had been 
