54 Tue Castte or DumFRIEs. 
lisle in September, 1280, regarding the law of “ Handwarcelle ”’ 
on the Border. About two years later the Knights and good 
men of the County of Cumberland, under the King’s mandate, 
elected him sheriff, and Constable of Carlisle Castle, but the King 
having adopted other views immediately revoked the election, and 
committed the Sheriffdom and the custody of the Castle to 
Robert de Brus, Earl of Carrick. Sir William was, on 12th July, 
1291, jointly with William de St. Clair, commissioned to take 
the fealty to Edward of the Bishop of Whithorn and of all Gallo- 
way, and thereafter he had the custody of the Dumfries group of 
Castles. 
Sir William acknowledged on 15th August, 1291, having 
received from the Chamberlain of Scotland 40 marks, wages of 
40 days’ custody of the Castles, £20 on 5th November, in part 
payment, and £60 in part payment on the 29th of the same month. 
On the same 29th day of November he also acknowledged having 
received the sum of £8 from the Burgh of Dumfries by the hands 
of Robert de Nam, a burgess of the Burgh. 
The following certificate by Brian Fitz Allan, one of the 
Governors of Scotland, in favour of Henry de Boyville, makes it 
appear that Sir William died at his post, and was succeeded by 
Henry de Boyville, presumably a relative. 
“March 2, 1292.—To all who will see or hear this letter, 
Brian Fitz Alan, one of the Guardians of the Kingdom of Scot- 
land, wishes health in the Lord. Know that by the tenor of the 
present letter we give evidence that the Chamberlain of Scotland 
and Robert de Forde associated with.the same by the Lord King 
of England, had in command from all the Guardians of the King- 
dom of Scotland to pay Henry de Boyville and his comrades as 
much as is owed to them for the custody of the Castles of Dum- 
fries, Kirkcudbright, and Wigton, of the rest of their wages after 
the death of Sir William de Boyville. In evidence of which thing 
we have placed our seals to the present letter. Given at Edin- 
burgh on the Lord’s day next after the feast of St. Matthew the 
apostle, in the year of Grace 1291.”’ 
Henry de Boyville’s first receipt for £28 sterling in part pay- 
ment of his own wages and those of his comrades for the custody 
of the Castles is dated 1st March, 1292, and the second and last 
bears date the 12th of the same month. 
“To all the faithful in Christ who will see or hear this letter, 
