Tue CasTLe or DumrRiés. 61 
one Crossbow with a winch, 2 Crossbows of 2 feet and as many 
quarrels as possible.’’ 
In the beginning of the year 1300 Sir Robert de Clifford was 
transferred to the Company of Sir John de St. John, the Captain 
and Lieutenant of the Marches, at Lochmaben, and Sir John de la 
Doline, an expert in the manufacture of war engines, who in the 
autumn of 1299 had been engaged at Carlisle in directing the 
making of the engines Berfray, Maltone, and Cat, and others, 
succeeded him in the Wardenship of the Castle of Dumfries. 
These are the terms of his investment. “The King to all whom, 
etc., health, know that we have granted to our beloved and faith- 
ful John de la Doline, our Castle of Dumfries with its pertinances, 
to guard so long as it pleases us. To whose, etc. Witness the 
King at Westminster, the 24th day of March, 1300. By the King 
himself, J. de Benstede announcing it.’’ 
THE AFFAIRS OF THE CASTLE IN THE YEAR 1300. 
The 28th year is notable in the affairs of the Castle. It 
became the base for forays by the English against the Scots of 
Galloway, and for the siege of Carlaverock; and in the autumn 
extensive structural works, designed to strengthen the fortress, 
were initiated by the King, who manifested particular and per- 
sonal interest in the operations, remaining ten days at Dumfries at 
the end of October supervising and hastening their completion. 
We have for this year also a special source of information, 
the Wardrobe Account, already mentioned. It sets out in 
minute detail the wages of the men-at-arms and others dwelling 
in the fortification of the Castle, and within the fortification of the 
Peel after its construction. From it we become acquainted with 
the names of the chief officers, the description and computed value 
of horses of the men-at-arms, and the description and price of 
most of the articles provided for the support of the garrison; also 
the wages of the workers employed in strengthening the Castle 
and raising the Peel, and generally the entries are illustrative of 
many of the conditions of warfare and of labour existing six 
hundred years ago. 
THE Kine’s MovEMENTS ABOUT DUMFRIES. 
The accounts disclose many of the King’s movements at 
Dumfries and the neighbourhood. The Minor Friars of Dum- 
