64 Tue CASTLE OF DUMFRIES. 
His much honoured banner, 
Chequered with gold and azue, 
With a vermilion fess. 
If I were a young maiden, 
I would give him my heart and person, 
So great is his fame.’’ * 
Sir Richard Siward, one of the most celebrated men of his 
day, who more than once held the custody of the Castle of Dum- 
fries, had a career characteristic of the age. A Scotsman, and 
from an early age, a man of influence. For some reason he was 
made prisoner by Henry III. of England in 1236, and suspicion 
arose that the capture was procured by Siward himself, and fol- 
lowed by an agreement between the King of England and him 
inconsistent with the fealty due to his sovereign Alexander III. 
King of Scots. Henry addressed Alexander intimating to him 
that Siward did not do so, that the King only caused him to be 
seized to secure the peace of the Kingdom; and neither before nor 
after nor at any other time did Siward make any agreement with 
the King against his fealty to Alexander. We have seen that Sir 
Richard Siward held the Castle of Dumfries for the English King 
in 1292, and had the honour of handing it over to King John, on 
his accession to the throne of Scotland. In 1294-95 Sir Richard 
was still in Edward’s service, but so far, it does not appear that 
he had been active against his countrymen the Scots. Before the 
end of 1295 Sir Richard had returned to Scotland, and seems 
shortly afterwards to have taken service under the Government of 
King John. He and his son Richard, being arrayed with the 
Scots, were captured by the English at the battle of Dunbar, 16th 
May, 1296. Sir Richard was imprisoned in the Tower of Lon- 
don, and his son was put in fetters and lodged in Bristol Castle. 
After enduring imprisonment for a year Siward was liberated, and 
had his forfeited lands restored to him on condition of serving 
Edward beyond the seas and elsewhere. Deprived of his lands 
and means of livelihood, and in prison, it might be for life; his 
son Richard fettered and in prison ; his son John also in prison, a 
hostage ; and English friends, who had become sureties for him, 
liable to claims on his account, there seemed no way 
of escape from the entanglements cast around him 
other than surrender. In such ways as this did the 
*Wright’s Roll of Karlaverock, 
