Tue Castle or Dumrrirs. 69 
Of grain in various forms, oats, dried oats, wheat, wheat meal, 
and wheat flour, barley, and malt, were in use; also beans and 
peas ; salt was brought from the salt pits of Skimburness. The 
drink bills would alarm the temperance men of the present day. 
Wine and beer of various qualities were in demand. 
Carlisle was the chief centre for the supply of the castles and 
army of the district. The stores were in charge of the Receiver 
and Distributor of the King’s victuals between whom and_ the 
constables of the castles and others a system of accounting was in 
operation. ‘That it was strict we at once discover. Sir John de 
la Doline constable of Dumfries having omitted a few trifles in 
his account required to make good their value, for which the 
following receipt was granted to him by the Receiver :— 
“Received from Sir John de la Doline, constable of the castle 
of Dumfries, for a half quarter of one ox, one quarter of a sheep, 
2 bushels of oats, 9 hides of oxen and cows, 14 skins of sheep, 
and proceeds of same, which remained in arrears upon his account 
of the present 28th year, 15s 1d. From the same for 2 carts and 
6 horses delivered to him by Master Richard de Abingdon for 
seeking victuals as far as the castle of Dumfries, of which he 
makes no mention in his account of the present year, 40s. Total, 
£2 15s 1d.”’ 
With reference to the above 2 carts and 6 horses, and others, 
the receiver makes the following precise entry :— 
“Master Richard de Abington receiver of the King’s victuals 
at Carlisle, renders account of 9 carts and 31 horses remaining at 
the end of his account for the year 27, as is evident upon the third 
folio preceding. Total 9 carts and 31 horses, of which he com- 
putes delivered to Sir John de la Doline, constable of the Castle 
of Dumfries, for carrying victuals and other necessaries to the 
same place, for the munition of the same Castle, 2 carts, 6 horses ; 
and he computes delivered to Sir James de Dalilegh staying—to 
receive the victuals in the same place after the departure of the 
said Richard, 2 carts, 5 horses; and by deaths by old age and 
hard labour 8 horses; and by the sale with which the keeper is 
charged in the receipt of the present year 3 carts, 5 horses, total 
9 carts and 31 horses, and so the account is balanced.’’ 
The supplies were carried both by water and by land. 
Various vessels were engaged, and some, probably owing 
to the river, did not reach further than Caerlaverock, 
