THE CASTLE OF DUMFRIES. 79 
fries to place the peel in position around the castle there. Pro- 
bably the part transported by water had arrived before the 18th. 
The expense connected with the strengthening of the castle 
and raising the peel of Dumfries, as contained in these accounts, 
amounts to over £200 of the money of the time, representing a 
present-day value of at least £4000, and the price of the timber 
falls to be added for the total value of the structure. 
Edward had assigned a garrison to occupy the peel on the 
2nd November. The earthworks not being quite finished, 76 
ditchers were brought from Northumberland, for one day’s work, 
and with their assistance the ditch was completed by the end of 
the day mentioned. The carpentry was brought to a close on 
the 23rd of the same month. 
CHIEF FEATURES OF THE CASTLE. 
While endeavouring to realise the chief features of the rein- 
forced castle it is well to keep in view the circumstance that the 
use of timber in such structures as well as in house building, and 
generally, prevailed at this period in Scotland. The accounts 
are less helpful for the purpose than could be desired, for while 
excellent as records of expenditure, the entries allude to the 
nature of the works only in the most general terms. 
One feature, and perhaps the most important in the case of 
a medzeval castle before the introduction of firearms, the prin- 
ciple of which was to oppose a series of obstacles to an attacking 
force, is clearly enough indicated. The castle consisted of a 
double fortress, each division being independently fortified so 
that in case of attack if one were taken the siege had to be begun 
again under renewed difficulties. | The divisions were also sepa- 
rately garrisoned. It will have been noticed that in the accounts 
mention is made of certain men-at-arms with covered horses 
dwelling within the Castle of Dumfries, and of others dwelling 
within the fortification of the peel of Dumfries after the construc- 
tion of the same peel. The peel as a garrisoned area evidently 
corresponds with the mote, the castle being the bailey or lower 
court. 
The outer fortifications consisted of a great ditch or dyke 
and earthen rampart, vestiges of which are yet, as already stated, 
exhibited in the grounds, and in the rear there was a stout 
palisading, which served the purpose of a wall. A draw-bridge, 
