Tue Castte or DumrRIEs. 83 
the buildings there are still numbers of shallow burials, indicating 
the position of the garth. A few stones also have recently been 
recovered adjacent to the site, which have the characteristics of 
ecclesiastical work of the period. Of these the most interesting, 
perhaps, is a fragment of the sedilia which occupied the south wall 
of the chancel opposite the great altar, where Comyn was slain. 
The Friary, founded about the middle of the 18th century, 
was yet comparatively new, and probably not more than 50 years 
had elapsed from its erection till the occurrence within its walls of 
the Comyn tragedy. It has been ascribed that the Friary was 
deserted after Comyn’s slaughter, but that is incorrect, as the 
Exchequer accounts prove that King Robert Bruce paid the 
Friars annually in alms the large sum of £13 7s 8d, probably with 
the view of wiping out the crime committed before the altar of 
their church. 
Bruce made no delay in the consummation of his high 
purpose :— 
And syne to Scone in hy raid he, 
And wes maid King but langer let, 
And in the Kingis stole was set; 
As in that time was the maner. 
Edward was much exasperated, as well he might be, at this 
unexpected turn of events :— ; 
And quhen to King Edweard wes tauld, 
How at the Brwyss, that wes sa bauld, 
Had brought the Cumyn till ending, 
And how he syne had maid him King, 
Owt off his wyt he went weill ner. 
The news reached Edward before 24th February, on which 
day, writing to Sir James de Dalelegh, he says, that having heard 
that Sir John Comyn and his uncle, Sir Ribert Comyn, are 
murdered by some people who are doing their utmost to trouble. 
the peace and quiet of the realm of Scotland, he commands him 
to see to the peace and quiet of his lieges in his district, to the 
best of his power, and privately and advisedly warn them that 
they avoid all converse with the enemy in case of surprise or dis- 
graceful damage. On the same 24th day Sir James and three 
* See also Paper by Mr James Lennox in the Dumfries and Galloway 
Antiquarian Society. Proceedings. 
