88 Tue CASTLE OF DUMFRIES. 
Accordingly, about a month after his accession to the throne, the 
King set out with an army for Ayrshire. He passed through 
Dumfries, and journeyed as far as Cumnock, but at this point 
turning round he made his way back to England without having 
accomplished anything. 
The Castle of Dumfries continued in the hands of the 
English. Robert de Clifford was keeper in 1309, thereafter Henry 
de Beaumont, and Dougal M‘Dowall, of Galloway, followed in 
1311. M‘Dowall, it appears, was unpopular with the com- 
munity about him, and in consequence of this state of matters he 
desired that the King should provide a residence for his family 
somewhere else. The King ordered accordingly. “ For,’’ the 
order runs, “the laudable service of his liege Dougal M‘Dowall 
of Scotland, to his late father, and since his death to himself, 
whereby he has become hated by the enemy, and his wife and 
children need provision, gives them the manor of Temple-Couton 
in York, for their residence to the extent of £40. 
M‘Dowall seems to have stood well with the King, for he had 
a present of £212 9s 6d from the wardrobe in the year 1311, and 
later, in 1316, the King, for his loyal services, granted him an 
annuity of £20. It is no way surprising considering the vacilla- 
tions of the time to find his son some time later adhering to the 
Scots. 
MUNITIONING THE CASTLE IN M‘DoWALL’s TIME. 
22nd April, 1312.—The king commands Gilbert de Colvenue 
and Thomas de Lowther to pay the receiver at Carlisle 20 marks 
to victual the castle of Dumfries ; and on the 29th May the bailiffs 
of Sourby and Werk in Tynedale are ordered to pay to the 
receiver £100 to fortify the castles of Carlisle and Dumfries at 
the seight of John de Weston and Dougal M‘Dowall, their 
constables. 
The accounts of the receiver at Carlisle for the year from 
8th July, 1311, till 7th July, 1312, proceeds: “Sir Dougal 
M‘Dowall Sheriff of Dumfries and constable of the castle for the 
munition of the same by the hands of Fergus M‘Dowall his 
brother, receiver at Holm, and John de Monrethe, his clerk, 
receiver at Dumfries (during the year), 194 quarters 6 bushels 
oatmeal, 219 quarters 6 bushels oats, 1 cask 54 quarters, 1 bushel 
