House oF THE MAXWELLS OF NITHSDALE. 191 
circular corner turrets; jambs and lintels of wall openings, vari- 
ously moulded, and enriched in some instances with dog-tooth 
ornaments; richly billeted corbeling course; cabled strings of 
various sizes ; tapered pinnacles hollowed on the sides and cabled 
on the angles; and running conventional leaf ornament, which 
probably framed the panel for the coat-of-arms over the door. 
A few stones typical of church work were also recovered, the 
castle having been partly built of the ruins of the Friary. 
The castle was enclosed in a court, had stables and other 
offices, and extensive and no doubt beautiful gardens, reaching 
backwards to the river. 
Robert, 10th Lord Maxwell, created Earl of Nithsdale, 
espoused the royal cause during the troubles of the Civil War, on 
which account this fine manor-place, along with all the other 
castles of the Nithsdale family, was wrecked. In a claim after- 
wards submitted by Lord Nithsdale for compensation, they are 
said as to having been “ dismantled and razed.’’ 
Robert, 2nd Earl of Nithsdale, “the philosopher,’’ purposed, 
the house having become unfit for his residence, to have it in some 
suitable degree repaired. In September, 1659, he appointed John 
Maxwell of Cowhill and Robert Maxwell of Carnsalloch to ascer- 
tain from tradesmen what would be the cost of repairing his house 
in Dumfries and the garden dykes, with necessary office houses. 
They ascertained that the expenses would extend at least to £3000 
Scots money, and some whom they consulted estimated that the 
cost would extend to £5000. This scheme does not seem to have 
gone further. 
We are made acquainted with the actual state of the castle in 
1675. Correspondence passed between the Privy Council and the 
Commissioners of Excise of the county of Dumfries relative to 
_ the use of the castle for the accommodation of a garrison. On 
5th August, 1675, a letter was received from the Privy Council 
stating that the Council had emitted an Act appointing garrisons to 
__ be in divers places, particularly at the Castle of Dumfries, in 
_ which there is to be 50 foot and 12 horsemen, who are ordered 
against the first day of August to be at the said place; and the 
commissioners are to sight the castle and see that it be made 
ready. On 25th August report was made by three gentlemen, who 
had been appointed to examine the castle, that the vaults and 
_ second storeys were sufficient. The other two storeys were not 
