298 Death of Comyn. 



that in many respects their lot was a hard one; but it was 

 brightened too by humble pleasures, and they were not exempt 

 from the little vanities and weaknesses of their twentieth 

 century descendants. And when we feel disposed too strongly 

 to commisserate their lot we must reflect that it was amid those 

 hard conditions that the heroes of the Covenants were reared. 



24th Ainil, 1903. 



Chairman — Mr James Barbour, Vice-President. 



Exhibit. — Stone axe found on Grange Farm, Dalbeattie, by 

 Mr James Biggar. 



I. — Translations of Narratives, chiefly Contemporary, 

 OF the Death of Comyn, and other Documents relating 

 to Dumfries and Galloway. 



By Dr E. J. Chinnock. 



Matthew of Westminster's Account. 



Translation of an extract from Matthew of Westminster's 

 •" Flores Historiarum." Matthew was a contemporary of Bruce, 

 whose Chronicle concludes with the year 1307. 



" After all these things had thus been brought to conclusion, 

 a new war arises again in Scotland. For the Earl of Carrik, 

 Robert de Brus, collects, at first secretly, afterwards openly, 

 some of the nobles of Scotland, saying to them : — ' You know 

 how this kingdom belongs to me by the hereditary law of succes- 

 sion, and how this nation had proposed to crown my father 

 king, but was defrauded of its desire by the craft of the King of 

 England. If therefore you will crown me king I will fight your 

 battles and will free this kingdom and nation from English 

 :servitude.' This he said, and forthwith many of the perjured 

 agreed. But when he asked John Comyn, a very noble soldier 

 and powerful man, whether he would also agree to it, he 

 distinctly replied that he would not, and says: — 'Since all 

 nations know that the King of England has conquered our land 

 and nation four times, and that all soldiers as well as 

 clergy have sworn faith and homage to him for the present and 

 for the future, far be this from me. I will never certainly 



