Merkland Cross. 311 



the Magdallen day, being the 2 2d of July, 1484, till Lochmaben, 

 and after the destroying of Annandale, being passing back againe 

 to Ingland was fochen by the said Master of Maxwell at Kirtell, 

 suppleing his father's place accompanied by the Barrones of 

 Nithsdaille and Annandaille, where the lairds of Drumlanerick 

 and Mouswald were slain with sundry other gentlemen. But 

 yet the victorie remained with Scotland, for the Duke of Albanie 

 was chased in England, and the Douglas taken by ane brother of 

 the Laird of Ross, Kirkpatrick ; for the whilk service he gott the 

 lands of Kirkmichael, and ane great number of the army was 

 either taken or slain ; and though the Scott syde was glad of the 

 victory, yett they were so sorrowful for the loss of the Master of 

 Maxwell, their chiftane ; for in mean tyme ther was ane Scottish 

 limmar, named Gask, whose kinsman the Master of ^laxwell 

 hade caused hang be justice, seeing he was Steuart of Annan- 

 dalle. This Gask m revenge of his wicked intentions thought 

 it ane meit tyme and sticked the said Master behind his back, 

 with ane lang whinger, as he was leaning and reposing himselfe 

 •on his sword hilt, being very evele hurt and wounded in the field 

 before, and sun died ther." 



