BUITTLE. 201 



Christian died in 1246, without issue, and her inheritance was 

 shared by the surviving daughters. Therefore all the land on 

 this side of the Cree now belonged to Dervorguil, and all the land 

 in Wigtownshire to Helena. Thus, through Dervorguil, John de 

 Balliol became the most powerful Baron in Galloway. Although 

 he had other lands in England, such as Barnard Castle and 

 Fotheringay, he preferred to live at "Botle." He and his wife 

 Dervorguil took a great interest in the inhabitants, and he la^'ished 

 much of his wealth on the improvement of his estates. There 

 seems no doubt that "Botle " Castle at this time was much 

 enlarged, and made into a Norman castle, pure and simple. 

 Perhaps the strongest reason for strengthening the castle at 

 this period was the troubled state of the times. By the old 

 law of "Tanistry," or the old Celtic custom, no female could 

 succeed as a ruler over the people, and the Gallovidians refused 

 to have Dervorguil as a ruler. First they invited the King 

 to become ruler, but he declined. Then they besought him to 

 appoint Alan's illegitimate son, Thomas, to be ruler, but this 

 was also refused. The result was that they rose in insurrection, 

 and rallied round Thomas, who came over from Ireland with a 

 band of Irishmen to aid him. In order to quell this insurrection, 

 Alexander II. invaded Galloway, but his troops got so hopelessly 

 entangled in the dense forests and morasses, which then over- 

 spread the land, that he was -almost overwhelmed. The Earl of 

 Ross, how^ever, came to his rescue, and the insurgents were de- 

 feated. Thomas fled, and one or two of the insurgent chiefs, 

 along with many of the Irishmen, marched to Glasgow, with ropes 

 round their necks as a token of surrender, to sue the King for 

 pardon. The Glaswegians, however, fell upon them and slew 

 them all, with the exception of two chiefs, who were sent to Edin- 

 burgh, and ordered by the King to be torn asunder by horses. 

 The King's army in Galloway committed great devastation. 

 They despoiled the lands and the churches, and committed un- 

 heard of cruelty. For instance, it is recorded that a monk at 

 Glenluce, who was at his last gasp, was left naked, save for the 

 coarse hair shirt which he wore, and at Tongland the Prior and 

 Sacristan were slain at the altar, an act which in those days was 

 counted an unpardonable sacrilege. Balliol and Dervorguil, 

 however, set themselves to rule the people wisely, and by their 

 good government, love of justice, progress, and peace, and by 



