BuiTTLE. 20;") 



Gallovidians. In fact, they were so enraged that when Bruce's 

 two brothers, Thomas and Alexander, landed at Lochryan with 

 assistance for him, tliey took them captive and sent them to Car- 

 lisle, where they were executed. The Gallovidians never became 

 reconciled to Bruce or his cause. One of the first acts he did 

 after being crowned King was to send down his brother Edward 

 to bring them under subjection. In this he was partly successful. 

 Botle Castle was the only one which held out against Edward. 

 Galloway, however, did not long remain quiet, for we find in 

 1313 that King Robert came down himself with banners flying and 

 a great military display. He took the castles of Dumfries, Dal- 

 .swinton, Lochmaben, Carlaverock, and after starving out the 

 garrison he captured Botle. 



In 1324 it is recorded that Bruce granted Balliol's lands and 

 the Castle of Botle to Sir James Douglas, subject to the yearly 

 tribute of a ^air of spurs. 



Bruce died on the 7th June, 1329, and Randolph, Earl of 

 Moray, was appointed Regent. Galloway threatened again to 

 rise in favour of Balliol, and the Regent made one or two raids 

 through it. He died in 1332, and was succeeded by the Earl of 

 Mar, who proved a very weak-kneed Regent. Edward Balliol, 

 the son of John Balliol, took advantage of his weakness, and 

 landed on the shores of the Forth. Having raised an army of the 

 disaffected nobles, he met and defeated the Regent at Dupplin. 

 Edward Balliol was crowned King at Scone on the 24th Septem- 

 ber, 1332. When he came down he was received by the Gallo- 

 vidians with open arms. His hour of triumph was exceedingly 

 brief, however, for on the 16th December following, when he and 

 his brother Henry and Comyn were staying at Annan, they were 

 treacherously .surprised by Archibald Douglas. The King man- 

 aged to escape, but his brother and Comyn were slain. How 

 strange the whirlgig of fortune spun round in those stirring and 

 warlike times. In less than a month he had gained and lost a 

 crown. Balliol, however, with the assistance of Edward, ad- 

 vanced against the Regent Moray and defeated his troops at 

 Halidon Hill. After this, with the assistance of the English army 

 and " the wild Scots of Galloway " he overran Scotland, burning 

 and pillaging until he became thoroughly detested. He was a 

 weak King, and only held the crown by the favour of Edward. 

 His whole reign is punctuated by the fiercest and bloodiest of all 



