The Market Cross of Dumfries. 201 



Such is a further brief contribution to a study of local and 

 other popular plant names, many of whicli are rapidly being for- 

 gotten. I may at some future time revert to it and give other 

 examples which time does not now admit of suppl) ing. 



The Market Cross of Dumfries. By Mr G. W. Shirley. 



During many centuries the market cross of a Scottish burgh 

 was the centre of the communal life. Here came the King's 

 messengers to announce the deaths and ascensions of their royal 

 masters, to proclaim the imposition of taxes, and to put rebels to 

 " his majesty's horn " and to announce the Orders of the Court of 

 Chancery. In earlier days it was here that the bailies were 

 chosen. Here the pro\ost and bailies distrained properties, 

 rouped the goods of defaulters, made public their regulations 

 regarding the sale and prices of goods, the hours and position of 

 markets, and issued their commands for watching and warding. 

 Here the common hangman tore up and burned the burgess 

 tickets — in these days more asset than honour — of those who had 

 " tyned their freedom "' by some dishonourable deed. Sometimes 

 punishments and executions were carried out here and public 

 scourgings, exceedingly common in the 17th centurv, ended at 

 the Cross. The douce Imrgesses gathered at the Cross at times 

 of crisis and danger and on all public occasions. To our own 

 Market Cross on at least three occasions they flocked to burn 

 "popish vestments and idolatrous books," and, at a later date, 

 the Articles of Union. It will be seen then that the Market Cross 

 was a place of supreme importance, the gathering point and pivot 

 of the civic life of such of our ancestors as were burgesses of 

 burghs royal and barony. 



In the 16th centur\' the ground which, evidence seems to 

 show, is that now partially occupied by the Midsteeple, was 

 known as the " girss " or grass hill. Minor punishments were 

 carried out on this high ground with the branks and gorgets, 

 burning irons and the stocks, while not far ofif was the trone or 

 weighing machine to whose wooden beam were nailed the lugs of 

 " vacabund men with nother stob nor staik " in the town.^ 



1. Burgh Court Books, 3], vii., 1576. 



