The English Raids on Dumfries in 1570. 219 



The only notable exception, indeed, among the nobility was Sir 

 James Douglas, 7th Lord Drumlanrig, who at Langside had led 

 Moray's horse against Lord Herries, and who was a dependable 

 supporter of the King. Tlie country people naturally followed 

 their superiors, and the Burgh of Dumfries, as far as can be 

 estimated, was also influenced, in the earlier stages, at least, by 

 them. At anyrate, whatever opinions might be held by the more 

 humble inhabitants, the masterful Provost, Archibald M'Brair, 

 may be deemed to be of the Maxwell party. His mother was a 

 Margaret Maxwell, and although we cannot settle her descent 

 yet that she was one of the ennobled family is clear. By his will, 

 John M'Brair, Provost of Dumfries, who died in 1560, created the 

 Master of Maxwell, or his daughter, tutor of his son Archibald,^ 

 and, among others, Robert Maxwell of Cowhill, Archibald Heres, 

 John Maxwell of Hills, and Edward Maxwell in Drumcoltran 

 acted for the boy in his minority. ^ At our period Archibald was 

 a young man of 22, having been born at " Zoule," 1547. He had 

 married, in 1567, Agnes Grierson, sister of Roger Grierson of Lag. 

 He was Provost of Dumfries from 1568 until about 1583, occupy- 

 ing, by almost hereditary right, the otifice that had been filled by 

 at least five of his progenitors in succession, and to which his son 

 Robert attained after him. The family had held important 

 magisterial and priestly positions in the Burgh since, at the latest, 

 1384.3 I)- feued the Mill of Dumfries, which stood in" the Mill- 

 hole, and held the patronage of the Altar of Saint Nicholas in 

 St. Michael's Church. It held extensive properties within the 

 burgh, and the estates of Castledykes, Netherwood, and Lang- 

 holm, as well as their ancient properties of Almagill and Halyday- 

 hill in Dalton parish. With Archibald the family probably rose 

 to the height of its wealth and influence, for he appears to have 

 profited by the Reformation. Yet withal he came to a violent 

 end, for, having " maist creuellie and unmercifully murthourit " 



I the unarmed Archibald Newall, burgess of Dumfries, in April, 

 1587, he was executed at the Market Cross of Edinburgh in 

 January, 1587-8. 

 Such were some of the adherents of the Queen in the South- 



1. Burgh Court Book, 15, x., 1561. 



2. Op. cit., 15, X., 1561. 



3. Exchequer Rolls. Andrew M'Brair, bailie. 



