286 The English Raids on Dumfries in 1570. 



be destroyed, bot the old vylie fox made a way for himself. Bot 

 hell abydis, a just punishment for all sic practiseris.'"*^ 



It appears also that the Burgh of Dumfries took such 

 measures as it was able to secure immunity from the vengeance 

 of England. Its " band " and its aid to the Regent at Linlithgow 

 would stand it in good stead and it now sent a messenger 

 to the Regent for letters of assurance. It would without doubt 

 receive these, which would weigh heavily with Sussex's natural 

 inclination to mercy. The messenger was awarded in the 

 familiar manner with a " burgess, ' ' a practice which may require 

 a word of explanation. Out.siders were admitted to the privileges 

 of the burgh on payment of a fee, so much to the town, so 

 much to the "spice and wine," so much to the " Kirkmaister " 

 or the official who had charge of the upkeep of the church 

 fabric, varied sometimes with something to the " brigmaister ' ' 

 who had charge of the " brig-wark ' ' or the old bridge over the 

 Nith. When no money was in hand and a payment had to be 

 made the council ordained the new burgess to pay his fee or 

 " composition ' ' direct to the creditor. 



The qlk day William haliday chepman nythisdaill now in 

 cloisburn is maid fre burgess and suorn therto gevin to andro 

 cunyngham for the rist of his mony promisit to hym for his raid 

 and trawell to the castell of done for the regentts letters of 

 sourance the sowm vi libs payment xl d spice and vyne sourte 

 andro cunvngham thervpon judge onlaint act.^^ 



The Council of Dumfries, which in ordinary times met 

 almost everv day to perform its numerous functions, ditl not 

 convene during the English occupation. It met again on the 

 4th of September, but did little business that month. In the 

 beginning of October a new council, almost identical in com- 

 position with the old one, was formed and became active. Its 

 first act was to appoint a renewal of its allegiance to the King 

 by ordering prayers to be said for him in St. Michael's Church. 



" The qlk day the counsale foirmentionit decernis statuts 

 and ordains that all the Inhabitants of this burt mak dew and 

 devoitt prayers to god euer potent to preserve or Souerane lord 



48. Journal of our Transactions in Scotland, Edin., 1805. 

 p. 36. 



49. Burgh Court Books, 13, iii., 1571. 



