The English Raids on Dumfries in 1570. 237 



the Kings matie and len of his speceale grace tyme to hym and 

 his trew counsale to gyed and gouering this his realm in pece 

 justice and police that his legeis may be gouernyt vnder gud 

 ordor and obedience at gods plesor In tyme to cum so beit."^° 



As to the effect of the raid on the burgh itself a good deal 

 of information can be gathered from the Council records, which 

 are, happily, complete for this period. While, too frequently, 

 these detail at length insignificant quarrels, actions for debt and 

 transactions with property, yet occasionally we are brought inti- 

 mately into touch with the manners and character of the people. 

 In the extracts which follow are little touches that light up the 

 situation while the cases have an interest of their own in showing 

 how the Burgh fathers administered justice in the sixteenth 

 century. 



We have seen that more than one writer states that certain 

 houses were burned in the town. This receives confirmation 

 from the records. There was, of course, no reason for burning 

 the town down, for the Magistrates, although surrounded by 

 " potent lords " of the Catholic faith, h^d made the best of their 

 difficult position and clearly demonstrated their loyalty. This 

 suited the humane temper of Lord Sussex, and he, fortifying 

 himself before Elizabeth with admirable reasons, spared the 

 burgh. It might have been different had the vengeful Scrope 

 been present, but it seems clear that he was stationed at Carlisle 

 or elsewhere attending to the commissariot and the protection 

 of the Borders. ^1 



In the following instance, the burgh gave Herbert Cunning- 

 ham, the Town Clerk, "a burgess" because his property was 

 destroyed by "chance of army." 



Burgess 



William lanerik, merchant in Galloway, present in Jugement 

 is maid fre burgess and suorn therto frely gevin to harbert 

 cunyngham in price of ayd and help to him in consideration of 

 his hevy hurt of bwrning of his lugeng barnes and crop in an dom 

 Ixxo be chanche of army vsit be lord Sussocks."^^ 



50. Burgh Court Books, 5, x., 1570. 



51. State Papers, For. Ser., Sussex to Elizabeth, 29, viii., 

 1.570; Morton to Sussex, 9, iv., 1572. 



52. Burgh Court Books, 31, vii., 1571. 



