240 The English Raids on Dumfries in 1570. 



clearly in favour of the defender, while in others the pursuer wins 

 hiis case. 



Dumfries had long been famous for the production of woollen 

 cloth. Hector Boece (1527) wrote: — "In Nidisdail is the toun 

 of Dunfreis quhair mony small and deligat quhites [white w^oollen 

 cloth] ar maid holdin in gret dainte to merchandis of uncouth 

 realmes." and Bishop Leslie (1578), a more reh'able witness, 

 confirms the statement : — " Heir is a toune nathir base nor of 

 simple digrie, to name Dunfrese, famous in fyne claith," while 

 James Brome, in his "Travels," a century later (1669) says 

 " it is notable no less for its ancient castle and manufacture of 

 cloth, then for the murther of John Cummins." According to 

 Defoe, the Union with England "in great measure suppressed " 

 this industry, " the EngUsh supplying them [woollen goods] 

 better and cheaper. "^^ 



It was not to be expected that the English soldiers would 

 depart without some samples of this esteemed commodity. They 

 seem to have taken the webs on the day of their departure. So 

 many cases came before the court that the Council made the 

 matter patent " to the counsale of Edinburt and ther assessors. "^^ 

 We content outselves with giving two cases. 



In the following William Irving, in Hoddom, sued Andrew 

 Heslop and Christian Reid for sixteen ells of cloth. The latter 

 stated that Andrew Neilson had ele\-en ells, for sale apparently, 

 and that the rest had been taken by the Enghsh. She had been 

 paid a " cupful " or crock of butter and three shillings. Neilson 

 admitted receiving the cloth, and was able to produce witnesses 

 proving that three great boards of cloth were taken from his 

 booth, and that his wife " nikit " and tried to get them back, but 

 the soldiers took all that was in the house. 



Irvyng. 



The quhilk day '\^'illiam Tr\-yng in hoddom persewit Andro 

 heslop & cristian reid for the vranguss wt haldin fra hym of xvi 

 ells of grav and quhit clavth deliuerit be hym to tham in symmer 

 last bypast qlk clayth the said cristiane confessit in jugement and 

 allegeit that Ando Neilson resauit ix ells of quhit and that at 



61. Tour through the whole Island of Great Britain, 1724. 



62. Burgh Court Books, 15, x., 1570. 



