The Raid at Dumfriks on Lammas Even. hi 



was regarded by the burgesses of Dumfries prior to 150H. 

 After that date there is sufficient to show that great jealous\ 

 of his position was exhibited by the burgh authorities, who 

 were keen to resent any encroachment or fancied slight upon 

 their privileges. It is the historic conflict between burgh 

 and county. As illustrative of this spirit we may instance 

 the Act of the Town Council in 1536 which inflicted the 

 penalty of a year's expulsion from the burgh and its privi- 

 leges on any inhabitant who took a case^^ to the Sheriff 

 Court before he had been refused hearing by the burgh 

 authorities. ^2 



\'ery different from their attitude towards the Sherift" of 

 Dumfries was the manner in which the inhabitants of the 

 burgh regarded Lord MaxweU. The holder of this title was 

 held to be a friend, if not a co-partner, of the community. 



11 As a type of the cases which at the period we write of oanx' 

 before the Sheriff Court, we may cite one heard by Robert Loid 

 Creichton of Sanquhar in the Tolbooth of Dumfries on 21st May. 

 1500. Marioun Parijs " plenzeit on" George Scott dwelling in the 

 college of Linclowdan, Nichell Merk, Gilbert Capel or Keppal, 

 Thorn Scott in the Merwood, .Jok Leith younger, and Thorn Mak- 

 kyniman or M'Keyn, his accomphces, that they had come to her 

 liouse, she being at " goddis pece " and " masterfully reft and made 

 spoiiliatioun " of " viij scor of thraffis of ber and ats, the sovm - , 

 drawand iij chalder of neddisdaile met ; ix scor of creills of oldin 

 and wyne fewiH, drawand to ij merkis of silver ; ane feder bed w* 

 bowster and couerin which were had to lochmaben be the said 

 George and thar draw to ij pundis of siluer and v s. ; alswa ane 

 stand bed w* a feden burd qnhilkis the said George hes zit in his 

 houss w* vtheris diuerss gers." Marion could get " na justice of 

 him and his comphceis " for the lord provo.st of Linchiden was his 

 defender, and Scott dwelt within the provost's regality. She con- 

 sequently made a direct appeal to the Crown, which appears as late 

 as 8tli April, 1511, " herfor maist souerane lord the said marioun 

 besekis zor hienes of remeide of zour gude grace a.s scho that was yl! 

 downe to in land of pece And w* zo"" gracious ansuer heruppoun 

 maist humlie scho beseikis at the reuerence of god." The Crown 

 saw that justice was done, with, perhaps, more rigour than usual ; 

 for. in 1513, George Scott appealed to the Crown, and accused the 

 Sheriff of having comprised more goods than needful. (MS. Acta 

 Dom., 8th April, 1511, Vol. XXII., f. 150, and 16th April, 1518. 

 Vol. XXV., f. 4.) 



12 vide Appendix I. 



