The Raid at Dumfries on Lammas Even. loi 



said Will to be cxpellit out of the touii failzeand therof that 

 he that settis h\ m ony houss to paye to the said Esbell Kayc 

 X ss and the said W'ilzeam to be put xxiiij houris in the 

 stokkis." 



It is possible that these two cases were not of the agjjra- 

 vated nature of bluidwyts, though the severity of the punish- 

 ments would indicate otherwise. It must be remembered 

 that the mag-istrates might easily try and inflict punishment 

 in such cases, being- careful only to avoid reference to blood 

 having been shed. For a definitely recorded case of blood- 

 wit we must pass on to 23rd October, 1533 : " Quo die the 

 inquest ordainis tliom m'bra\r to pa\ Johne howchaine for 

 the drawin of the said Johneis blude v ss of money wtin term 

 of law and the said thom is in amerciamet of the cort for the 

 s.unin, dwme gevin be \\'atte Govrlaw." 



We may note, without prejudice, that cases of serious 

 riot, assault, and e\ en murder within the burgh become \ ery 

 much more common after the Reformation. 



There was cause enough for the unsatisfactory dropping 

 of the case before the Lords of Council. Larger issues were 

 at stake and demanded their attention. Flodden, that dearly 

 won victory on behalf of France, totally altered the aspect of 

 affairs in Scotland. Directly, too, the case was affected by 

 Flodden, for among those slain about their iron-belted King 

 were Lord Maxwell and Lord Crichton,^! and on the follow- 

 ing da\ Sir William Douglas of Drumlanrig died " on the 

 field of war. "62 Nicholas M'Brair and John Fergusson of 

 C'raigdarroch^ also disappear about this time; we know not 

 if they too met their deaths on the same disastrous field. 



61 Based upon the English Floddon Gazette, where he appears 

 as " le contc de Lancar." 



62 Fifteenih lUp. Hist. MSS. Com., VUL, 14. 



65 "Thomas ftergnsson son and air to John ffeigussoii is Infeft 

 in Jerburgh, etc., Novr. 6, 1514, in the 3rd year of Pope ^eo X. 

 He obtained a Charter from Rob, Loid Crichton of Sanqr, Lord of 

 the Barronie of Crawfordton to Jerburgh. etc., pro .s»(.s uratitu- 

 (linibus bene mereti.s niihi m\tUi]>Hriter iniprr.i.'<is, dated May 14, 

 1508." (MS. History of Dumfriesshire, by Hev. Peter Kae of Kirk- 

 bride and Kirkcoimel.) 



