Greyfriars' Convent of Dumfries. 305 



the bridge custom was converted into a feu to their tacksman, 

 John Johnston in Nunholm, As the Friars at this time were 

 feuing- out all their properties and rights, in view of the immi- 

 nent changes in religion, and as the burgh only received half 

 of the bridge custom by its charter from the Crown in 1569, 

 it seems quite clear that in 1557 only the half custom remained 

 in the possession of the Friars. 



To complete the story of this half, we may add that John 

 Johnston's son had his title to the half toll confirmed by the 

 Crown in 1591, and it was only in 1623 that his grand- 

 daughter, Marion Johnston or Kirkpatrick, sold her rights 

 to the burgh. 



In the earliest of the existing Burgh Court Records it 

 appears that the burgh of Dumfries was already in possession 

 of a bridge custom, and also that the burgh was responsible 

 for the upkeep of the bridge. 



22 October, 1522. — " The quhilk day matho layng is 

 maid burgess and suorn therto payand therfor x sh to the 

 brigwerk and fourty d to sanct mychaell werk bort [cautioner] 

 Edwd Jonstoun to pay betwix this and candelmess. 



The quhilk daye the Inqueist admittis herbert kellock to 

 ane akyr of the commone lands liand in the waitsloks^ the 

 quhilk was wmquhile Shir Walter m'geis of the quhilk the 

 said Shir Walter left the said herbert his kyndness^* the said 

 herbert payand to the brigwerk twa merks for entress and the 

 quhilk be this present act he is rentallit. 



The quhilk daye the Inqueist admittis Cristane m'gee 

 the spovse of wmquhile adam edgar to the kyndness of half ane 

 akyr of the commone lands in the waitslaks the quhilk was 

 wmquhile Shir Walter m'geis of the quhilk the said wmquhile 

 Shir Walter left hyr his kyndness and hyr bairns scho payand 

 to the brigwerk ane merk of entress and the quhilk be this 

 present act the said Cristaine is rentallit." 



The first of these entries shows to what funds the fees 

 payable on admission of a burgess were usually assigned ; to 

 the upkeep of the bridge and to St. Michael's Church. The 

 other two entries show the conditions under which the legatees 

 of an ecclesiastic who held some of the burgh lands were 

 admitted to their holdings by the Burgh. 



