316 Grevfriars' Convent of Dumfries. 



of feeling for the old faith that the magistrates feared violent 

 interference with their little deal? 



However that may be, the provost and council to legiti- 

 matise their action convened a meeting of the burghers on the 

 I St of November. Besides the provost and bailies there were 

 eighty-four persons present, the " pairtners " appearing in 

 full force. " Quhilks persones and ilk ane of thaim for thair 

 pairt hes consentit and be this consentts and assentts that 

 the quer of the frer kirk be sett and sauld for the commonvele 

 for the ralevyng of the dett of this hurt and radeimyng. of 

 the tolbuyth qlk vas sett for the expenses of the samyn \v^ 

 addition that it war roppit and the persones that vald geif 

 maist therfor to haif the samin vtherwais the persounis that 

 is acit therfor to haif the samin and geif ony persones qlk vald 

 geif mair therfor to haif it and thai dischargeit of the act heir- 

 vpon." 



The result of the rouping may be justly conceived, 

 although it is not recorded. No one could oppose a com- 

 bination of the wealthiest men in the burgh. 



The debt for which the Tolbooth was in wadset, which 

 has been dealt with elsewhere, ^^ was at least a respectable 

 reason for destroying the ancient sanctuary. But why did 

 the " pairtners " purchase it? The explanation may be 

 arrived at by reasonable conjecture. Lord Maxwell's house 

 was to be rebuilt on an extended scale after its destruction by 

 Sussex in 1570, and as confirmatory evidence that this was 

 the destination of the Friary it is well known that when the 

 New Church, the successor of the Maxwell's Castle, was taken 

 down in 1866, stones were found from an ecclesiastical build- 

 ing of the middle of the thirteenth century. The " pairtners " 

 bought for ;^i33 6s 8d Scots or ;£?i i 2s 2fd sterling that they 

 might sell to Lord Maxwell under the usual conditions — a 

 profit. 



"When half-gods go 

 The gods arrive." 



After the Friary Kirk had disappeared, the ground on 

 which it had stood was feued by the Burgh. We have no 

 record of the sale, but gather from an account of unpaid feu 

 duties34 the names of the individuals who bought it. Lord 



