214 FIELD MEETINGS. 
ing upon the history of Kirkmahoe, will communicate with 
him at his address. | 
The present mansion has nothing to suggest antiquity, 
having been originally built by Patrick Miller, shortly after 
he entered into possession in 1785. The castle upon the same 
site was probably in existence in 1250, the year in which John 
Comyn gave the Monks of Melrose a new passage to their 
lands and grange across the Nith at Friars’ Carse. Who 
possessed the barony before John Comyn is unknown, but a 
survey of the position from a military point of view gives 
ground for believing that, in any age, the site was an ideal 
one, and especially so in times when natural strength was 
of the first importance. On the S.-W. the Nith was a fairly 
secure barrier against the wild Galloway Celts, and one of 
its branches might flow along the base. On the S. and E. the 
water was continued in the marsh which Patrick Miller con- 
verted into a loch, and though undefended on the N.-W. in 
the immediate vicinity, the range of hills and the narrow pass 
at Auldgirth secured to the Castle an area of rich land 
sufficient to maintain a garrison. Perhaps the oldest habita- 
tion would be a lake-dwelling upon the marsh, and certainly 
when the loch was cleared out some 70 years ago quantities 
of oak and grains of wheat and barley were found at the 
bottom. 
The enclosure between the castle and the Auldgirth pass 
has been the scene of three military incursions. In the first 
Wallace, chasing the English from Sanquhar Castle, overtook 
them near Comyn’s castle of Dalswinton, and routed them in 
Dalswinton Forest. In the second, Edward III. of England, 
with his invading host and his secretariat, camped somewhere 
on the slope upon which the castle looked, and dated from the 
““ Forest of Dalswinton, 11th July, 1335,’’ the grant of an 
honour conferred upon that Wm. de Montague, who, two 
years later, was created ist Earl of Salisbury. Edward was 
perhaps not altogether satisfied with the performance of his 
custodian, David de Strathbogle, Earl of Athole. Seven 
weeks later, however, he gave explanations which were 
accepted by his English sovereign, and three months later 
