216 FiELD MEETINGS. 
and some of the ‘‘ assured Scots.’’ ‘‘ Upon the field near 
Dusdere,’’ says the record, though the pass of Auldgirth 
fits the description exactly, ‘‘ hoising a black pensill ”’ 
66 
(pennant), these turncoat Scots 
lish horse and foot, enemies appeared on all the surrounding 
hills, and compelled our horse ’’ (writes Wharton) “‘ to take 
to the mountains and find some other passage to rejoin us.”’ 
The only road which suggests itself is the *‘ lime ’’ road 
across Gawain Moor and down the Pennyland road. ‘“ And 
did rejoin the foot who stood firm though the enemy came 
within 1000 yards of them. For, making towards the place 
where the Earl of Lennox and Lord Wharton were coming 
forward with the footmen near to the old castell of Dauswin- 
ton, sometime the house of the Cumins, they bruited it abroad 
that the English horsemen were quite overthrown.”’ 
Joined by the cavalry, the English made short work of 
the Scots, caught in the rear perhaps, drove them into the 
Nith, and above 500 were slain and drowned. Another 
account says, ‘‘ 4oo killed, besides sundrie drowned.’* There 
is a reported graveyard between the stables and the present 
village which may give some clue to the place of the conflict. 
thrust in between the Eng- 
o>) 
I shall now retrace my steps and endeavour to give a 
summary of the various families who possessed Dalswinton. 
As I have said, the records do not explain how the Comyns 
came into possession. Tradition says that the early owners 
were the Thanes of Galloway, who would be Alan, Lord of 
_ Galloway, or Thomas, his brother, Earl of Athole, both sons 
of Roland, son of Uchtred, son of Fergus, Lord of Galloway. 
Riddell of Glenriddell thought Devorguilla owned it. She 
was a daughter of Alan. On the other hand, the oldest or 
one of the oldest charters belonging to Dumfriesshire gives 
to Bruce in 1124 Annandale “‘ up to the march of Dunegal 
de Stranid.’”’ Now earliest Dalswinton seems to have ex- 
tended to the natural boundaries, the watershed and Lochar 
Moss. We know the date when Carnsalloch and Dursquhen 
were wadset off it to dower a daughter of Dalswinton to a 
Maxwell of Caerlaverock in the end of the 14th century. Also 
when Dalswinton was given by Bruce to the Stewarts and 
