Transactions. 161 
the story of Battlefield and Grichan’s Mire gathered from the 
folk-talk of last century by the writers of the Statestical Accounts 
corroborates in the essentials the tale of contemporary history, 
five hundred years before. The hattle of 1297 took place at 
Battlefield ; the engagement ended in the massacre of fugitives 
whose retreat was cut off in Grichan’s Mire, and the event was 
commemorated by the rude stone monument which stood so long 
upon the moor. And the three stones of Dornock Churchyard ? 
Do not the slain three hundred sleep below 4 
VIII. The first Burning (1298). 
Much damage was done to the district during the expedition, 
but 1t does not appear that the town was made to suffer. Per- 
haps the organised resistance of the inhabitants, although 
insufficient to repel the invasion and resulting in the disaster of 
Annan Moor, was yet enough to protect the town. Hight or nine 
weeks later, however, in the beginning of Lent, 1298, Clifford 
made a second raid, pillaged the town of Annan, and burnt it.* 
There was, says the Guisborough historian, “an immense 
conflagration which burnt our church.” Such then was Annan’s 
baptism of fire in the independence wars. 
Too soon the delusive aurora from Wallace’s victories vanished. 
Through defections in his own ranks, he was defeated at Falkirk 
—-never to lead the Scottish spears again. But Edward I. gained 
little by his victory, he was forced to retreat as soon as the battle 
was fought. In returning he passed down Annandale, leaving a 
garrison in Lochmaben Castle, and marching through Annan on 
his way. An old poet historian describes{ the road he took thus— 
To Bothvile, Glascowe, and to the towne of Are, 
And so to Lanarke, Loughmaben, and Anand there. 
IX. The Belfry (1299). 
It was with great difficulty that the English managed to hold 
Lochmaben during 1299. Constant attacks were made by a 
Scottish force sallying from its headquarters in Carlaverock 
Castle. It is evident from the facts at this time that Annan 
castle—if there had been and was still a castle—could have been 
a place of no strength. At this stage Robert the Bruce— 
* Hemingburgh, 146. 
tJohn Hardyng’s Chroniele (ed. 1812), p. 297. 
