170 Transactions. 
Lochmaben at this time with their demesne lands, profits of 
court, and tolls, were farmed out to three of the inhabitants. John 
Clerc, mentioned before as an Annan merchant, was one of the 
three farmers* of the town. John Deconson and William Taylor 
were his colleagues. ‘They drew its rents as best they could, and ~ 
paid over the sum yearly to the English chamberlain at Loch- 
maben. In 1374 £12 14s 4d was the half of the return from 
Annan and Lochmaben combined. But in 1376, whilst the half 
of Lochmaben yielded 53s 4d, the half of Annan gave only 7s, 
‘‘and no more,” says the account,t ‘because no tenant would 
hold it from the devastations of the Scots.” It is scarcely 
possible to regard those payments as a firma burge or fixed 
burghal rent. There may be doubts about their economic 
interpretation ; but the difficulty of collecting them shews 
explicitly enough that the Scots} were rapidly making Annandale 
too hot for its English garrison. 
Numerous efforts§ to reconcile the animosities between 
Cumberland and Annandale and induce fraternity had 
failed ; the Annandale men, despite the pressure put upon them, 
were Scots still. Edward III. was dying, and the firm grasp of 
his youth and prime had been relaxed even in the few fortresses 
which were remnants of a long extinguished hope of conquest in 
Scotland. His grandson, Richard II., let them go altogether. 
In 1385 Lochmaben Castle was wrested from the garrison|! which 
had held it so long. Ill-victualled and ill-manned it fell before 
the attack of Archibald the Grim. Annandale at last was free. 
A second great epoch, that of English occupancy, was over, and 
Annan shared in the completed emancipation. 
XV. Albany and Douglas (1482). 
During the 15th century the little town left small trace in 
history. In the war-storms of the previous hundred years, what 
wonder if the burgh had passed out of sight absolutely, as 
Roxburgh did? It is not until 1481 that there is again definite 
news. James IIf., scholarly and refined with a taste for art and 
*Bain’s Cal., iv., 223. 
+Bain’s Cal., iv., 231. 
tin 1479 Thomas Glencors, born at ‘‘ Anaunt,” was naturalised in 
London. Bains Cal., iv., 1465. 
§Rotult Scotaae, i., 414b, 661b, 71llb, 875ab, 887b, 888a, 924b, 95a, ~ 
956b, 965b. 
|| Wyntown, ix. ch. 5. 
