Burghs ok Ann.wdai.e. T)? 



30th October, 1914. 



Chairman — G. Macleod Stewart, V.P. 



Burghs of Annandale : Annan and Lochmaben — 

 their Burghal Origins.* 



By George Neii.son, LL.D. 

 I.— BURGH OF ANNAN. 



The Mote and the Town. 



Annan of old had a.s stirring- experiences as any town in 

 the kingdom — a career dignified by connection with one of 

 the greatest of the great Norman famiUes accompanying 

 David I., a municipal story tinged with romance by legend 

 of Irish saint, a situation endowed with the early military 

 importance due to a national outpost near a hostile border, 

 and a community fated by the fortune of war to a renown for 

 sturdy lovaltv which cost much suffering to earn and sustain. 

 The little town whose church belfry was made a guard-room 

 by the troops of Edward I., and whose fortified steeple was 

 battered down by the artillery of Protector Somerset in 1547, 

 had sword and fire amply enough in its annals before the 

 L'nion came, when his sovereign majesty James \'l. and I. 

 benignly gave over its fortress for pious uses to the inhabi- 

 tants — " grantit and disponit to the said towne and parochin 

 the hous callit ye castell of Annand, the hall and towre 

 thairof, to serve for ane kirk."^ Annan emphatically had a 

 history : it may even be that an examination of its beginnings 



fries, January 12th. 1794. I return you your commonplace book," 

 etc. Printed, op. cit., vol. vi., p. 116. (2) "Long Letter, 29th 

 January, 1796. Printed, turn, cit., p. 179. Containing verses — 

 (a) "Their Groves o' sweet myrtle let foreign lands reckon." (b) 

 "My Chloris, mark how green the groves." (c) "Long, Long the 

 night." (d) " Canst thou leave me thus, my Katie!" 



* This contribution is reprinted, by favour of the Editor, from 

 the Dumfries and (Uillnway Standard, 26th July, 16tli August, 

 and 11th and 18th October, 1899. 



1 Acts Pari. Scot., anno 1609, ch. 24. 



