BiRCHs (M- Annandalk. 65 



the late Lyon King" of Arms, Dr. George Burnett,^* speaking 

 of Lochmaben, designated the transfer as "a somewhat 

 questionable exercise of prerogative." In the war of inde- 

 pendence the superior value of Lochmaben in respect of 

 military position was quickly realised. The injuries inflicted 

 upon the sister town of .Annan by the English invasions at 

 the close of the 13th century were probably hard to repair. 

 Lochmaben suffered too, but being — alike whether the castle 

 was in English or Scottish hands — a chief military centre of 

 the south-west, it had as a town some enduring advantages 

 over Annan, chequered, of course, by greater frontier risks 

 throughout the fourteenth century. 



Yet one more complexity is fetched into the inquiry by 

 the fact that Bruce was not in real possession of Annandale 

 for a good many years after his first bold stroke for the 

 throne. Edward L, having heard of the death of Comyn, 

 lost no time in granting to Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of 

 Hereford, all the lands of Bruce in Annandale, as well as the 

 castle of Lochmaben,^'' escheat because of the murder. 

 Annandale appears to have still been in English hands until 

 almost the eve of Bannockburn.^^ The titular English lord- 

 ship of the valley was not forgotten by the De Bohuns during 

 the ascendancy of Bruce, and the claim to it re-emerged when 

 once more the English came into possession in Edward 

 Balliol's time,^^ a possession which lasted until the final expul- 

 sion of the invaders in 1384. There were thus three periods 

 subjecting both Annan and Lochmaben to alternating con- 

 ditions — (i) from 1306 to 1314, (2) from 1314 until 1332, and 

 (^) from 1332 until 1384. In the first there is no record of 

 the burghal or other status of either .Annan or Lochmaben ; 

 in the second, though the Earl of Moray's " cocket " or 

 burghal seal of Lochmaben can be adduced, there is no cor- 

 responding evidence for .Annan ; in the third, while .Annan 



16 Exch. linlls, vol. i., pref. Ixxxi. 



17 Bain's Col., ii.. 17.56. 



18 Bain'.s CaL, iii., 226, 336. 



19 liotiili Srotioe. i., 280. etc.; Bain's Cal.. iii.. 1101. 



