BiRGHs OK Ann.wdalk. (57 



historical comijliinents to the valour and steadfast loyahy of 

 the Burgh and Town of Annan, which he of new granted to 

 its burgesses and community as a free burgli for ever, made 

 no mention of the amount of the burglial ferme payable to the 

 Crown. When in ibi2 a confirmation charter^^ was given 

 by James \T. and I. there was inserted the following refer- 

 ence^^ to the sul)jcct : " In which charter and erection [i.e., 

 ^'^ ^5,^9]' tbrough the want of knowledge of those who 

 obtained it, no certain annual rent is fixed payable to us, but 

 only a reference is made to the old custom of payment, so 

 that it happens that said burgh and the inhabitants of the 

 same are uncertain what they were formerly accustomed to 

 pay before they obtained said charter of erection in respect 

 that the ancient evidents of said burgh were then by the 

 commotions and perturbations of the realm burnt and de- 

 stroyed as aforesaid." .Accordingly in the confirmation care 

 was taken to remove all difficulty, and the annual payment 

 was fixed to be 40 shillings, besides the wonted (but unde- 

 fined) burghal services. 



II.— BURGH OF LOCH.MABEN. 



I'uE Brus Castle. 



That the burghal foundations of Lochmaben rested upon 

 the Brus Castle is easily affirmed, although to establish the 

 particular occasion of the actual municipal erection may be 

 as trying a task as was found to exist in the case of .\nnan. 

 The two places considered as incorporations had so much in 

 common that the phenomena of each are liclpful towards the 



26 Duly enrolled, lieij. Moij. S'kj.. 1609-'2U. No. (3S7. 



27 In 1894 my friend Mr Macgregor Clialmeis. arcliitoot. 

 showed me for examination a parchment document belonging to 

 Mr .John Cumniing, of Glasgow. Greatly to my surprise and 

 pleasure, it proved to be the precept for the infeftment of the 

 provost, bailies, burges.ses, and community following upon the 

 confirmation of 161'2. directing " seisin of the said burgli of Annand 

 with all and sundry its lands, annual rents, fishings, and posses- 

 sions whatsoever," to be delivered forthwith in terms of the 

 chai'ter. 



