72 Burghs of Annandale. 



Yet it is perhaps more like the " kane of animals " which is 

 sometimes heard of in Celtic districts. When it began in 

 Annandale it would be hazardous to say ; the present writer 

 has seen no proof of it being levied before 1500. On the 

 constitutional side the importance is considerable of the asso- 

 ciation it illustrates of the castle with the parishes ; it shows 

 the same connection of castle, town, and rural district as was 

 earlier exhibited in the system of castle wards. 



After this rather digressive survey of the relation between 

 Lochmaben as the military centre and legal capital on the 

 one hand, and Annandale as the administrative district subject 

 to government from it on the other, we may now return to 

 follow the evolution of the corporate character under the 

 dynasties of Bruce and Stewart. 



Fluctuating Burghal Status. 



A. burgh owned by a baron undergoes a peculiar change 

 in its position when the baron becomes king. When Robert 

 the Bruce rose to the throne did he lift thereby Lochmaben 

 to royal status? No charter tells of special erection. May 

 not the elevation have been made automatically? Lochmaben 

 had a castle and had become the head of an administrative 

 district. When Bruce made himself master of his own again 

 he is found stipulating that the gilt spurs deliverable annually 

 as the blench rent for Mouswald are to be rendered " at our 

 manor of Lochmalban."^^ Baronial possession has grown 

 into royal. 



But then there comes into play the grant of Annandale 

 to Randolph, and all the doubts relative to the actual degree 

 of the town under the uncle are intensified by the further 

 doubt as to the effect of the charter to the nephew. Yet at 



occur in the records considerably earlier than do those of Annan- 

 dale, the first mention of which in the Exchequer Bolls (as above) 

 is in 1500-1501. Galloway in 1456 sent 37 marts (Exchequer Bolls, 

 vi., 201); in 1473 and afterwards 32 marts (ib., viii., 163, 217, 287); 

 in 1476 the number was 34 (ib.. viii., 345, 421); and in 1488 and 

 1489, 14 were from supra Cree and 20 from subtus Cree (ib., x., 31, 

 80). 



53 Berj. Mag. Sig., i., 18. 



