180 Topography of Dumfries. 



exhaustion. As an index we may compare the valuations of 

 the ecclesiastical beneficies of Scotland in the year 1291 and 

 1366. At the earlier date they were estimated at about 

 ;^40,ooo ; at the later they were worth only ;£,'9400. Dumfries 

 changed hands during" the war several times. As early as 

 1286 Sir Robert Bruce, the Competitor, seized the castle, 

 .*' with fire and arms and banners displayed and against the 

 peace, expelled the forces of the queen [Margaret] who held 

 the same." In June, 1291, with the other twenty-two royal 

 castles, it was handed over by the Guardians of Scotland to 

 Edward I. as Lord Paramount, and by the latter to John 

 Balliol in November of the following year. In August, 1296, 

 after Balliol's resignation of the crown, the Castle again 

 passed to the hands of Edward. Blind Harry states that 

 Wallace completed the clearance of Scotland after Stirling 

 Bridge by a final fight at Cockpool after which he received 

 the people of Dumfries to his peace. From 1298 to 1306 

 the Castle was again in Edward's hands, and was recon- 

 structed and strengthened by him. Surrounded by a great 

 ditch and earthen rampart, it consisted of a double forti- 

 fication, separately fortified and garrisoned, the castle or 

 lower court and the peel or mote. Bruce, after killing 

 Comyn on the loth of February, 1306, captured the Castle, 

 but on 3rd March it was re-taken by Gilbert M'Dowall. 

 From then until 7th February, 13 13, the English remained 

 in occupation. Almost certainly it was finally reduced by 

 siege and starvation, Dugald M'Dowall, its governor, having 

 complained as early as the beginning of July, 1312, that the 

 Keeper of Stores at Carlisle had failed to supply him with 

 provisions, and that, as a result, many of his men had 

 deserted. ^3 fhe invasion of England by Edward Bruce was 

 in full swing in August, 13 12, and relief would be impossible. 

 " Surrendered " is the significant expression of the English 

 memorandist. Almost positively it was thereafter destroyed 

 by Bruce. Edward's policy in hostile country was similar 

 to that of William the Lion. He erected and strengthened 

 castles to overawe the districts. The campaigns of Bruce 

 are a long record of the capture by stratagem, force, or 

 starvation of these strengths, ending with Bannockburn, 



