Report of the Meetings for 1892. 65 



also witness to a charter by Earl Patrick to the same monastery, 

 dated 11th January 1342.* In Robertson's Index of Scottish Charters, p. 

 20, mention is made of a charter granted in the reign of Robert I., 

 conveying to the Abbey of Dunfermline the customs of Duns, Kirkcaldy 

 and Musselburgh ; but there is no notice of such a gift in the chartulary 

 of that Abbey, and it is probable some clerical error has crept into the 

 entry. 



Fifteen years after the capture of Berwick by the Scots, Duns Park 

 saw another Scottish army mustered, under Sir Archibald Douglas, for 

 the relief of that town, which was then besieged by the English, but on 

 this occasion to sulfer disastrous defeat. The great leaders of the War 

 of Independence had passed away, and there was no Scotsman left 

 capable of restraining, or wisely directing, the impetuous valour of his 

 countrymen, which was recklessly thrown away at Halidon Hill. 

 Wyntonn, in his account of the movements of the Scots before the 

 battle, says,t 



Schyr Archebald than off Dowglas 



That Wardane than off Scotland was. 



Than gaddryd halyly all the men. 



That worthy war in Scotland then, 



Sowmyd sexty full thowsand. 



Wyth thame he passyd in Ingland, 



And dyde thare all the skath he mowcht : 



For wyth that herschype swa he thowcht, 



To ger thame set swa for thare cnntre, 



That that assege suld skalyd be : 



And swa it suld, I trow perfaj'. 



Gyve thai had haldyn furth thare way. 



Bot thai that in till Berwyk lay 

 Send till thame swne and can thame say 

 That thai mycht fecht, for thai war ma 

 And semyd fayrare folk alsua. 

 Thai trowyd to that ententyment : 

 Than to the Park of Dwns thai went. 

 And thare all that nycht thai lay, 

 And thowcht apon the morne at day 

 Wyth thare fais fell (to) have met, 

 And for the town surei helpe to set. 



Fra Dwns Park tyll Halydoun, 

 Quhare thai mycht welle se the town 

 Thare fayis als, and thare herbry 

 Thai saw thame to the fycht redy. 



* Ibid, p. 396. 



t Orygynale Cronykil of Scotland, Book viii.. Chapter xxvii. 

 J 



