Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

I'.ATXLE OF L\)CHMAB1:NSTAKE, 1448. xiii
;!i:d several generations of Lis fainily, proved luiavailing. The House of
Lords adjudged that the paternity of irailliew Johnstone had not been
]>roved, and tliat Sir Frederic Johnstone had not made out his cLiim.^
AVith this preliminary cxplauation as to 'th.e position claimed by the
Joimstones of Westorhall for this Adam Johnstorie of Johnstone through his
alleged son IMallbew, the ascertained facts of his history will iioav be related.
Adam Johnstone is designated of Johnstone in a safe-conduct to him in
1 413, as one of several hostages who went to England as securities for money
due liy tlie Princess Margaret Stewart, Countess of Archibtld, fourth Earl
uf Douglas. She borrov.-ed 500 merks from Sir John Piiilip, an English
knight, and tiic Jiostages, Y^dio v.'ere all gcullemen in GRllov.'ay and Annan-
d.ile, were to remain with him iu England until the monej' was paid.-
Adam Johnstone was at this time a feudal subject of the great liousc of
JJouglas, the Diike of Albany liaviiig conferred the lordship of Aunandale
upon Archibald, fourtli Earl of Douglas, iu the year 1409. How long Adam
Johnstone of Johnstone remained in England is not known; but, in
December 1419, he was a witness at Lochniaben to a charter by tliis Eaii of
Douglas of the lands of Grenaue in Kirkcudbright to Herbert Maxwell of
t'arlaverock.' He is also named in 14-11 as a witness to a charter by Jolni
Lockhart of Barr to his son Eobert, of llie lands of Earr and others in
Ayi-sliire; and on the same day Adam Johnstone witnessed a charter by
Alexander Lockhart of Lee to his son Alan, of tlie lands of Lee.*
In tlie A.sloan MS. before referred to, it is stated, under date 23d
October 1448, that " tlie lord of Johnstone was present at the battell of
Lochmabenstane," along ',vith many of his countrymen against the attack
by tlie Eugli.sh. An invading force of 6000 Englishmen led by young Percj'
and others had entered Scotland. They crossed the Solway and encamped
' Printed judgnieiit, 20th July 18S1. " The Boole of Carlavcroek, vol. ii. pp. 420,
- S.ife-conthict, 3