Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

JOHN JOITX.^TOXK UF JOHXSTOXK, 1.324-l.")t>7
rUIST J0!1_N".ST0.\E WaKIjEX OF WeST ]\lAUClIEg.
XII.—JOIIX JOHNSTOXE OF JoiIXSTOXE.
Eeizae.f.th Jaf.dixe, his FIF.ST WU'li.
XlCOLA DOT'GLAS (UkUMLAXKIO), UlS SECmND WiI'E.
1521-15C7.
CHAPTER FIKST.
His cai-iy life—Eorder fr.Mvs—Slajs " IMeikle Sjin Armistranc;''— Bonds with Lord iMav-
well—Imprisoned iu Duiubarton C;»stle—Battle of Solwaj-—Made warden of the AVcst
l>[arc!ips—Death of King Jawes the Fifth.
This Johnstone chief, Avho liehl the estates fov iiiore than forty ye;ir.'=,
appera'S prouiiuently as taking au active pttrt in Scotiish affair.?. Owing to the
greater fulness of record at the time, we can give his personal liistory with
more detrdl than lias been jiossible in regard to several of his predecessors.
He was born in the year 1507, as appears from the fact that he was a
Vv'ard of the ci-owu for four years after his fathcr'.s deatli ; but he is mentioned
in 1525 as a member of tlic king's council, showing that very soon after his
accession to the estates he was active in public affairs. The next notice of
liim is iu a private document, a bond by which he obliges himself to maintain
and assist Eobert Graham of Thornick, a neiglibour borderer, in till causes,
in return for manrent services.^
The Johnstoues were now become a very powerftil elan, and the friend-
siiip of their chief was much souglit after, while, on the other hand, he
was a formidable rival to Lord ilaxwell. Tliis latter fact led, in a later
generation, to a deadly feud between the two families, and even at this
early pciiod a jealou.sy had arisen on tlie part of Loid Maxwell, who had
' IGth Pecerahi.r 15-fi. Original Bund iji Annaiulale C'hai tor-chest.