Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

-. •" QrAP.KEL WITH JOJIN MAX^VK^-L, LOUD HERiaty, 15GG. liii
ri"\ieeii's ckinoiicy anJ (lie wra'deu's intercession iLan because of Johnstone's
own life and bygone deserts, lie was allowed, imtil the 1st,of January, to
consult M-ith his friends, but he \\as told that if ho did not take steps to
release himself and his sons from " tlie home " before the 1st of February, he
M-as to "lake for na uther favour hot to be repute, haldin, and pcrsewit as a
rebellious, wickit, and dissobedient persoun, and to be puneist thairfoir
accordinglie." As already stated, his being at "the home," as it was
technically called, %\as apparently o\\ing to his being in debt, and liable to
diligence at the instance of some creditor. From this condition the council
wished him to release hinsself, but either he failed to do as required oi' wislnj.l
to evade the greater piinishmeiit threatejied, as he and one of his sons were
inipj'isoned for debt, ajiparemly in Edinburgh. A few months latei-, however,
on 17th July 1565, a special mandate was signed by the queen for his liboa-
tioii, because his services were required on the West Marches. In obedience
to this mandate, he was, by proclamation at the cross of Edinburgh, released
from the process of horning against him, and the wand of peace delivered to
I'obert Johnstone, his son, in his name.^ It is probable that the ho.^tile atti-
tude of ilurray and some other nobles towards the queen's marriage may
have led to Johnstone's release. He next ajjpears on the 21st September 1505,
along with other gentlemen of his immediate neighbourhood, in a bond of
allegiance to the king and queen. They also bind themselves to obey the
J'^arl of r.othwell or any other warden, in resisting their ]\Iajestie!;' rebels or
an invasion from England, to which country ilurray had appealed f(jr aid.-
In the beginning of the following year, 15G6, Johnstone had a .serious
dispute with the Master of ilaxwell, better known as Lord Herrics,
then warden. The cause of quarrel i.s not clear, but it may have been
e.vcited if not aggravated by the cruel conduct of [Maxwell to one of
Johnstone's retainers, a noted thief, -ivlinm tlie warden liad captured, and
^ Original klUrs .-airl iiiciiengcr's exe.nition, ITtli July 1505, in Aia.aiulale Cluistir-cliest.
- licgi-stcr of I'rivy t'juncil, vol. i. ji. 37S.