Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

KE:>IST.S LOKD SCROI'K's IXVASION, 1570. Ixi.v
forced to tal;e refuge in Scotland, wliore it is not impiobalile tlicy were
sheltered by Johnstone.
These raids and rebclliuus provoked retaliation on the part of the English
government, and the Earl of Su.=.sex, in the following xVi^ril, laid \va.^te Teviot-
dale and the country of Lnecleuch, and Ker of I'evnjhirst. A similar
invasion of the west borders took place a (ew v.'ccks later under Lord
Scrope, who advanced to Dumfiies and destroyed the lands of Lord
llerrics and others. Jolinslone was also a sufferer by this raid, ^^hicll he
assisted in ie[ielliiig. It was the result of a suggestion by the }L!avl of
Jl^prton, addressed to the English ambassador Eandolph, that the Lords
}Ierries and ilaxwell, and Johnstone, who threatened to come to Edinburgh,
might be forced to stay at lionie, if they were tlireatened by Lord
Scroiie.' Lord Kenies in his Memoirs states tliat he and Johnstone effec-
tually resisted Scrope's inroad by opposing him with tlicir horsemen, while
the country people drove their cattle to the moors. Sero^ic it is said retired,
fearing distress in his army, but did a good deal of mischief in his retreat.^
The raid, however, was effectual in its desired result, which was to prevent
the souilieri! barons coming to the assistance of the Hamilton.?, whose
country v.'as then being laid waste by the Earl of Lennox, with an English
force under tlie leadership of the Marslial of Lerwick. Besides Lord Scrope's
invasion, the west borders of Scotland were in Augu.st L570 again subjected
to destruction by a force under tlic Earl of Sussex, which, however, was
.specially directed against the Maxwells rather than the Johnstones.^
These events may have influenced Johnstone in .seeking to make
terms witl\ the government, Lennox having been elected regent on the
12th July 1570. He also had some dispute with Lord Herries at this
' CalfU.lar of State Papers, Foreign, Mor- Queen of Scots. Abbotsford Club, lS:i6,
toil to llan.lolpl,, i:.5th April loTU ; Lord p. 1:17.
Scrope, 9Ui May 1570. 3 Diun.al of Oeourrents in ScotLiml, 1 jKJ-
- Historical .Mc:i:r.irs of the Reign of .Mary lolo, pp. ISl, 18-3.