Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

COMTI>; NATION OF Fi.L'DS WITH lOIUi MAXVVKM,. ]\xv
tlniugh at fin-it siylit they appear such as ai'O.-se in the oriliitavy course of
b'lnlor rule, tlicii- coiisequoiices were far-reaching, as it is at tliis time that tlie
bad feeling wliich had formerly existed between the chiefs and clans of John-
stone and Maxwell again began to show itself, to end, as will be s.icu, in bloody
tragedies to both families. The beginnings of the fend at this time arose ont
of the sympathy with marauders of certain Johnstones who were " fylit " or
accused for resetting fugitives from the English side of. ihe border. "Where
accusations were nuide against parlies on either side of the border, it was cu.s-
lomary for the English and Scottish wardens to meet on appointed days
called "days of trew " or truce, and decide the cases, either punishing the
olTonders or balancing the ofl'euces so as to secure justice to either nation.
On these days the offenders accused were bound to appear, or their cluefs
weic responsible, and if the latter failed to produce the culprits, the wardens
or tlie government were held accountable for compensation. Johnstone
had been requiivd by Juli!!, Lord ]^Iaxvi-ell, then v\-arLleii of the west
marches, to produce certain* Joliustones to answer to the charges against
them, arid so relieve the warden and the king of their respousibiliiies. John-
stone, however, in defiance of tlie well-known laws of the marches, had failed
in this duty, and Maxwell complained to the privy council of that, and^also
of tlie disobedience and non-compearance of Johnstone's friends and servants
before the king's courts of the stcvi-artry of Annandale.
Th''- privy council decided again.st Johnstone u})on both counts, declaring
that he ought to eiuer accused persons on tlie " days of trew," and also to
attend the stewartry courts, while they ordered Lord ]\raxwell to give safe-
con