Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

Ixxx SIK JOHN 0OHN.STONE, KNIGHT, loG7-15S7.
report. Tlieie was no ijimiediale result, ami op. the same day on v.liicli it
was considered we find Joliiistoue and others becoming sureties as on fornic-r
occasions f'.ir various borderers who had been in ward ar; pledges and were
now released.* lie also became surety for seveial TuiiibulLs and Scotts
that they would appear before the council and answer for slaugliter and
forcible seizing of lands.^ The I'elcase of the pledges referred to was thr,
result of an arrangement with the government in terms of an obligati')!! by a
number of Johnstones for whom tlie pledges were responsible. They declai'ed
that John Johnstone, their "cheif and maister," at their "special] desire and
fervent supplication," had f>ound liimself f.^r their common weal to the kir.g
and his lieutenant, and had pledged liis life, lands and hciitago, that they, and
every one of the surname, would be obedient to the laws. Ife iiad also faith-
fully promised to them to relieve tiieir pledges, then in the king's hand, and to
put them to liberty. In return they bind themselves and all their kin to assist
in searching fur and apjirchending any of their nundjer who should commit
any crime by which their master might incur liability, and to bring the culprit
to him to I'C punished as he thinks fit. Further, if tlie evil-doer cannot be
apprehended, they bind themselves to hum, hairy, and put liim out of the
country, and to satisfy the complainers.^
This bond ajipears to have been adhered to, and with good effect, if we may
judge from tlic fact thai during the next few months no charge against any
Johnstone occurs either in the records of the privy council or the justiciary
court. In August 1579 Lord Ilerries resigned the ofiice of warden; and as
Lord jMaxwell was at the time confined in Pdackness Castle, the chief of
Johnstone was appointed to tlie vacant post. The bounds assigned to him
were the west n.archcs of Scotland opposite England, and included the
districts of Eskdale, Ewesdale, AVauchopedale, Aunandale, Xithsdalc and
Galloway, up and down the Cree, and over these his commission gave him
* Register of Privy Council, vol. iii. p. S5. - Ihid. \,\k Sfi, S7.
' Obligation, dated orJ January 157S-9, in Annaudale Cliarter-chest.