Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

Ixx.wiii sn; JOIIX JuIIMSTOXK, KXnntT, 1507-1587.
I'Cpvpssing tl'.efl .md crime on the boniprs. Tlie oIIil'Vs a]ipoavei1, bnt ^rovton
dill not, aiul Johubtoiie wns again appointed warden in his stuad.'
The ofllce on this occasion was inijiosed \vitli conditions, that tlic warden
should obey tlie instructions laid down in 1579 by Lord Hci-ries for the
government of tlie borders." Lut while tlie new warden was thus placed
uiKler regulations, his entrance on oflice was made as easy for him as
possible, as it was enacted that because of the iiicrease of crime in tlie
district since he had forurerly been warden, he was not to be bound to
give redress to any complainer until tlie king should give furtlier directions
as to redress. Anotiier couucil order slio'a s tliat, as on the previous occasion,
difficulties were thrown in Johnstone's vray by Maxwell and his dependants,
as tijey refused to pay the dues exigible by the vrarden, as custodier of tlie
castle of Lochmaben, while -IMaxwell delayed delivery of the necessaiy
official documents.^ It may be added that the ItuthA'cn government paid a
good deal of attention to the state of tl^e borders, several acts during tlieir
brief tenure of office being devoted to the subject. One of tliese ascribes
the chief cause " of the greit rebtdlioun and contempt " of tlie king and
warden on tlic v>-est marches to the "ressett of thift and mutuall dealing"
made between tlie thieves on the Scottish side and " thair nychtbouris
being of the like conditionis and rank duelland on the opposite anerchc,
common innymeis to baith the rcalmes." To provide a remedy, Johnstone
was specially empowered to consult witli tlie Euglisli warden at Carlisle
or Dumfries, under safe-conducts on botli sides, as to tlie means of re-
piressing crime. By another order the wardens of the Scottish marches were
reprimanded for leaving their jurisdictions, and absenting themselves on
private affairs, and were forbidden to do so without the ro}-al licence.*
' Register of tbe Privy Council, vol. iii. ' RegistfT of tlie Privy Council, vol. iii,
pp. 527, 52S, 531. pp. 500, 540.
' Ihlil. to!, iii. pp. 77-S2 ; Book of C;ir-
laverock, vol. ii, pp. 4S0-4S7. * Ibid. vol. iii. pi'. 500, o(J7, 50S.