Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

xcil SIR JOHN JOHNSTONE, KNIGHT, l.J07-ir>87.
iii.'ivclied agaiii.^t the insurgents, v'no, lio\'. ever, did not await tlie onset,
but made tlioir way SMutluvards, passing into ]ilngland. Jolinstonc joined
the royal forces with liis troop, and wlicn the lliglit of the I'ebel lords
vas reported, he and his men were dismissed lioniewards. On tlieir way
southward, when not far from Lanark, they were descried by the rebel force,
who, seeing the small troop of horsemen approaching, despatched a company
to see wlio they were. Tlie leader was Arcliibald Douglas, sometiTiie con-
stable of the castle of Edinburgh, who, finding tliat Johnstone was there,
submitted as to a clansiiiau, fearing no evil.^ IJut Jolmstone, fearing that if
he allowed his prisoner to escape, it might bring liim into disfavour at court,
leturned to Ediiiburgli, delivered his caj);i\'e there, and gave inforniation as
to the iiiovenients of tlie rebel lords. It is .surmised that Johnstone did this
under tlie belief that Douglas would only be placed in ward, l>ut the court
was so bitter against the rebels, while Arran desired to mahe Johnstone
unacceptable to Angus, and draw liim to his own faction, that Johnstone was
thanked for his service, bat Douglas was hanged.-
This activity brought Johnstone into favourable notice at court, and he
was raised to the rank of kniglitliood, as Sir John Johnstone of .Duirskellie,
which was part of his lands iu the parish of Kirkpatrick-Fleming in
Anuaiidalc. He received also a giant, to himself and liis wife, of the lands
of east and west " Mont Berrigers " or Montbcngers, and Catslack, in the
county of Selkirk. These had formed part of the forfeited estate of the
Earl of Angus, and were conferred for Julmstone's services.* Johnstone's
promotion, however, led the Earl of Arran, who was then at the height of
liis power, to use him as an instrument of annoyance to John jMaxwell,
Earl of Morton, who had incurred the resentment of the favourite. AYith
tliis view Arran prevailed upon Margaret Scott, Lady Johnstone, then at
' Johnstone aad Arcliibald, Eavl of Angus, secondly of David Douglas of Cockburnspath.
head of the Douglases, were sous of the same - Caldeiwood"s History, vol. iv. jip. 33, 35.
mother, Jlargarct Hamilton, wife, first of ' Original charter, dated 8th September
Jauies Johnstone, younger of tliat Ilk, aud 15S4, in Annaui'.alc Charter-chest.