Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

ATTACK OX KIi'HAIM) MAXWKI.lAs THOur, 15SG. ci
lioiili'iLTj, and liad IcilleJ a uumbei'. rmllic-r cliar^os were made of barbarous
trcatiiieiit of tlie slain, killing of prisoners, and despoiling others of " tliair
claytliis, armonr and pnrssis, extending in vala aboiie I'yve thousand nierkis."
The captain of the troop, L'ichard il ax well, was seriously wounded and
was takeu captive and detained a prisoner in the house of Andrew Johnstone
ofTundergarth. To that house it was alleged Sir John Johnstone himself
h:id come, with his son, and a force of six hundred men, and seized the
unfortunate captain, threw hira across a work-horse, and carried him off to
IJie house of Bonshaw. Tliere he was still detained, and the complainants
averred that Johnstone and his men would not allow him to luae a surgeon,
while they Iiad plundered the one mIio formerly attended him. Sir
Juhn Johnstone and others were summoned to ajipcar to answer to these
accusations, but failed to do so and \vcre declared rebels.
A few months later, John Charteris of Aniistield, acting for himself and
"William, Lord Henies, consented to llie liberati'in of certain persons, applica-
tion for which was made hy Sir John Johnstone.- The latter, during the
months between July and Xovember 15SG, was freq^uently called upon by
the privy council, along with Lord ]\ra>:well and others, to answer for flie
bre:d;iug of " assurances " amongst them.* The latest mention of Sir John
Joljusfonc in any public record is on 2ud Xovember loSG, and he died,
ateording to the evidence of his son's retour as heir to the lands, on 5tli
June loS7, a year later than is usually stated.*
Sir John Johnstone married I\f:ugaret Scott, daughter of Sir "William
Scott, younger, of Euccleuch, by his wife Gri?el, second daughter of John
]5etoun of Criech. Grizel was sister of Janet Iletoun, who figures in " The
Lay of the Last Jlinstrel." After the slaughter of Sir AV alter Scott of
' Register of Privy Council, vol. iv. pp. 55- ^ Kegii^ter of Trivy Council, vol. iv. pp. SO,
57. 109, 110. SIS.
' Consent, datecl Sth July 15SG, in Annan- * Annainl.ile I'cerage, Minutes of Esidtuce,
ilaW tli.irttr-thtst. ISSO, p. 975.
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