Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

cii SIR JOHN JuUXSTuNK, KXKiUT, 15C7-15S7.
Buccleucli, in a iiociuinal encounter villi Sir AValtt-r Ker of Cessforil, on the
street of Edinliur^li in October 15'>2, Janet Pjetoun rode at the head of the
Scott eh\n to encourage them to rediess her liusbaud's death. Her superior
abilities induced the superstitious vulgar to believe tliat she possessed super-
natural knowledge. Tlio marriage contract between Sir John Johnstone and
IMargaret Scott is quoted in a crown charter, as of date at Xewark 7tli
August 15CS, but it was apparently post-nuptial, as she is said to be then
liis wife, and their son was born in 15G7.
j\Iargaret Scott, Lady Johnstone, or Lady Johnstone of Duuskellie, as the
wife of Sir John Jolinstone was variously styled, possessed th.e force of
character eonsi'icuous in her great border clan of Luccleuch.^ It was no
doubt with reference to tliis and the determined will which she uniformly
displayed, that Eobert Maxwell, in 15S5, at the burning of Loch wood, singled
lier out for the unfeeling taunt, already noticed in this memoir, t'lat lie
would give her light to set her silken hood by. She had a position at court.
Spottiswoode says that " Lady Johnston gaA^e attendance at court." "^ "When
she was there, it was through her that the ruling authority for the time
induced her husband to accept of tlie provostship of IJum fries in opposition
to Lord Maxwell.^ Tliere is further evidence given of her charactei', two
years later, in loSC, in an episode in which she figured prominently. In
November 1585, the banished lords, including Lord Hamilton, the Earl of
Angus, and others, v.ith the aid of Lord iMaxwell, effected a revolution,
and they were restored to royal favour and again placed at the liead
of affairs. They still continued in power a year afterwards when ]\fargaret
' AValter, first Lord Sci.>tt of Buccleucli, ivliich -vras strongly fortified and well gar-
the ncjiliew of Margaret Scott, Lady Jolin- risoncd, and breaking oiieu tlie jnison in
stone, was tlie boldest of the bold. It was he wUich William Armstrong of Kinmout was
who carried out tliegreatest of Borderexploits, confiiitd and in chains, carried him forthwith
the rescue of Kinmont Wiilie, which occa- out of the castle and across the border with-
sioned so much correspondence between the out the loss of a single life. [The Scotts of
sovereijjus of the two kingiloms, and is cele- Buccleucli, vol. i.
j p. JS2-200.]
brated in Border ballads. With only eighty - Spottiswoode's History, vol. ii. p. .325.
followers he entered the castle of Carlisle, ^ Ihid.