Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

MARGARET SCOTT, LADY JOIIXSTONE. cm
Scotl, "Laiiy Johustoue," evidently j)vcsuniing upon liev posilion ami
iiilluence at court, ventured to impugn tlicni to tlie king. Her atteuipt,
and what it led to, being of so'ne interest may Lc here narrated. On
•Itli OctoLer ]:38G a commission vas granted hy the privy council for
iip]i;olicndir,g Maigaret Scott, spouse of Sir John Johnstone of Duns-
kellio, wherever found, and presenting her before the council. She was
charged with '" making of lesiiigis and ti'lliiig ol' tliame,". which it was said
" may engenner discord betui.K the kingis majestie, his uobilitie and people."
l!uL Lady Jolinstone was not disposed to submit to be tried, and will'iiUy
absented hcrselC in order to prevent her husband presenting her to the council
for that purpose. To secure her apprehension, proclamation was made charg-
ing the lieges to cnnvocate with their arms when rci"|iured, and in the event
of lier passing to " lioussis or strenthis," they were to "assege the houssis, rais
fyre, and use all kynd of force and weirlyke ingyne that can bo had for
wynniug and recovery thairof." If her ladyship, or any of those assisting
her, were Inul or slain while being pursued, it v.as not to be imputed as a
crime to the agents, and they were to be exempted from trial therefor. A
niciulh later, or on iih November, the king en;itted a declaration vrluch
exiJains the otherwise mysterious charge which gave rise to this prosecution.
'I'lie declaration shews that Lady Johnstone had deputed Gavin Johnstone
to ih.diver a letter to his ^Majesty in which she advertised him that the liarl
of Angus and the l^ouglascs, suspecting from his dealings with Lord Hamil-
ton that he designed to introduce dissension among them ind so to wreck
them, resolved to adopt some remed}' and to venture all they had therein.
Siie craved a meeting with the king, wlien she would furnisli particulars of
what she stated. She also asked him to keep the matter secret, especially
fioin her liusband, adding, ''The Lord preserve his Majestic fronie all his
oj'pin fayis and fenzcit fricudis."^ It docs not appear that anything further
was done in the matter.
^ Register of I'rivy Comicil, vol. iv. pp lOS, 111, 1 r2.