Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

Cvi S}R JAMKS .lOHNSTOXE OF JOHNSTONE, KNIGHT, 1587-lCOS.
Sii' Jolin Johiistono, described in the previous IMemoir, Sir Walter's ptatemeut
is not quite accurate. The destruction of Lochwood Tower in 1585 was no
doubt a great loss and annoyance to Sir John. But he did not, as might be
inferred from the statement of Sir AValter Scott, take to his bed and expire
of a broken heart. On the contrary, he survived for two ye.'irs, and it has
been shoM-u that he was not during that period laid aside by grief, but was
ver}' active in his poiition as a great Border chief.
Before proceeding to narrate the stirring and painful events in the history
of Sir James Johnstone, it is necessary to explain that this is not the first
time that the author of the present work has followed the fortunes, or rather
the fates and misfortunes of the jMaxwells and Jolinstones through their feuds.
The late Honourable Marmaduke Constable Maxwell of Terregles, brother of
the late "William, Lord Herries, commissioned the writer to prepare a history
of the families of ilaxwell and IToi-ries, which is embodied in "The Book of
Carlaverock," printed in the year 1873. "While writing that book, the whole
jMaxwcll and Herries charter muniments, then preserved in the charter-room
at TeiTeglos, were made available for the purpose. Xot only so, but through
the kindness and liberality of tlie late John James Hope Johnstone, Esquire
of Annandale, ready access was afforded to his Annandale charter-chests at
J^aehills. "With the muniments thus placed with such generous confidence at
the service of tiie author by the respective representatives of the two rival
chiefs, he was enabled to prepare the history of them recorded in " Tlie Book
of Carlaverock," which met the appioval at the time of the then representa-
tives of the honses of Maxwell and Johnstone.
Since the publication of " The Book of Carlaverock " little has tran-
spired to alter or aflect tlie story of the feuds as given from tlie I^Iaxwell
muniments, and the present ^Memoir, as far as it refers to the i\Iaxwells,
may be regarded as a second edition of the chapters in " The Book of
Carlaverock," in so far as they narrate the tragic results of the feuds.
About two years after the completion of the jMaxwell and Herries