Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

BONDS OF ASSURANCE, 1588. Cxi
witlistaiidiug quhntsumeuer our charges direct or to be direct iu the contraric."'
He also shortly after leaving Dumfries appointed him one of a numerous
commission to execute the laws against Jesuits and seminary priests.-
The common practice of giving niutnal bonds of assurance on the part of
one chief or landlord to another for the good behaviour of their respective
friends, tenants, and dependants is frequently illustrated in the life of this
chief. He botii received such assurances, and also gave them to others.^
Ou tlie same day on -which l-.e was retoured heir to his father, 27th August
158S, we find such an assurance made to him by James Douglas of Drum-
lanrig, evidently in return for oiio from him, and one of the first of several
which passed between them. It is dated at the IJoss.^
In the year 1589, apparently through some mistake of the legal autho-
rities. Sir 'James Johnstone was charged along witlr Alexander Jaidine,
younger of Apilgirth, as being ait and part in the slaughter of Alexander
Baillie of Littlegill and Itachel Baillie, liis daughter, and also of otlier two
persons connected with them, as well as burning the place of Littlegill and
the jMoit. These crimes were committed in the liiouths of February and July
previous. James Johnstone of AYestraw was also suspected and accused of
complicity in the murder. Tlic process against Sir James was deserted, it
appears, because t-he authorities felt that they were accusing a person totally
innocent. The laird of Wcslraw iled to Sir James Johnstone for concealment
' Letter, d iteil at Eiirlio, '22c3 October .ants in femls witU Lis neiglibour.=!, and e.'5[)e-
15SS, vol. ii. of tbis ^vorl: , \>. 12. cially with t!ie Maxwells. With a view to
, „_^, - , , . ,. . . c ,, •
r. prevent and hIso to remove tliose, assnrauces
2 2ith July loiiS, llegistor of tbe Trivy '
. , . , ,
,, ., .
,
„„,., T T were eiven and received 1 from time to time.
i.
Coimoil, vol. IV. p. 302. James Johnstone ° . . , -r.
, , ... . . ,,,, J ue liCi'istcr of the Privy Conncil for this
was placed upon a similar conninssion on olli ° •
•
i
,
•\r 1. 1 -.^r. /^/^ r-i • ) Af-i iieiiod IS iiow pi lotud, and it bristles with
'
March K)S9-90 [ibuL p. 4br>].
,
,
numerous references to these assurances,
2 During the twenty-one years James jJedges, and submissions of feuds to neutral
Johnstone owned the Johnstone estate and persoQS. To describe these iu eveiy case
flourished as a Border chief of considerable would require more space than can be given.
importance, he was often involved either Only where necessary w iU this be done.
directly or through his friends and depend- • Pp. 53, 04 of this volume.