Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

HIS COMMLSSIOX TO HOLD BAILIAIIY COUXa'S AN^'ULLKU. CXIU
courts of jusliciary witliiii the stcwartry of Aiuiandale. T]iis complainL
wns takeu up Ly Jauies Joliustouc and Andrew Johnstone of IMungobank,
who complaiued to the council that Lord Maxwell, on the strength of a
letter of charge in liis favour by tlie king, dated 29tli September last, had
prohibited thcui from intruding into his offices, by holding courts, etc.
They alleged tliat the letter in question was directed against certain persons,
and that their names v/ere not in the body of the deed, but were added on
the margin. Johnstone also explained tliat he only kept such courts as the
king by his commission of Sth April 15SS commanded him to keep upon
his own lands and bniiiary. The lords, however, declared the cornraissioii of
Johnstone to be null. It will be seen that the king soon renewed the
commission to Johnstone of which the lords now deprived him.'
In the midst of tlie constant troubles and misunderstandings between
the j\Iaxwell3 and Johustones attempts were occasinnall}' made to settle all
questions between them. Apparently through tlie intervention of mutual
friends, a formal submission was entered into at Dumfries and Lochwood on
12th aud 13th March 1589-90, between JIaxwell and Johnstone, by M'hich
they agreed to submit their quarrels to Sir Eobert Slaxwell of Spotts and
other arbiters for Lord ]\Iaxwell, and Eobert Johnstone, parson of Loch-
maben, and others for Johnstone. The arbiters were appointed to meet at
Shiellhill House on the 17th instant, and to rive their decision by the 25th
with assurance against molestation on either side till that date.-
The only document which has been discovered in coimection with this
well-meant treaty of peace is the claim made by Johnstone against Maxwell
for the burning of Lochwood and other spoliations. The claim is very
distinct in its statement of the destructive raids referred to, and of the
consequent losses. Johnstone concludes by claiming 100,000 merks as
reparation. But no other step was taken in the submission."
1 Register of tlie I'rivy Council, vol. iv. pp. 44'2, -143, S:2C. ^ Orij;iL.T,l Submission
in Annandale CLaiter-chest. ' Claim, Cliaiters of this work, pp. 44, 45.
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