Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

cxiv SIR JAMES .TOJIXSTONF, OF JOHNSTOXE, RXIGHT, 1587-1 COS.
The Diarriagc festivities of King James and Queeu Aunu celebrated in
Deuiiiark were resumed at Holy rood in connection Nvitli the coronation of
the Queen on 17th iMay lafO. In honour of the event a number of
knights were made by the king. Among these "was Sir James Johnstone
of Johnstone and ]')unsk'ellie, kniglit. At tlie same time, or wiihin a few
weeks after, the king renewed tlie grant of justiciary in favour of Sir James,
which had been disallowed by the privy council. The grant bears date at
ITolyrood House, lOih June ir>DO: and it nial:es Sir James Johnstone of
Dunskellie, knight, justiciary and bailie, with power to hold courts of jus-
ticiary and bailiary in the bounds of Annandale and Xithsdale over all
pei-sons of the surname of Johnstone, their kin and tenants, on all lands
belonging to Sir James, and e.xpres.sly freeing them from appearing in any
of the courts of the steward of Annandale, by reason of the deadly feud
existing between the steward and Sir James.^ •
The abortive atteuipfc in 1500 to reconcile ]*.Iaxwell and Johnstone did
no', improve matlers between tlie rivals, and in IMay of the following year
Sir James Johnstone had to invoke the aid of tiie civil power in order to
avert war between the two combatants. He represented to the privy council
that, notwithstanding an assurance between him and Maxwell, the latter had
obtained coramissio):s and letters of caption against Johnstone's friends for
apprehending them, and for raising fire, etc. Johnstone represented that such
commissions should not be intrusted to Maxwell in respect of the feud be-
tvreen them, and a Ided that if ilaxwell invaded him in his bovmds, lie would
arm himself and his friends for their own defence. Tliis representation pro-
duced the desired effect, as the coinrnissions and captions were suspended.-
A year later still another treaty of peace v.'as made between Maxwell
and Johnstone. It is dated 5th April 1"'?2. In it Sir James is styled the
noble lord's "dear cousing and afline," the two parties and their friends agree
' loth Jane 1590, Charters of this woik, i>p. r.."-, oO.
- 2ist M,iy 1501, Kegijter of the I'livy Council, vol. iv. ji. C'J3.