Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

RESPITE FOR THE DKATH OF LORl) >rAXWEI.L, 1594. cxxix
The eftorls of Johnstone nt reconciliation were not at this time successful,
as his proposals were not favoured by the JMaxwells. He next endeavoured
to make peace with the govenniient. "While parliament was sitting, during
the month of June, he employed several courtiers to "travel" iu the
matter. Sir James himself and Johnstone of AYestcrhall were at the time
secretly within five )niles of Edinburgh, waiting the result of the negotiations.
Lord Hamilton, having heard of Johnstone's presence iu the suburbs, received
a commission to apprehend hini. But before it was subscribed. Sir JoIdi
Carmichael, captain of the guard, sent In's page in haste upon one of the
king's horses to give him timely warning.^ The endeavours of Sir James
and his frieuds ultimately prevailed ; and towards tlie close of the year,
and fully twelve mouths after the battle of iJryfesauds, the king out of his
special grace, favour, and mercy granted him a respite for art and part in the
treasonable slaughter of the late Lord Maxwell, and others, on Gth December
3 593, as well as for other crimes mentioned therein.-
The remission now obtained by Sir James from the king, while it could
not fail to be satisfactory to him, did not allay either the troubles on the
Borders or the feuds between the Johnstones and Maxwells. Previous to the
remission disorder was very prevalent. In a list of " wickitthevis, oppressoris,
and pece brekaris and resettaris of thift," which was presented to parliament
iu June 1594, the surname of Johnstone is placed alongside that of many
others, including tlie Armstrongs, Elliots, Nixons, Grahames, Irviues, Jardincs,
Bells, etc. Parliament enacted that a roll should be mace and pledges re-
quired of those whose names appeared iu it. Tliis order of parliament was
now put into execution.^ On the 9th January 1595 the privy couucil ordered
' C.ilderwood's History, vol. v. p. 33G. are included iu it, lliere being in all one
' The i>recept for the respite is w-itliout hundred and sixty persons n.inied. [Reg.
d.ite, but it is subscribed by the king and Sir Sec. Sig. vol. Ixvii. fol. 43 ; Book of Carlave-
Robert Melvill, liis treasurer [C'harters of this rock, vol. ii. pp. 497-400 ; Annandale Peerage,
Work, p. 62]. Therespiteitsulf, which was for Minutes of Evidence, 1S77, pp. L'S), 2S2.]
fire years, is dated at Holyrood-housc, 24th ^ The Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland,
December 1594. Many of Johnstone's frieuds vol. iv. jip. 71, 72.
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