Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

CXXX SIR JAMES JOnXSTOXE OF JCHIXSTOXR, KNIGHT, 1 587-1 G08.
tliat the pledges entered hy Sir James sliould not be quarrelled or accused for
any offences committed by the persons for whom they pledged before the feast
of Yule, but only for such as should be committed after that date. Two days
later, the king, with advice of his council, declared to Sir James and to Sir
Walter Scott of Branxholme, wiio had given bond concerning Sir James, botli
being present, that if- any of the branches of Johnstone, or others for whom
pledges were entered, committed " stouthreif, oppressioun, or blude," or con-
travened the conditions on wliich they were entered, the pledge or pledges of
th.e branch or branches so contravening should be imprisoned, and Sir James
and Sir "Walter should be required either to satisfy the injured or to enter
tlje offenders before the king and council, or before the justice, within fifteen
days after the requisition. If they failed to do so, the pledge or pledges
of th.e branch or branches so offending should be slain ; and Jolinstone and
Scott should be bound to enter other pledges of the same branches.^
These measures did not accomplish much, and it will be seen that tlie
West Jlarch remained as turbulent as ever.
In October 1595 a serious incident took place, which greatly embittered
the feud betvreeu the Jfaxwells and the Johnstones. William Maxwell, Lord
HerVies, acting as warden of the West Jlarches, in that month went to
Lockerbie v.-ith 300 men, and apprehended certain persons there. Colville,
in a letter to Eobert Bowes, asserts that Lord Hay [Ilerries], with Drumlaniig,
accompanied by nearly 2000 men, ran a foray in Annandale, and took away a
gi'eat booty of goc ds, which were restored.^ A party of Johnstones attacked
the warden, rescued the prisoners, and forced Lord Herries to retire with the
loss of nearly a score of liis men, dead or wounded. Sir John Maxwell of
Pollok was among the slain.^
Besides the statements of Colville there is other evidence tliat King James
' llcgister of the Privy Council, vol. v. i