Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

VISIT OV KIKG JAMES TO DUMFRIES, 1002. cxliii
dispeacc. It \vris probably in revenge for tlio apprehension of Fraucio
Armstrong that this unruly clan made a "spoil" on the tenants of John-
stoue. This was in November ICOl, and in May follov.-ing tliere is chronicled
iu correspondence of the time "a rode upon the laird of Jolmstones lands
by tlie Armstrongs." 1 It \vas a gang of the .f\rmstrongs v,ho murdered
Sir John Carmichael, a former warden, on ] Cth June 1600. The Grahams
had reset the murderers. Sir James Johnstone apprehended the re-
setters. But they were rescued from him within the Euglish bounds, for
which the king complained to Qaeeu Elizabeth.^
These Border raids induced the king again to visit ]3umfries. While
there, from 2Sth February to 8th March 1602, he hound Lord Herries and
other Maxwells not to as.sist Lord ]\Iaxv.-ell ; and called for complaints
against the Jolmstones, Armstrong.s, and others. Lord Maxwell meanwhile
engaged in hostilities against the Johustones ; and with twenty armed men
he marched against William Johnstone, brother of William Johnstone of
Elscheschellis, and John Johnstone, brother of James Johnstone of Hislie-
bray. Proceeding to Dalfibble, in tlie parish of Kirkmichael, he drove
William Johnstone Y.'ithin liis liouse, set fire to it, and cruelly put him
to death when the fire compelled him to come out. He then went to the
house of Cuthliert Bratten in the same place, and with ecj^iial cruelty set it
on fire, and burned James Johnstone called of Briggs, who was within it.^
For the.se crimes Lord Maxwell, when called before the council on 3d IMarcli,
was only warded in Eenirew, in the house of Lord John Ilandlton, his
father-in-law, and prohibited to rejuiir to Nithsdale, Galloway, or /binaudale
without the king's licence.*
The king resolved to return to Dumfries in October, and he appointed
1 Letter, George Xicolson to Sir Roljert pp. 355-33S ; Tlie Book of Cirlavcrock, vol. i.
Cecill. Thorpe's Calendar, vol. ii. pp. 800, p. 305.
812.
* Letter, December 4, ICOl. Ihid. p. S05. * Dumfries, 3.1 March 1G02. KegiHer of
' Register of the Privy Council, vol. vi. the Privy CouDcil, vol. vi. p. 35C.