Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

cxliv SIR JAMES JOIIXSTONE OF JOnNSTONK, KKIOHT, 1587-1G08.
the three wardens of the Jlarches to attend tlie council ou Stli September
to give an account of tlieir ijrocccdings. He concluded his visit to Dumfries
by committing to Johnstone the Iceeping of the place of Torthorwald, on
bond to deliver it when required, and not to reset James Douglas of
Torthorwald.' Soon afterwards the king \\rote from Edinburgh to John-
stone and the goodman of Hayning, blaming them for disorders witliin their
jurisdiction, and informing them of orders to the wardens opposite about
which he desired their co-operation.^ The co-operation referred to was
probably the keeping of a day of truce between him and the wardens ou the
opposite side of his march. In such truces the wardens ou the different sides
of the marches met, discussed and rectified their mutual grievances, granted
compensation for losses, and generally gave satisfaction for injuries inflicted
through raids and otherwise. Johnstone held a day of truce ou 7th IMay.
Several Border lairds who refused to attend afterwards appeared before the
privy council, and pleaded sickness and other reasons for their non-attendance.^
Stewart of Garlics and otheis who failed to ajipear were denounced I'cbels.*
The king, in October 1G02, returned to Dumfries, where the council sat as
a court of justice from 11th to 1 9 th October, and received many complaints
for adjudication. It is noticeable that none of these complaints were from
or against any one of the surname of Johnstone. The other business over-
taken by the council at Dumfries included a general bond against thieves,
murderers, and oppressors, which v.-as subscribed by the king, council, and
' Register of the Pri.y Coiiucil. vol. vi. •• 17t!i June 1602. Register of tlio I'rivy
p. y.^iS. Sir James -suliscribed the bniul p.t Couucil, vol. vi. j>. 395. A few months Liter
Lochwood on the 8th March before " K.ili- au act of council was i>as3ed, requiring the
ruidhous" anil " Carmichfcll." liege.s of the West March to keep dajs of
^ 31st March 1602. Thorpe's Calendar, " trev,'," under certain specified penalties,
vol. ii. p. SIO. which were a.ssij^ed to the wanlen to defray
• In the early part of the reign of King the e-vpenses of his office. [Ibid. pp. S"J9,
James the Fifth, " from the ferocious habits .S.'iO.] I"iV,'e letters of gift by the king to
of the Borderers, nothing could be more diffi- Sir James Johnstone, dated 2'ith October
cult than to enforce the observance of a 1002, Charter.? of this work, pp. 72, 73.
truce." Tytler, vol. iv. p. 141.