Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

cxlvi SIR JAMKS JOHX.STOXE OF JOHNSTONE, KNIGHT, 1587-1608.
In connection with the baptism of Sir James Johnstone's sou, wliich
occurred this year, a rohhery took ]ilace of a Icind said to be then unprece-
dented. The circumstances were these :—The laird of Giaitney having
obtained licence from Mr. Phenick, keeper of Tynedale, to hunt in Tynedale,
sent liis three sons, with eight or nine sei"vants, to hunt for venison for the
banquet which was made by his chief, Sir James Jolmstone, at the baptism
of his son. When Graitnoy and his friends were enjoying the sport in Tyne-
dale, Thomas Turnbull, younger of JMynto, Hector Turnbull of Barnhill, and
Mark Turnbull of Eewlie, then passing into England for plunder, stole
from the Graitncy party five horses, with their carriage of bedding and
victual, worth £2'40. The council, before whom the matter was brought,
decided against the aggressors for three horses at £10 each.^
There is nothing further calling for notice in tlie life of Sir James John-
stone until January 1605, when he was amerced in 1000 merks as cautioner
for John Armstrong of Langholm. So far back as tlie year 15S1, Armstrong
had seized the castle or tower of Langholm, raised fire, burnt the pleni.shing
of the tou'cr, and committed other depredations. The furniture in the castle
belonged to Herbert Jfaxwell of Cavens, who having sued for redress, i\rm-
strong was denounced rebel and put to the horn, and Johnstone as his
cautioner was fined as above. The fining of Sir James as cautioner for Arm-
strong at the instance of ]\faxv."ell of Cavens, after such a lapse of time, was
calculated to add fuel to the feud between liim and the Maxwells.^ In 1005
also, the keeping of Lochmaben castle, which had been held by Johnstone,
was given to Sir "William Cranstoun, apparent of that ilk, deputy lieutenant
of the Borders.^ Sir James, who in March appears to have been warded
in his liouse in Edinburgli for a short time, was in the same month set at
liberty.^
1 Jedburgh, 31st October 1G02. Register ' 3lst J.iniiary 1C05. Register of the
of the Privy Council, vol. vi. p. 476. Privy Council, vol. vii. p. 20.
- 11th Jauuary 160.5. Pitcairu's ^Crimiu.-il * March 1605. Charters of this work,
Trials, vol. ii. p. 451. p. 70,