Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

THE council's LETTER '10 T}IF. KINO, 1C13. clvii
Maicstie in tliair names, vliaiiby thai ciavcd justice to be execute vpoun the for-
feyted Lord Maxwell for the slauchter of the laite laird of Jolmnstonn. Thay
come all to this burgh and the laird of Johnnstoiin with his moder and tutour
preseutit thame selflls before \vs, and declairit that thay wald insist in that persnte
and prosequutioun of that mater according to the tennour of thair petitiouu. The
aiild Lady Johnustoun, through seiknes and inhabilitec of hir persone being vnable
to compeir before ws, liaueing with grite difhcultie come to this burgh for this
same errand, we directit and send the Bishop of Caithnes, the Lord Kildrymniie,
and lord preuey seale to hir to vnderstand hir will and pleasoure in this mater
vnto cjuhome scho declairit that scho come heir purposelie for that mater, and that
scho wald insist, accoirdiug to the tennour of the petitioun ; sua that now thair
restis no farder bot youre iNLiiesleis will and pleasoure to be. declairit cjuhatfovder
youre Maiestie will haif to be done ; wherein althoght the conclusione of youre
Maiesteis letter boiris that we sould proceid to the administratiouu of iustice,
yitt in respect of a worde cassin in the preface of the lettre, beiring that your
Jlaiestie had not as yitt gevin a direct ansuer to thair petitioun, we haif presomed
first to acquent your Maiestie afoir we proceid ony fordcr ; and whateuir it sail
pleis your i\Liiestie to direct in this mater salbe immediatlie and without delay
execute. Thair was a petitioun gevin in this day vnto ws be Eobert Maxwell,
bruthir to the said laite lord, with some ofl'eris to the pairtie ; bot, becaus the
mater concernit not ws, we wald not mell thairin; alwyse, \\e haif heirwith send
the same to youre Maiestie, to be considdcrit of as your ^laiestie sail think goode.
So praying God to blisse your ]\Iaiestie with all liappynes and felicitie, Ave rest,
your Jlaiesteis maist obedant subicctis aiid sernitouris.'''
From the above letter it will be seen that the friends of Lord Maxwell,
aware of his danger, exerted themselves to save him bj' making a series of
offers to the Johnstone family on his behalf. These, for the greater effect,
they desired to h(. presented by certain miuisters of Edinburgh and some
bishop.s. The ministers, bishops, and other persons of quality in town whom
they asked, declined to do so without warrant of the council. Eobert Max-
well, Lord Maxv/ell's brother, petitioned the council to direct some Edinburgh
ministeis to make the presentation, and to inform the king that his brother
was willing to satisfy the offended parties—the jNLarquis of Hamilton and
' Pitcaiin's Criminal Trials, vol. iii. pp. 50, 51.
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