Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

EXKOUTION OF LORD MAXWELL, 1613. clix
pereiuptui't-lie aiiswcrit that tliay will insiat in tlio pcrsutc of justice; but con-
cerning the otiier pairt of ourc commandimcnt whiche wes to do justice yf it wer
requirit, we understand notliing bot a delay, which causeth us to wounder tliat
with a pcrsone alreddy convictit and by ouro lawi.s condemned, you sould use suche
defTerring of the executioun of oure couimandinieiitis. It is thairfoir oure pleasour
that you proceedo to the dew administratiouu of justice in this caisc according to
the ordour, except the pairty interest require a delay or directlie plead for mereye :
And withall we will and recjuire you that in all tyme comeing in suche materis
whairin we salbe pleasit to signifie oure pleasour, that you nather borrow nor len
with ourc cominandimentis, but drrectlie proccid to the executioun thairof. Whiche
persuading oursellT you will do, we bid you fairweill. At our pallice of Whyte-
hall, the fourte of May 1613." ^
On ISth ]May the council issued a warrant for the execution of Lord Max-
well to the provost and bailies of Edinburgh. E}' that warrant he was to be
taken from the tolbooth to the luarket cross on tlie 21st and to be beheaded.
Lord Maxwell was at once apjjrised of the decision of the king and council.
On the day fixed upon he was brought to tlie scnffold, where he acknowledged
the justice of his sentence, asked mercy from God on account of his sins,
and expressed the desire that the king vrould accept Iiis punishment as an
atonement for his ofl'ences, and restore his brother and house to the rank
and place of liis predecessors. He also craved forgiveness first from James
Johnstone of Johnstone, bis mother, grandmother, and friends, whom be
acknowledged lie had wronged, although without dishonour or infamy " for
the worldlie pairt of it " ; and then from I'ollok, Caldorv.'ood, and his other
friends present, to whom lie ];ad coutrib\ited harm and d'scredit, instead of
safety and honour. After giving himself to devotion, and taking leave of
his friends and the bailies of the town, Lord Maxwell placed his head upon
the block, and was executed. His lordship was buried in the cemetery of
Xev/battle Abbey.-
> Registci- of the Privy Council, vol. x. 3i3. Newbattlc Abbey is the property of
pp. 44, 4o. tl'S Lotliiau family, and it was prob.ably
2 The Book of Carlaverock, vol. i. pi.. 3-J2, througli the iufluenoe of Margaret Maxwell,