Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

clx SIR JAMKS JOHNS;TOXE of JOHNSTONE, KNIOIT, lii87-1608.
With the death of Lord Maxwell, the great Lorder feud between tlie
Maxwells and the Johnstones, which had raged so long, and with so much
fierceness and viudictiveness, terminated. Neither of these two great clans
showed any desire to renew the feud which luid cost both so much. Kobert,
tenth Lord Maxwell, who ultimately succeeded to the honours and estates of
his brother, being himself peaceably inclhied, followed a conciliatory course
with the Johnstones, and sought in every way to heal the breach between
them. James Johnstone of Johnstone reciprocated the spirit thus shown
by Lord Maxv;ell. Ten years, however, elapsed after the execution of Lord
Maxwell before a real reconcihation was made. On 17th June 1G23, Max-
well and Johnstone came before the council, and vowed strict friendship
for the future.'
:
As already related. Sir James Johnstone married, in 1588, Sara Maxwell,
daughter of Sir John Maxwell of Terregles, knight, and the first Lord Jleriios
of the house of Maxwell. One of the most common niean? taken to allay
feuds both on the Borders and in the Highlands of Scotland, was that of
intermarriage between the families of the antagonistic parties. The feud
between tlie Maxwells and tlie Johnstones was the most inveterate of all the
great Border fends. There were feuds which occurred during the same period,
between other Scotch Border families of distinction, which afford an example
of what is stated. The great houses of Scott of Buccleuch and Kerr of Cess-
Couutcss-Dowager of Lothiau, aud daugLter the liftcenth century there was a feud of some
of .John, fourth Lord Herrics, that Lord duratiuu Ijctweeu the Maxwells and the
Maxwell's remains found t cir last re.sting- Murrays of Coolcpool, ancestors of the
place there. The oj-posite sympathies of the Murrays, Earls of Annandale. The origiu of
two Maxwell sisters thus become apparent the feud is not asccrt.ained. But in the
Sara Maxwell insi.sted upon the death of course of it, Cuthbert Murray of Coekpool
Lord Maxwell, Margaret, her sister, now and Lis friends waylaid John, fourth Lord
g.avo him a place of sepulchre. Maxwell, and slew his erne (uucle) and other.',
' The feud with the Johnstones, althougli and did bodily injury to several of his friend?,
the greatest of all Border feuds, is not the Previous to this, Nicol Maxwell, a sou of
only one which is associated in history with Kohcrt, second Lord JIaxwell, was slain by
the >ra>:wells, and which proved calamitous the Laird of Coekpool at football. [The Book
to the Maxwell family. Towards the close of of Carlaverock, vol. i. pp. l.'O, 1,51, 15!1.]