Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

MARRIAGE ALLIAKOK WITH SARA MAXWELL. clxi
ford were at deadly feud for many years, and tlieir strife was the cause of
iiiucli bloodshed. Great cxcrtious were made to allay it, but without success.
At length several marriages were contracted between thcui, aud that feud was
so amicably arranged that no two fauulies on the Borders are in greater
accord than the Scotts of Buccleuch and the Kerrs of Ferniehirst.
The same method of composing the serious feud between the Maxwells
and the Johnstoncs had early occuiicd to John Johnstone of tliat ilk, who
died on the 8th November 15G7, as appears from his testament made in
tlie year 1562. He appointed a? his executors Nicola Douglas, Lady
Johnstone, las second wife, and John, 'Master of Jfaxvell. The ]\lastcr was
variously designated Master of Maxwell, as heir-apparent to his nephew, the
Lord Maxvrell, and Sir John Maxwell of Terregles, knight, from his having
married Agnes Herries, the eldest of the three daughters of William, Lord
Hcrriesof Terregles, with whom he received a tijirdof the Herries or Terregles
estate. He also acquired the remaining two-tliirds of that estate from the
younger sisters of his wife, and was ultimately created Lord Herries. As
warden of the West ^Marches, he possessed great influence and authority on
the Borders. He was an ardent adherent of Queen ilary, and conducted her
]\Iajesty to Terregles on her way to England after the battle of Langside.
As already related, John Johnstone left his sou and heir " in gyding to the
Maister of Maxwcl, and to be counsalit by my Lord Duke Grace," the
Master of Maxwell aud the lairds of Drunilanrig and Elphiustone. Amou"
other provisions of his will is the follovsing -.— "My said sone and air- to
marie with the maister of Maxwell." His eldest daughter, Dorothea John-
stone, and her gear, he gave to the Master of Maxwell, who was to provide
her in marriage, witli the profit of the laird of Elschiesheill's escheat.^
But it was not until the tliird generation after John Johnstone of John-
stone that a marriage was arranged between these rival families, when in
' Testament, Minutes of Ilernea Peerage (1S7G), p. 47. Annandale Peerage Mimites of
E\-idence, 1S7C, pp. 4G-10.
VOL. I. X