Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

MARRIAOE WITH JIARGARET DOUGLAS, 1G23. clxxiii
A submissioa for a settlement of the questions in dispute was entered into
in 1621;^ but it was only in 1623 that a final agreement was arranged
by which, in return for a full discharge of all liis intromissions as tutor,
Piobert Johnstone of Raecleuch with his eldest son, and Robert Johnstone
of Howcleuch as representing his now deceased father, j\Iungo, gave up all
claim to the estate and mansion of aSTewbie in favour of James Johnstone
of Johnstone.- The tutor himself died in the following year. As we have
seen, the young chief did not choose any of the kindred of his mother,
Sara Maxwell, to be curators for him. This shows that the former feeling of
hostility between the two houses had not yet given place to one of friendship.
In December 1G22 James Johnstone married Margaret Douglas, eldest
daughter of William Douglas of Druuilanrig, who was afterwards created
successively Viscount of Druuilanrig and Earl of Queensberry. The marriage
settlement was arranged at Edinburgh on 27th November of that year, and
the marriage was to be celebrated before 1st January following. Newbie
Tower was given as the residence of jMargaret Douglas in case she survived
her husband, with an annuity of six thousand merks, and the tocher given
with her by her fatlier was eigliteen thousand merks.^
As already stated at the close of the preceding memoir, it was in tlie year
1623, fifteen years after the murder of Sir James Johnstone and ton years
subsequent to the execution of John, ninth Lord j\Iaxwell, that a reconcilia-
tion between the Maxwells and Johnstones took place. The credit of bring-
ing about this most desirable and important event is due to the king. That
formality and public testimony might be given to the reconciliation, Eobert,
Earl of Nithsdale, Lord Maxwell, and James Johnstone of Johnstone came
1 IGth March 1G21. Charters of this work, great first Earl of Douglas aud Mar, who waa
pp. SI -83. owner of Drumlanrig in the fourteenth
- 22J July 16-23. Double of Contract, in century. As will be seen in the memoir of
Anuandale Charter-chest. her son, he was married also to a dcsccnd-
3 Origiu.al Contract of M.-irriage, ibid. ant of the s.ime first Earl of Douglas and
Margaret Douglas was a descendant of the Mar through the Angus line of descent.