History of the Johnstones, 1191-1909, with ... - Electric Scotland

74
THE QUEEN
Regent that Corrie might become security for those Irvings who were his
tenants.
Graitney appeared with three servants and fifteen retainers when he came
to meet the Regent, who, hearing that the Queen had escaped to England
with Lord Hereis's assistance, at once outlawed Hereis. This Chief wrote
from Dumfries in Sept. 1568 to the English Privy Council on the Queen's
behalf, and started a month later for London to obtain a personal interview
with Queen Elizabeth. The great rival clans were united in their loyalty,
and no wonder the Reformed creed became distasteful to them when it was
urged as a pretext for keeping their lawful sovereign a prisoner. Elizabeth
refused to give Hereis an audience, so he went to France to plead for the
intervention of Henry III. The Queen-mother, Catherine de Medicis, Mary's
mother-in-law and the guardian of her youth, wrote a diplomatic letter to
Elizabeth, and, speaking of her own ill health, expressed thankfulness that
after all her sorrows Mary should be safe under so powerful and generous
a protector. Then the news arrived of the Scottish Regent's assassination,
and Hereis tried to organise a rising in Mary's favour throughout Dumfries-
shire. There were plenty of informers to acquaint the English Privy Council
with this attempt ; and Scrope, the English Warden, received orders to
lead an army across the frontier to ravage the estates of Lord Hereis and
of those lairds who were particularly attached to the cause of Mary and of
the Roman faith.
In a secret memorandum sent to the English Cabinet John Johnstoun
of Newbie is mentioned as one of fifty-nine Scots 1 (including her groom,
farrier and priest) who were still attached to, or attendant on, the Queen,
and he appears to have been with her when it was written. His estate
was not spared when the English orders were barbarously carried out. On
April 21, 1570, Scrope reported from Carlisle that he had encamped at
Ecclefechan and sent Musgrave to burn Hoddam, Graitney, Ruthwell, Calpole,
Blackshaw, Sherrington, Bankend, Lochar, and old Cockpool. At the last
place, in a battle with Lord Hereis, he had taken 100 prisoners, including
the Alderman of Dumfries and sixteen burgesses, but had been driven back
by Hereis, Carlile, Charteris, Grierson, Kirkpatrick and Carruthers. He fought
them again at Cummertrees, when he captured several lairds, while Hereis,
Carlile, Johnstoun and the rest " only escaped by the strength of the Laird
of Cockpool's house, and a great wood and morass." Scrope's lieutenant
wrote to Secretary Cecil that he had thrown down the castle at Annan
and had not left a stone house standing in that town, "which was an ill
neighbour to Carlisle."
The agitation continued for two years longer in Dumfriesshire, the Lairds
of Teviotdale, the Scotts and Armstrongs, as well as Drumlanrig and his
son-in-law, Jardine, being on the side of the infant King, and (except Drum-
lanrig's tenants) of the English invaders. A pestilence, consequent on the
1 Also Kirkpatrick, Hobe Maxwell, Lord Hereis and son, James Hamilton, Lord Fleming,
and Levingston.