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

80 FEUD BETWEEN MAXWELLS AND JOHNSTOUNS
fined 10,500 marks for their depredations, and borrowed it from Sir James
Hamilton ; but the debt eventually led to the sale of his estates. Maxwell,
Gordon, and Carruthers were outlawed at the same time, but not fined.
Three years before Johnstoun had pledged himself for the good conduct of
Graitney, Robert of Newbie, and Cummertrees when they were summoned for
assisting at a similar service.
It is hardly possible to suppose that Maxwell took any unfair advantage of
Johnstoun, but he captured Lochmaben soon afterwards, and the Warden— for
he had never been superseded by the Crown—was taken prisoner to Bonshaw,
a tower owned by Edward Irving, Johnstoun's " depender," but now occupied
by Maxwell's followers. The captive Chief was released through the Royal
intervention in 1586, but he died soon afterwards, it was said from shame
and grief at his defeat, possibly accelerated by the rigours of a prison. The
ward of his estate was granted to his daughter, Elizabeth (1587); and Robert
Johnstoun of Newbie, Graitney, and John Johnstoun of Croftheids joined
with other leaders of the clan to pledge themselves to support the voung
Chief.
Maxwell was again proclaimed a rebel, but his half-brother, Robert,
led the feuars, who were still armed, and joined by Drumlanrig, Jardine,
and Charteris made what the English Warden described as " a furious raid "
on the Johnstoun lands, "coming about 8 a.m. near to the house of Bonshaw,
raised a great fire and burned the Bonshaw-side, and Todholes, with another
farmhouse there called Dunberton, and in short they burned along the water of
Dryfe, of Annan and of Milk as much as pertained to the Laird of Johnston,
and committed the like outrages to all the friends and tenants of Johnston there,
carrying away with them a great booty."
In the meantime Maxwell with Scott of Buccleuch and a company of
Nithsdale men, besides Beatties, Littles, and Armstrongs, marched upon Stirling,
the seat of Government, assisted by families who were generally with
Johnstoun, but now found it convenient to join the stronger side—the Bells,
Irvings, and a troop of cavalry under George Carruthers of Holmains and
his son, Charles. Their object was to depose Johnstoun's relative, 1 the Earl
of Arran, who fled for his life ; and the King was obliged not only to
deprive him of his titles and estates but to accept the Earl of Angus, Arran's
rival, in his place, and to grant Maxwell and his followers a full pardon
for every offence committed since 1569. As Johnstoun was dead, Maxwell
was appointed Warden in his place.
Robert Johnstoun of Newbie is mentioned in 1583 in a letter from Lord
Scrope to Sir F. Walsingham as " a kinsman of the Lord of Johnstoun
1 He was barbarously killed by Sir J. Douglas of Torthorald in 1596. His son avenged
it when he met Douglas in the High Street, Edinburgh, July 14, 1608, for although the
King in Feb. 1600 describes Douglas as being "our rebel and lying at our horn for the
slaughter of our umqle cousin, James Stewart" he was pardoned to assist his relative,
Angus, in crushing the Johnstouns. Angus was always intriguing with the English, like
so many of his race, and was perhaps accessory to the murder of Carmichael by English
Armstrongs, for he protected the murderers.