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

86 NEWBIE'S MISSION FROM THE KING
horses of as much value as the life of one servant. Robert Johnstoun was
probably the Newbie who escorted Musgrave, Lord Scrope's deputy, to visit
the King in Edinburgh, and gave an introduction to Henry Leigh to be
presented to the King at the Scottish capital. He also escorted Lord Sempill
(who had been at Newbie Castle for twenty days) and others to Carlisle.
On this
Cecil :—
occasion (1601) Scrope sent the following report to the Secretary
" This day Newbie came to me from the King (as he said) and protested
highly that his King would be most glad of my favour, adding, that he wondered
at my obstinacy. I answered, that her Majesty's orders to me were to do
him all lawful service, and I was ever ready thereto. He asked if I went
to Parliament. I said her Majesty had occasion for me some time here.
He added that the Queen (Elizabeth) had promised his King, that in this
Parliament the case of the succession should be handled, and that then there
is none to succeed but his King. My reply was, that we live under so
happy an estate as we hope never shall be altered, and that I trusted in
God that Her Majesty's prosperous reign should continue long after his
King's, and his successors were extinct. To this he replied that it was
the wish of a good subject, but contrary to the course of nature ; adding
that if I would pawn my honour to keep counsel, he had five books come
from London touching the succession, of which four he delivered to the King,
the last he kept in his own custody which he would lend me to read. Upon
hearing thereof, I rose up and went from him, as if I had been called in
haste.
" As he will surely come again from the King ere long, I pray for
Her Majesty's pleasure, whether I shall deal so roundly with him as to
stop all such discourse, or hold him up with fair weather. He told me
David Foulis, a man the Queen hates above all Scotsmen for that he wrote
to that King at his last being here, that she was dead (whom I pray to God
to preserve many years after he is rotten, and to make her estate as flourishing
as she is admirable), is presently to come to her Majesty, and that he is
appointed to move for the succession if he dare ; yet he fears that the
King will be forced to send a man of better quality than Foulis to that end."
Lord Scrope speaks of the Laird of Newbie as his neighbour ; and it
was the nearest house to Cumberland large enough to lodge the King, or
a nobleman, with the necessary followers. Musgrave lived at Rockliff Castle.
Newbie was frequented by both English and Scottish Deputies, as well as by the
King, at the time that the settlement of the Borders had become a burning
question if James were ever to be accepted as their sovereign by the English
people. The Lords in Council even recommended to him the means by
which his grandfather, James V., had rid himself of troublesome Borderers.
It was always expensive to entertain Royalty, and at Newbie the estate
was curtailed to pay for it. Robert of Newbie also sold his lands at Kirkpatrick
Fleming, Gulielands, Northfield, the Moat, and Brigholme. The
honour was dreaded by most Scottish proprietors, and the Earl of Angus