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

90 UNION OF THE CROWNS
"his three sons with nine of his servants, with carriage 1 and provision to the
meeting at Liddell in England, having obtained license so to do, for some
venison for the banquet made by his Chief, the Laird of Johnstoun, at the late
baptism of his son, Thomas Trumble of Mynto, Hector Trumble of Barnhill,
and Mark Trumble of Bewlie (Englishmen) attacked and robbed them;" the
carriage, bedding, and victuals were worth £240.
The same year Johnstoun, Nevvbie, Graitney, and other lairds signed a
bond of peace, the King heading the list.
The English Crown devolved on James VI. the next year (1603); ancl
he appointed Graitney and two colleagues (Feb. 7, 1604) to survey the
Debateable Land and surrounding parts, with the view of granting or selling
them to the Earl of Cumberland. The sum of £66, 3s. 4d. is charged for
Graitney's expenses. In 1605 the King wrote to the Governor of York, telling
him to furnish the Laird of Johnstoun with fifty more horsemen to aid in
pacifying the Borders. If he had not got the money he was "to beg or borrow
it." A warrant, dated Westminster, Jan. 27, 1608, also directs the Treasurer
" to pay to John Johnstoun of Gretna, Scotland, .£100 as a free gift and
reward."
The most troublesome of the Grahams were transported to Ireland ; and
a special commission was convened, which sat from 1604 to 162 1, to try
Border causes. Strict equity was hardly to be expected, but some of those
who obtained places on it took the opportunity to enrich themselves and
gratify private revenge. Many outlaws, notably Christopher Irving, were
hung, but others whose crimes had been equally flagrant were spared and
even rewarded. One of these was Robert Gordon, the heir of Lochinvar,
a Commissioner himself. In 1602, having lost a relative in a skirmish, he
made a foray through Annandale, Wamfray, Lockerbie, Reidhall, Langrigs,
etc., and killed Richard Irving of Graitney in his own house. A party of
soldiers was sent to arrest him, but he took them all prisoners, and compelled
the officer who commanded them to eat the King's warrant for apprehending
him. He was outlawed, and a description of his personal appearance as
well as that of Lord Crichton of Sanquhar (outlawed at the same time for
the murder of a fencing-master who accidentally deprived him of an eye) was
sent to Carlisle and Dumfries for their apprehension. Yet only three years
afterwards Gordon was made a gentleman of the King's bedchamber, and
received a gift of confiscated estates, and in 162 1 he was made a baronet. 2
The Laird of Buccleuch was ennobled in 1606. As he had got hold
of much church land his son was a formidable opponent to Charles I. when
the King wished to recover a portion of these lands for the maintenance of
the clergy. But the elder Scott did good service by collecting a number
1 Chalmers states that the first carriage in Scotland came from France with the Queen of
James V., and was still the only carriage in their daughter's reign. The decreet only fined the
English robbers the price of three horses, value ,£40 each.
2 Baronetcies were instituted that year, and were purchased by the recipient, who,
for this and other honours, was advised by the King that he had selected him as a fit person
for promotion if he would take the necessary steps, i.e., pay the money.