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

108 A ROMANTIC MARRIAGE
persons were present, men and women, but as they covered their faces he
could not recognise them. He was imprisoned in Edinburgh at his own
charges during the King's pleasure. The ladies humbly expressed their con-
trition at having "caused scandal to the Kirk," and their relatives seem to
have saved them from further punishment.
John Broun, 1 called of the Land, New Abbey, and of Lochhill, and his
wife, Jeannette Johnstoun of Newbie, had two sons, Thomas and James, at
Douai College in 1627 and 1634. The first is described in the College Record as
a youth of the greatest promise who went on to serve his novitiate in Spain,
Patrick Johnstoun died at Rome in 1622, preparing for the Scottish mission ;
and Nicolas Johnstoun was at the Scottish College in Rome in 1641. Christopher
Johnstoun and Anna Gordon, spouses, left money to the College at Ratisbon
for masses for their souls, and for the soul of Anna's father.
Knox had got a Bill passed as early as 1560 that Romanists not instantly
abjuring their belief were for the first offence to forfeit all their goods and
be whipped, for the second offence exile, for the third execution, and he
ordered his followers to refuse baptism to their children. But the King
qualified this outrageous act by appointing Romanist judges and magistrates ;
and as the Episcopalians often preferred the Pope to the Covenant these
extreme penalties, which, carried out to their full extent, would have depopulated
half Scotland, seem to have been only enforced in cases of treason or of
friendless people. The accusers and their emissaries were very barbarous.
Ogilvie, the Jesuit, was " not suffered to take sleep some days and nights
with small sustenance, so that his brains being lightsome, secrets were drawn
out of him " before his trial, and he spoke disrespectfully of the King. He was
tried Feb. 28, 161 5, with Sinclair, who had entertained him, and others who had
heard him preach. Edward Johnstoun of Ryehill, a sympathiser, was one
of the judges. Ogilvie was simply executed, as the sentence put it, for
disloyalty to the King, but the rest were let off with fines and exile.
The aged Romanist Bishop of Dunkeld, Robert Crichton, applied for
maintenance on the ground that his few remaining years would be cut short by
starvation. It was pleaded for him that he belonged to an old family, so
his Protestant successor's income was curtailed for his support.
Dame Barbara soon returned to Scotland, as in 1630 she was summoned
by Murray with her cousins to quit the Newbie estate or pay the tithes.
The Earl of Wigton, whose name appears in several deeds connected with
Newbie, having married the widowed Lady Johnstoun, was instrumental in
protecting the Bishop of Galloway from the violence of the people of Dumfries,
when, in 1623, the Bishop tried to carry out the King's positive command to
1 In 1634 he petitioned the Privy Council for his release from prison, where he was
"forthwith put for his religion" when he obeyed the order to appear in Edinburgh. He
had lain there for five weeks in great misery for want He had no means to sustain his
natural life, and no creature to attend him, his wife being in England and his eight children
at home, sixty miles away, for the most part unable to do for themselves. He was released on
condition that he left the country and never returned. At the same time Edward Johnstoun
obtained an extension of protection for himself.