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

120 RYEHILL'S LETTER TO PRIMROSE
Sheriff-Depute in 1616. He wrote from Comlongan to the Lords of the
Privy Council that he had received a summons from His Majesty, dated
at Newmarket, desiring him to call upon the Magistrates and keepers of
the Borders to trace out the best roads for English merchants and traders
travelling into Scotland, and adds : " I summoned the Magistrates to meet me
at Annan on March 8, which day they could not keep, so I appointed the
1 6th, but none of them would come but Edward Johnstoun of Ryehill. We
therefore together examined the ground and way, and think it most fitting that
the ordinary highway from Annan to the Kirk of Graitney should be used,
and from the Kirk through Sark at the ford by Sark brig, and away to Carlisle,
because this was the way appointed for the King's coaches and carriages,
and Graitney Kirk was the meeting place of the hosts of England and Scotland
—the King was escorted by Scottish soldiers to the frontier, and there English
troops took their place—so the constables of Graitney and Rampatrick have
been ordered to make a road 24 feet wide, according to Act of Parliament, and
a dyke (wall or embankment) on each side." He says, " that the old road
through Kirtle water and Sark water was full of quicksand, and many of
the King's subjects perish every year, and their goods are lost when driven that
way. The other road was used for the cannon from Carlisle to Lochmaben."
As trade was not encouraged between England and Scotland this order
seems to have been given with a view to the King revisiting his old kingdom.
When he did so in 1617 a levy of 484 horses was made to convey the Royal
carriages and baggage from Dumfries to Carlisle ; and Murray and Ryehill
arranged it.
In 1624 Ryehill, with Carlile of Bridekirk, and other leading men on
the Border were ordered to prevent malefactors from escaping to Ireland, and
to disarm the Borders.
In 1626 Ryehill and Gordon of Lochinvar received orders from the Privy
Council to report the names of those in the county who persisted in going about
armed, contrary to the law passed by James VI., and to secure their punishment.
It was hardly safe for a gentleman to do otherwise in Dumfriesshire. Two
years later one of Ryehill's great-nephews l was murdered near Moffat, another
nephew (Edward of Seafield) was "grievously wounded and left for dead"
in the street of Dumfries, and his grandson, a few years before, had been run
through with a poniard in Annan. Ryehill wrote the following letter to James
Primrose, the direct ancestor of Lord Rosebery, and Clerk to the Privy Council :
" Sir, After my heartiest commendation, I received a letter direct from
the Earl of Mar and others the Lords of His Majesty's Council, the date thereof
July 31; the effect, that I should inform myself of the general and great
contempt of those who do violate H.M.'s laws in bearing and wearing of
1 William, natural son of John, the last Baron of Newbie. John Maxwell of Gribton,
described as his sister's son and nearest of kin to the deceased, took out Letters of Slain
against the assassin Johnston of Willies. Yet a natural son, unless legitimised by Royal
Charter, which had not been done in this case, could neither make a Will, nor act as witness
on a retour, or hold any public office. Robert Johnstoun of Over Howcleuch owed money to
William Johnstoun at this time.