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

S 6 WAR WITH ENGLAND
In 1536 the King went to look for a bride in France. He took Maxwell
with him, but Johnstoun was imprisoned in the Castle of Doune, in Galloway,
during his absence, and his lands sequestrated. At once an English raid
crossed the frontier and attacked Lochmaben. William Johnstoun of Elsie-
shields appealed for help to Ninian Crichton of Sanquhar, who had been Johnstoun's
ally in a tribal quarrel, but was told that it had never been Sanquhar's
duty to protect the Border. This forced the King to release Johnstoun, whose
brother, Adam of Corrie, acted as his pledge. At the same time he formed a
bond of manrent with Maxwell, in whose domains he was imprisoned, as a con-
dition of his release.
Henry VIII. was incensed by his nephew's refusal to marry the Princess
Mary, and James declined to meet his uncle in York to discuss it. The English
seized twenty-eight Scottish ships, and enlisted the services of the Earl of
Angus, once Regent (James's stepfather), and of his brother, Sir George Douglas,
who were both in exile.
The Border was crossed on the East and West Marches, and William of
Graitney and Newbie was made a " hereditary baron for good, faithful, and
gratuitous service," and his Barony entailed on heirs male, or, in default of heirs
male, on heirs bearing the name and arms of Johnstoun, Jan. 2, 1542. On
the East Marches the Earls of Huntley and Home defeated the English, and
took the commander, Sir Robert Bowes, prisoner at Haddon Rig.
James vainly applied to Henry VIII. for an indemnity for these forays,
and went to Dumfries to inspect the Border liegemen, who were mustering to
defend their King. By possessing Newbie and Graitney the Johnstouns commanded
the services of the brave Irvings, Romes, and Bells, some of whom, it
is stated in a legal process of 161 1, lived in the Barony of Newbie without
paying any dues for their military service. Irving of Drum was a laird, and
unofficially the Irvings of Bonshaw 1 and Robgill were often so called. In legal
writs they are gudemen or copyholders. 1 But it entailed on Newbie the
responsibility for their misdeeds, and the fines that were imposed on him for
Irving and Graham lawlessness obliged his family eventually to part with the
estate.
When Sir Thomas Wharton, the English Warden, heard that James V.
was in Dumfries, he proposed to Henry VIII. that, as the King had but a small
escort, he might be seized and brought across the Border— just as, 260 years
later, the Spanish Princes were brought across the Pyrenees by Napoleon.
Henry was much pleased with the idea, but when he submitted it to his
Council they advised that Wharton should " let no creature know that it had
ever been thought of, on account of the scandal and deadly feud which it might
cause." They also pointed out the thick population between Dumfries and the
1 See Monypeny's Chronicle. " Callit the Laird " is a term used in legal documents ;
"Dukes" of Hoddam seems to have been a nickname. Robgill was feued to an Irving by
Thomas Corrie of Newbie, and was included in the Newbie estate when William of Graitney
bought it ; but his Chief claimed it later as a fief of Lochwood. The tack of Sarkbrig and
Conheath, as well as Stapleton, given by William Johnstoun of Graitney to Irvings, is often
alluded to in the family papers, and were copyhold.