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

THE BATTLE OF SOLWAY MOSS 57
English Border, which would require so large a force to oppose, when retreating
with the captive, that it would be almost impossible for that force to reach
Dumfries unobserved, or to bring away the King alive.
It is noticeable that William Johnstoun of Graitney was ennobled before
his Chief, and it must have been one of the last honours that James V.
conferred.
A year later the Laird of Johnstoun was released from prison at Dum-
barton, and his estates restored to him by the Regent Arran, acting for the
infant Queen, and they were erected into a barony in the same terms that were
used in the patent of William of Xewbie. His eldest son was at that moment
a prisoner of war in England, and Lord Maxwell, also a prisoner, was intriguing
to place Dumfriesshire, if not all Scotland, under Henry VIII., but the brave
Chieftain found time only a month or two after his release to make an elaborate
settlement of his lands. In case his direct male heirs were extinguished, he
settled his estate first on his brother, Adam of Corrie, and his male heirs, then
on his brother, William, and his male heirs, and in the usual order on the
younger brothers, Symon and John, and their male heirs. Another brother,
James of Wamfray, is not mentioned—they were not on good terms ; but in 1 5 50
Wamfray formed a bond of manrent with the Laird, who is described in it as his
brother-german. Johnstoun had long been a free baron, with the power of life
and death over his dependents, but this was the first hereditary honour bestowed
on the direct ancestor of the Marquises of Annandale. At the same time he
was made Warden, his rivals in that office having been captured at the unfortunate
battle of Solway Moss.
The circumstances of this battle were extraordinary. James V. wished to
lead his army after the victory of Haddon Rig to attack the Duke of Norfolk,
who was advancing on the English side of the Border with reinforcements, and
who, as Earl of Surrey, had defeated James IV. at Flodden. But the Border
Chiefs, who were responsible for their followers and
and children, were at the end of their resources.
had to support the widows
A famine was imminent
unless some returned home to get in the harvest ;
l and by crossing the East
Border into England they would leave Dumfriesshire open to a raid from the
Cumberland "statesmen." The King was enraged at this opposition, but
apparently consented to Lord Maxwell's offer to lead the Border clans direct
on to Carlisle—Maxwell for personal reasons again obtaining Johnstoun's arrest.
The Borderers were crossing the Esk and Solway Moss when they
encountered a body of Englishmen. Oliver Sinclair, a gentleman of the
King's household, at once exhibited a Royal Commission appointing himself
Commander-in-Chief over the Warden and everyone else. He mounted on the
shoulders of two stalwart horsemen, so that all might see it, and, according to
Holinshed (1577), the Earls and Lords there present " thought themselves too
much debased to have such a mean gentleman advanced in authority above
them, and refusing to fight under him, willingly suffered themselves to be ovcr-
1
In Patten's History of the Rebellion in 17 15 he speaks of the Highland custom of returning
home after a battle.