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

CONQUEST OF DUMFRIESSHIRE S9
land ; but Henry insisted, in addition, on the royal Castle of Lochmabcn, to
enable his officers to control Dumfriesshire.
Maxwell's eldest son, rather than carry out his father's order, contrived to
be taken prisoner; and the next son, John, afterwards Lord Herries, whose
whole career was honourable, refused to listen to any treacherous scheme. The
Armstrongs, under Maxwell's influence, gave up Langholm Tower to the
English, and Wharton wrote to Lord Shrewsbury, on Feb. 14, 1545, that he
had placed a body of foot and fifty horsemen in it, and had long used one of
Johnstoun's followers as an emissary to create discord between Johnstoun and
Maxwell. A feud had broken out between them, which the Scottish Privy
Council could not alia}-. He had offered 300 crowns to Johnstoun for himself
and IOO to his brother, the Abbot of Salsit, and 100 to Johnstoun's other
followers, on condition that young Maxwell should be put into his power.
Johnstoun had entered into the plot, but "he and his friends were all so false"
that Wharton "knew not what to say." But he would be glad "to annoy and
entrap the Master of Maxwell or the Laird of Johnstoun to the King's Majesty,
and his own poor honesty."
Johnstoun's "falseness" kept him true to his sovereign; and when a raid
of English soldiers captured Carlaverock, or as a Scottish diary records, Oct. 28,
1 545, "The Lord Maxwell delivereth Carlaverock to the English, which was
great discomfort to the country," Johnstoun, Douglas of Drumlanrig, and
Gordon of Lochinvar surrounded it three days afterwards with their followers,
and eventually recaptured it. Meanwhile Lochmaben and Thrieve had been
treacherously surrendered, but were recovered on Nov. 21.
Maxwell had taken refuge in Thrieve. He wrote to the Regent that hib
conduct had only been actuated by fear of death, and that he would take an
oath to the infant Queen. He was pardoned, and Lochmaben was restored
to his keeping, with the Wardenship of the West Marches and the post of
Justiciar of Annandale, Xithsdale, and Galloway, but he died within a month
(July 1546), when Johnstoun succeeded to his offices, having already renewed
their former bond of manrent with his heir.
This happened directly after Johnstoun was released from prison at Dumbarton.
The bond is signed by Carlile of Bridekirk, Cockpool, and others, but
Andrew Johnstoun of Elphinstone is the only signature of his own name, most
of his relatives being either prisoners with the English or engaged in opposing
them. He alludes to "chance and fortune" having caused Maxwell's captivity,
but he would not take advantage of it, and wishes to combine with all the clans
to save their country. The Queen-Regent, in recognition of his loyalty, gave
him all the oxen (he had to seize them) belonging to those landowners in
Dumfriesshire who had refused to give or lend them to draw the Royal Artillery.
He was also given (Oct. 28, 1545) a Charter of the lands of Castlemilk, "which
superiority pertained to Matthew, formerly Earl of Lennox, and is now in the
Queen's hands by reason of escheat on account of forfeiture against the said
Earl, to be held by the said John, his heirs, and assignees of the Queen and
her successors for the usual services."