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

6o CONQUEST OF DUMFRIESSHIRE
His brother, Adam, being dead, he also obtained the ward of Corrie in
1544; and as the Grahams of Thornik were assisting the English, Johnstoun's
daughter, Margaret, married to Ninian Graham, received a gift of all the lands
belonging to the deceased Robert Graham, her father-in-law.
Laurence Johnstoun, the son of William, the son of Laurence, who was
a son of the Laird (1436), being dead, his Chief received his lands of Woodhous
till another heir should appear, and the lands of Brotis, owned by his great-
great-uncle, David, till a nearer relative should be found. The young heir of
Corrie, James, was a prisoner in England, and as he was not ransomed was
induced to join the English armies. He is the only near relative of the Johnstoun
chiefs who is described as having actually fought on that side, and he
was outlawed till 1565. Neither he nor his son appear to have been restored
to his father's position. They could not control the Irvings, for whom they
were responsible; and in 1585 George Johnstoun of Corrie was denounced for
assisting his Chief, and took refuge in Mylnfield on the north side of Annan.
Early in 1547 a combined effort was made to free Dumfriesshire from the
English. Johnstoun, Lochinvar, and the Master of Maxwell advanced into
Cumberland, while the Regent Arran captured Langholm Tower. But all
forces were needed to check an invasion on the eastern border, and there the
Regent sustained the terrible defeat of Pinkie. 1 Lochinvar, among others, was
left dead on the field. The absence of so many men from the county enabled
Sir Thomas Carleton to lead an English force by way of Teviotdale and
Canonbie across to Dumfries, where he issued a proclamation calling on all to
take an oath to King Henry, who was a dying man. A few lairds came in,
but not Johnstoun, whom he particularly wanted to secure, for the new Lord
Maxwell being in captivity, and some of his adherents having taken the oath,
there only remained a small part of the county unsubdued.
Johnstoun was conquered by a ruse. Wharton sent forty light horsemen
to burn Wamfray, his brother's demesne, as the flames could be seen from
Lochwood Tower, and then put 300 men in ambush, " thinking that the Lord
Johnstoun," as he wrote to Somerset, " would come to view them, and so he did,
and pursued them sharply to their ambush." After a hard fight the Scottish
Warden was captured, with the Laird of Corrie and the Abbot of Salsit, 2
though not till three spears had been broken on him and he had been severely
wounded in the thigh. " 140 of his men were taken prisoners, eight were killed,
and many hurt, but only four Englishmen were hurt, never one slain nor taken."
1 In Sadler's Memoirs it is stated that many Scots regarding this as a Holy War (owing
to James V. having been advised by Henry to fill his coffers with the spoils of churches and
monasteries), a whole regiment of bishops, priests, and monks carrying sacred banners were
cut down at Pinkie.
2 James Johnstoun of Wamfray, brother to the Laird (1524-67) has been confused with the
Abbot of Salsit ; but there seems no doubt that the last was a priest, and the day he was
captured with his Chief was Thursday before Easter, when the family chaplain would be in
attendance. His name, James, may have been a mistake for John, or he may have died in
England, for in 1552, 1565, and 1569 John Johnstoun was Abbot of Salsit, and he was a priest,
as he was "convicted of celebrating Mass" according to the Roman use. Symon, the youngest
brother, received the lands of Ernemynie in the Barony of Crossmichael (Kirkcudbright) from
his father, but resigned them to Johnstoun in 1546.