WILLIAM JOHNSTOUN, callit of Lockerbie, of the age of xl yeires, or thairby, mareit; deponis that vpoun the sext day of Aprile, in the yeir of God 1608, this deponar cumming to the place of Lochvod, about ane efter none, THE LAIRD OF JOHNSTOUN tuik this deponar to the clois, and said to him, 'Ze ar velcum, for I haif ane gritar turne ado with zou nor ewir I had befoir this day; I am to meit with the Lord Maxvell, and ze sall go with me, and loip on vpoun zour horse, and raik fordwart to Lytill Lochwod, quhill I owirtak zou, and let nane ken quhair ze are rydand to.' Immediatlie thairefter the Lard of Johnstoun and Sir Robert Maxvell of Spottis owirtuik this deponar within ane myle from the Lochwod; and thai raid altogidder towartis the place appoyntit, quhill thai come to the Cowart-croce, quilk was within a myle quhair THE LORD MAXVELL and Charlie Maxvell was huifand [riding; literally, hoofing] on horsbak togidder. Then Sir Robert Maxvell directit the Lard of Johnestoun and this deponar to stay thair, quhill his returne to thame, or ellis he gif thame ane sing to cum fordwart, quhilk was be haldin vp of his nepkyn vpoun his wand end [the end or point of his riding switch]. Schortlie thairefter Sir Robert Maxvell cumming from the Lord Maxvell, about the mydway betwix the saidis pairteis, the said Sir Robert help vp his nepkyn vpoun his wand end; and vpun that singe the Lard of Johnesoun and this deponar raid fortvart to the said Sir Robert. At thir meting the said Sir Robert shew to the Lard of Johnestoun, that the Lord Maxvell, accumpaneit with Charlie Maxvell allane, war awayting vpoun thair cumming, and that the Lord Maxvell inquyrit of Sir Robert quho vas with the Lard of Johnestoun? The quihilk Sir Robert ansuerit, that he had tauld to the said Lord Maxvell, that this deponar was onlie in cumpanie with the Lard of Johnestoun; and that the Lard of Johnestoun, for secrecie of the tryst, was rydand vpoun ane naig, and had left his best hors behind him. Then the Lard of Johnestoun ansuerit that he was weill content that Charlis Maxvell vas rather thair nor ony vther, be resoun he was Johne Murray of Cokpulis sister-sone; and at that saymyn tyme, Sir Robert tauld to the said Lard of Johnestoun, that he had tane the Lord Maxvellis ayeth and promeis, vpoun his fayth and honour, that he suld meit fairlie, and depairt fairlie. And that the Lord Maxvell desyrit the said Sir Robert to tak Charlis ayth thairvpoun; the quhilk Sir Robert refusit to do, saying that "he wald haif na promeis bot the Lord Maxvellis awin promeis for his man.' Lyk as, at that samin tyme, Sir Robert tuik the Lard of Johnsestounis ayth and promeis be his hand laid in his, that he suld meit fairlie and depairt fairlie with the Lord Maxvell, quhidder thai aggeit or nocht. Immediatlie thairefter Sir Robert raid to the Lord Maxvell, the Lard of Johnestoun and this deponar followand adreiche [Leisurely, loiteringly]; and thairefter, Sir Robert haveing ane short space spoken with the Lord Maxvell, they turnit towartis the Lard of Johnestoun, and the Lard of Johnestoun towartis thame; and efter salutatioun, the Lord Maxvell, The Lord of Johnestoun, and Sir Robert, raid togiddir to and fro, the said Sir Robert being myddis; bot quhat thai spak togiddir kennis nocht, be ressoun the said Charlis and this deponar stayit about ane pair of but-landis, or thairby, from thame, as Sir Robert Maxvell had had directit tham of before: And schortlie efter that the said Charlis and this deponar had stayit pairt and sindrie [Apart and separate, or asunder], the said Charlis Maxvell cummis first to this deponar, and said to this deponar. 'Gif I had knawin of this tryst, the Lord Maxvell nather culd nor suld haif brocht me heir.' The deponar ansuerit, 'I hoip in God Charlis, ze sall nocht rew of zour cumming heir! For thir twa noble men hes bene lang in variance, and I hoip now thai sall aggrie.' Then Charlis ansuerit, that 'The Lard of Johnstoune was nocht able to mak ane amendis, for the great skayth and injurie he had done to tham!' This deponar ansuerit, that 'The Lard vald cum in vill, and do to his powar to satifie the Lord and his freyndis.' Charlis ansuerit, that 'The said thryist was onlie maid to the prejudice of the said Charlis and his freyndis, for that man' (luikand towartis the Lard of Johnestoune) 'had socht his wraik; and thairfoir we suld nocht haid met zow, for ye ar all Traitouris!' The deponar ansuerit, 'Charlis, say quhat ze ze will this day, I will mak no ansuer thairto, be ressoune of my maisteris promeis.' Then Charlis said, that 'Ze ar all Traitouris! be ressoun ze slew Francie of Carlile vnder trest.' Then this doponar ansuerit, 'Say quhat ze will this day, I will gif zow na ansuer; bot within ane day or twa, gif ze will send zour man to me, I sall satisfie zow.' And incontinent vpoun that last speiche Charlis schott ane pistolet at this deponar, and shoit him throuche the cloik; and than this deponar preissit to haif shoit his awin pistolett, and it mifgaif, cryand 'Treassoun!' And the Lard, vpoun that cry, raikit fordvart from the Lord Maxvell; and the Lord Maxvell, with his pistolett, shoit at the Laird of Johnestoun behind his bak; at the quhilk shoit the Lard shortlie thaireftir fell, and incontinent Charlis shoit ane vther shoit at the Lard and this deponar, being baythstanding togidder: And this deponar preissand to haif put the Lard vpoun this deponaris meir, quha throuche waiknes vas vnable to loup on, the deponar sett the Lard vpoun the grund; and the deponar halding the Lard vp, and inquyring quhat he had yo say, the Laird luikand vp to hevins and said, 'Lord haif mercie on me! Chryst haif mercie on me! I am dissavit.' The the Lord Maxvell cryit to Charlis, 'Cum away.' Then the said Charlis ansuerit, 'My Lord, will ze ryid away, and leif this bludie theif behind zou?' Then the Lord ansuerit, "Quhat rak of him -- for the vther hes anewche!' And then thai bayth raid away togidder.
Sources:
Background music: "The Flowers of the Forest."
