190 Houser OF THE MAXWELLS OF NITHSDALE. 
learned ; and the beautiful seals illustrated in that work are proof 
of a refined taste. 
John, €th Lord Maxwell, 1593-1613, brought on himself 
dire calamity and odium. Having broken prison from Edinburgh 
Castle, the King, very angry, issued a proclamation that none 
should harbour him under pain of death. Outlawed and in 
hiding, Maxwell thought to better his condition by securing the 
friendship of the hereditary foes of his family, the Johnstones. 
With that view a meeting took place according to appointment 
between him and the chief of the latter clan. Maxwell’s motive 
will never be known, but conceivably the meeting with his ancient 
enemy reminded him of the disgrace of Dryfe Sands and his dead 
father, and roused in him uncontrollable passion. However that 
may be, he treacherously shot the laird of Johnstone in the back, 
who, coming to the ground, shortly expired, exclaiming, “I am 
deceived. Lord have mercy on me! Christ have mercy on 
me!”’ 
Lord Maxwell fled to France, where he remained four years. 
On returning to Scotland he was apprehended, carried to Edin- 
burgh, tried, condemned, and executed, confessing the justice of 
the sentence passed on him. 
The flight to France was the occasion of the ballad “ Lord 
Maxwell’s Good-Night.’’ It enumerates the castles his lordship 
held, and describes Dumfries as “ my proper place,’’ that is, my 
residence or chief residence. 
The castle dismantled by Scrope had been rebuilt. Dr Burn- 
side puts the date about 1590, that is, in the time of the 8th lord, 
who fell at Dryfe Sands. It will be seen that the castle, like the 
seals of the lord before referred to, evidences artistic tastes—it 
was highly ornate. Scotland, notwithstanding evil times, had 
developed a form of architecture peculiarly her own. Glammis 
and Fyvie are noted examples. Lord Maxwell’s Castle of Dum- 
fries may not compare with these in magnitude, but it seems no 
way inferior in richness of ornamental detail. 
The county records furnish evidence showing that the castle 
was of three storeys, with vaults below; and its architectural 
character is disclosed by certain typical stones recovered from the 
walls of the New Church, taken down to make way for the existing 
Greyfriars’ in 1866. Among these are a bold corbel such as is 
usually found supporting a wall-head battlement; corbels of 
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