Sir John Armstrong, of Gilknockie

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnnie_Armstrong

Johnnie Armstrong or Johnie Armstrong was a Scottish raider and folk-hero. Johnnie Armstrong of Gilnockie was captured and hanged by King James V in July 1530. He is related to the Baird family. Child ballad number 169 tells of his life.

John was called 'The Strong' had 5 sons. John was Robin (Robyn Hood) of the Border, and the stories of his exploits run through all Scottish literature and Sir Walter Scott makes frequent reference to him. John was granted lands in Eskdale, & Dumfrieshire Scotland 8/4/1525 by Robert, Lord of Maxwell. (Book of Carlsvsverock vol. 2, p. 479 #102) Pamphlet on Debatable Lands by Thomas Carlyle. John had several times challenged King James V James V, King of Scots of England, to a duel, and John was considered an embarrassment to the Crown of England, so King James V, declared him an outlaw. King James V men, trapped John in Whithaugh, Scotland with a few of John's men, and without a trial, hung them on the spot. Source-Chronicles of the Armstrongs p. 328 & 354. Source- Armstrong House of Langholm. Item 3. Source- Chart of the Ten Lords of Mangerton Castle. Source- Notable Southern Families by Zella Armstrong states " All the Armstrongs of Ireland in the Seventeenth Century are decended from John, and all the American Armstrongs, who trace through the Scotch-Irish Clan."

Source- The Armstrong Family History of Lancaster Co., Pa. by Mrs. Mae Armstrong Simon (Historian)

BALLAD OF JOHNNIE OF GILNOCKIE There dwelt a man in faire Westmerland, Jonnë Armstrong men did him call, He had nither lands nor rents coming in, Yet he kept eight score men in his hall. He had horse and harness for them all, Goodly studs were all milke-white; O the golden bands an about their necks, And their weapons, they were all alike. Newes then was brought unto the king That there was sicke a won as hee, That livëd lyke a bold out-law, And robbëd all the north country. The king he writt an a letter then, A letter which was large and long; He signëd it with his owne hand, And he promised to doe him no wrong. When this letter came Jonnë untill, His heart was as blyth as birds on the tree: Never was I sent for before any king, My father, my grandfather, nor none but mee. And if wee goe the king before, I would we went most orderly; Every man of you shall have his scarlet cloak, Laced with silver laces three. Every won of you shall have his velvett coat, Laced with silver lace so white; O the golden bands an about your necks, Black hatts, white feathers, all alyke. By the morrow morning at ten of the clock, Towards Edenburough gon was hee, And with him all his eight score men; Good Lord, it was a goodly sight for to see! When Jonnë came befower the king, He fell downe on his knee; O pardon, my soveraine leige, he said, O pardon, my eight score men and mee. Thou shalt have no pardon, thou traytor strong For thy eight score men nor thee; For tomorrow morning by ten of the clock, Both thou and them shall hang on the gallow tree. But Jonnë looked over his left shoulder, Good Lord, what a grevious look looked hee! Saying, Asking grace of a graceless face - Why there is none for you nor me? But Jonnë had a bright sword by his side, And it was made of the mettle so free, That had not the king stept his foot a side, He had smitten his head from his faire boddë. Saying, Fight on, my merry men all, And see that none of you be taine; For rather than men shall say we were hangd, Let them report how we were slaine! Then, God wott, faire Eddenburrough rose, And so besett poore Jonnë rounde, That fower score and tenn of Jonnës best men Lay gasping all upon the ground. Then like a mad mand Jonnë laide about, And like a man then fought hee, Untill a falce Scot came Jonnë behinde, And runn him through the faire boddee. Saying, Fight on, my merry men all, I am a little hurt, but I am not slain; I will lay me down for to bleed a while, Then Ile rise and fight with you again. Newes then was brought to young Jonnë Armestrong, As he stood by his nurses knee, Who vowed if ere he lived for to be a man, O the treacherous Scots revenged heed be.

Notes: From: Old English Ballads Francis B. Gummere Ginn & Co., Publishers 1894 pp 127-129

Notes

John Armstrong, born 1480, House Gilnockle Hall, Parish, Scotland, died 8 June 1530, Caerlanrig, Whithaugh, Scotland. He was the son of Alexander Armstrong (1445-1510).

"John of Gilnockie" Armstrong is immortalized in "The Ballad of Johnie Armstrang" attributed to Ringan's Thom. The full account of his betrayal can be found in "The Steel Bonnets" by George MacDonald Fraser (1971).

CAREY'S Memoirs, p. 151.

From this narrative, the power and strength of the Armstrongs, at this late period, appear to have been very considerable. Johnie Armstrong of Gilnockie, the hero of the following ballad, is a noted personage, both in history and tradition. He was, it would seem from the ballad, a brother of the Laird of Mangertoun, chief of the name. His place of residence (now a roofless tower) was at the Hollows, a few miles from Langholm, where its ruins still serve to adorn a scene, which in natural beauty, has few equals in Scotland. At the head of a desperate band of freebooters, this Armstrong is said to have spread the terror of his name almost as far as Newcastle, and to have levied black-mail, or protection and forbearance money, for many miles round.

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“JOHNNY ARMSTRONG AND THE MISSING HEIR” < link >

Since the death of Johnny Armstrong there have been many stories as to what happened to his vast fortune. One rarely spoken story is that it is in fact buried at Langholm Castle, under a point where there is a risen part of the ground where a vault could easily be hidden. What secrets lie under it may go undiscovered but the tale of Johnny Armstrong will live forever.

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Johnny Armstrong painting by Henry Hetherington Emmerson at Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle today. Painted in 1886 it shows him on an ill advised journey to meet James V.

Source: < Wikimedia Commons >

References

1. Wikipedia contributors, "Johnnie Armstrong," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, < Wikipedia > (accessed February 12, 2024).
2. WikiTree contributors, "John Armstrong (1480-1530)," WikiTree: The Free Family Tree, (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Armstrong-709 : accessed 12 February 2024). Comments
3. Sir Walter Scott. “The Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border: Johnie Armstrong.” < AncestryImage >. (document attached).
4. https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/15793762/person/49...