William Armstrong (Christie's Will)
Encyclopedia
William Armstrong known as Christie's Will was a Scottish Borders
freebooter
of the 17th century, celebrated in a ballad by Sir Walter Scott
.
. Having been imprisoned in the Tolbooth, Jedburgh
, for stealing two colts during a marauding expedition, he received his release through the interposition of the Earl of Traquair
, lord high treasurer, and henceforth became devoted heart and soul to the earl's interests.
Some time afterwards a lawsuit, in which the Earl of Traquair was a party, was on for trial in the Court of Session, Edinburgh
. The decision, it was supposed, would turn on the opinion of the presiding judge, Sir Alexander Gibson, Lord Durie of the Clan Durie
, who was known to be unfavourable to Lord Traquair. Armstrong, therefore, kidnapped the judge at Leith
Sands, where he was taking his usual exercise on horseback, and conveyed him blindfold to an old castle, the tower of Graham, on the Dryfe Water, near Moffat
. The judge's friends mourned for him as dead, the belief being that his horse had thrown him into the sea; but after the case was settled he was again conveyed blindfold to Leith Sands, whence he made his way home three months later than his horse. As Lord Durie was twice chosen president of the court, namely, for the summer session of 1642, and for the winter session of 1643, his capture must have taken place in one of these years.
Armstrong is said also to have been employed by Traquair, during the English Civil War
, in conveying a packet to the king, and on his return to have made his escape at Carlisle from the pursuit of Cromwell
's soldiers by springing his horse over the parapet of the bridge that crosses the Eden
, which was then in flood. It is not impossible that the tombstone discovered in the churchyard of Sark, supposed at one time to be that of "Kinmont Willie", may really commemorate Christie's Will. The William Armstrong to whom it refers died in 1658 at the age of 56. The ballad of Christie's Will, published by Sir Walter Scott in Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border is, according to Sir Walter, not to be regarded as of genuine and unmixed antiquity.
Scottish Borders
The Scottish Borders is one of 32 local government council areas of Scotland. It is bordered by Dumfries and Galloway in the west, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian in the north west, City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian to the north; and the non-metropolitan counties of Northumberland...
freebooter
Filibuster (military)
A filibuster, or freebooter, is someone who engages in an unauthorized military expedition into a foreign country to foment or support a revolution...
of the 17th century, celebrated in a ballad by Sir Walter Scott
Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright, and poet, popular throughout much of the world during his time....
.
Biography
William Armstrong was the son or grandson of the Christie Armstrong referred to in the ballad of Johnnie Armstrong as "Kristy my son", and inherited Gilnockie TowerGilnockie Tower
Gilnockie Tower is a 16th-century tower house, located at the hamlet of Hollows, 2.3 km north of Canonbie, in Dumfries and Galloway, south-west Scotland. The tower is situated on the west bank of the River Esk. It was originally known as Hollows Tower...
. Having been imprisoned in the Tolbooth, Jedburgh
Jedburgh
Jedburgh is a town and former royal burgh in the Scottish Borders and historically in Roxburghshire.-Location:Jedburgh lies on the Jed Water, a tributary of the River Teviot, it is only ten miles from the border with England and is dominated by the substantial ruins of Jedburgh Abbey...
, for stealing two colts during a marauding expedition, he received his release through the interposition of the Earl of Traquair
John Stewart, 1st Earl of Traquair
John Stewart, 1st Earl of Traquair was a Scottish statesman, the son of John Stewart, the younger, of Traquair in Peeblesshire, of a branch, originally illegitimate, of the house of Buchan, and was created Baron Stewart of Traquair in 1628 and earl of Traquair in 1633.He was appointed...
, lord high treasurer, and henceforth became devoted heart and soul to the earl's interests.
Some time afterwards a lawsuit, in which the Earl of Traquair was a party, was on for trial in the Court of Session, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. The decision, it was supposed, would turn on the opinion of the presiding judge, Sir Alexander Gibson, Lord Durie of the Clan Durie
Clan Durie
-Origins:There is a persistent myth that the origin of the name Durie is from the French 'Du Roi' but there is no evidence for this. Rather, a younger son of the Earl of Strathearn was granted the existing lands of Durie and took the name...
, who was known to be unfavourable to Lord Traquair. Armstrong, therefore, kidnapped the judge at Leith
Leith
-South Leith v. North Leith:Up until the late 16th century Leith , comprised two separate towns on either side of the river....
Sands, where he was taking his usual exercise on horseback, and conveyed him blindfold to an old castle, the tower of Graham, on the Dryfe Water, near Moffat
Moffat
Moffat is a former burgh and spa town in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, lying on the River Annan, with a population of around 2,500. The most notable building in the town is the Moffat House Hotel, designed by John Adam...
. The judge's friends mourned for him as dead, the belief being that his horse had thrown him into the sea; but after the case was settled he was again conveyed blindfold to Leith Sands, whence he made his way home three months later than his horse. As Lord Durie was twice chosen president of the court, namely, for the summer session of 1642, and for the winter session of 1643, his capture must have taken place in one of these years.
Armstrong is said also to have been employed by Traquair, during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, in conveying a packet to the king, and on his return to have made his escape at Carlisle from the pursuit of Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
's soldiers by springing his horse over the parapet of the bridge that crosses the Eden
River Eden, Cumbria
The River Eden is a river that flows through Cumbria, England on its way to the Solway Firth.-Course of river:The Eden rises in Black Fell Moss, Mallerstang, on the high ground between High Seat, Yorkshire Dales and Hugh Seat. Here it forms the boundary between the counties of Cumbria and North...
, which was then in flood. It is not impossible that the tombstone discovered in the churchyard of Sark, supposed at one time to be that of "Kinmont Willie", may really commemorate Christie's Will. The William Armstrong to whom it refers died in 1658 at the age of 56. The ballad of Christie's Will, published by Sir Walter Scott in Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border is, according to Sir Walter, not to be regarded as of genuine and unmixed antiquity.