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 around.  James V., of whom it was long remembered by his grateful people, that he made the “rush-bush keep the cow,” about 1529, undertook an expedition through the border counties, to suppress the turbulent spirit of the marchmen.  But, before setting out upon his journey, he took the precaution of imprisoning the different border chieftains, who were the chief protectors of the marauders.  The Earl of Bothwell was forfeited, and confined in Edinburgh castle.  The lords of Home and Maxwell, the lairds of Buccleuch, Fairniherst, and Johnston, with many others, were also committed to ward.  Cockburn of Henderland, and Adam Scott of Tushielaw, called the King of the Border, were publicly executed.—­Lesley, p. 430.  The king then marched rapidly forward, at the head of a flying army of ten thousand men, through Ettrick Forest, and Ewsdale.  The evil genius of our Johnie Armstrong, or, as others say, the private advice of some courtiers, prompted him to present himself before James, at the head of thirty-six horse, arrayed in all the pomp of border chivalry, Pitscottie uses nearly the words of the ballad, in describing the splendour of his equipment, and his high expectations of favour from the king.  “But James, looking upon him sternly, said to his attendants, ‘What wants that knave that a king should have?’ and ordered him and his followers to instant execution.”—­“But John Armstrong,” continues this minute historian, “made great offers to the king.  That he should sustain himself, with forty gentlemen, ever ready at his service, on their own cost, without wronging any Scottishman:  Secondly, that there was not a subject in England, duke, earl, or baron, but, within a certain day, he should bring him to his majesty, either quick or dead.[117] At length he, seeing no hope of favour, said very proudly, ’It is folly to seek grace at a graceless face; but,’ said he, ’had I known this, I should have lived upon the borders in despite of King Harry and you both; for I know King Harry would down-weigh my best horse with gold, to know that I were condemned to die this day.’—­Pitscottie’s History, p. 145.  Johnie, with all his retinue, was accordingly hanged upon growing trees, at a place called Carlenrig chapel, about ten miles above Hawick, on the high road to Langholm.  The country people believe, that, to manifest the injustice of the execution, the trees withered away.  Armstrong and his followers were buried in a deserted church-yard, where their graves are still shewn.