William Armstrong (Christie's Will) facts for kids

William Armstrong (1565-1649) was a famous Scottish adventurer from the 1600s. People often called him Christie's Will. He was well-known in the Scottish Borders region. A famous writer, Sir Walter Scott, even wrote a poem about him!

Who Was Christie's Will?

William Armstrong was the son of Christie Armstrong. His father is mentioned in another old poem called Johnnie Armstrong. William inherited a place called Gilnockie Tower.

Early Life and Troubles

One time, William was put in prison in Jedburgh. This was in a place called the Tolbooth, which was an old town jail. He had been on an adventure and had taken two young horses.

A very important person, the Earl of Traquair, helped him get out of prison. The Earl was a powerful leader at the time. After this, William became very loyal to the Earl. He always tried to help him.

Helping a Powerful Friend

Later, the Earl of Traquair had a big legal case. It was going to be decided in a special court in Edinburgh called the Court of Session. People thought the judge, Sir Alexander Gibson, Lord Durie I, might not rule in the Earl's favor.

The Judge's Mysterious Trip

So, William Armstrong came up with a plan. He found the judge, Lord Durie, exercising his horse at Leith Sands. William took the judge, covering his eyes so he couldn't see. He then took him to an old castle far away. This castle was called the Tower of Graham, near Moffat.

The judge's friends were very worried. They thought his horse had thrown him into the sea and he was gone forever. But after the Earl's court case was finished, William brought the judge back. He was again blindfolded and returned to Leith Sands. The judge arrived home three months after his horse! This event likely happened in 1642 or 1643.

A Daring Escape

William Armstrong was also said to have helped the Earl during a time of war. This was during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. William carried an important message to the king.

On his way back, soldiers of Oliver Cromwell were chasing him near Carlisle. To escape, William made his horse jump over the side of a bridge! The bridge crossed the Eden, which was flooded at the time. This was a very brave and risky escape.

Where Did He End Up?

There is an old tombstone in the churchyard of Sark. Some people once thought it belonged to another famous person, "Kinmont Willie." But it might actually be for Christie's Will. The person on that tombstone died in 1658 when they were 56 years old.

Christie's Will in Stories

The famous writer Sir Walter Scott published a poem about William Armstrong. It is called Christie's Will. He included it in his collection of old poems called Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border. Scott said that this poem might not be entirely from ancient times, but it tells a great story!