The Octavians were a financial commission of eight in the government of Scotland first appointed by James VI on 9 January 1596.
79-703: James VI's minister John Maitland, 1st Lord Maitland of Thirlestane died on 3 October 1595, and his financial situation was troubled. The Octavians were in part drawn from a committee appointed in 1593 by the Parliament of Scotland to look after the estates of Anne of Denmark . Around this time, King James had difficult financing the two royal households, and years later, he wrote that Alexander Seton joked that his "house could not be kept upon epigrams", meaning that fine words alone would not raise money. An English courtier in Scotland Roger Aston described events at
158-561: A Letter of Rehabilitation in his favour, as "Commendator of Coldingham", passed the Great Seal . On 26 April 1581, he was reappointed Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland and returned to the Bench. He was shortly afterwards made a Privy Counsellor and, upon the dismissal of Robert Pitcairn , Abbot of Dunfermline , appointed Secretary of Scotland on 18 May 1584. In the parliament which met on
237-560: A Danish marriage. A Danish princess would bring James a larger dowry, as Navarre was now impoverished by war with the Catholic league. James was anxious to avoid taking sides in the French conflict. According to an English observer, Thomas Fowler , Peter Young and William Stewart told James that Catherine was "old and crooked". James was persuaded and Maitland agreed. Maitland accompanied James VI on his voyage to Norway and Denmark , and
316-469: A brief honeymoon, the new earl was not permitted to come within twenty miles of his new wife 'for reassone of his youngnes'. James VI made a proclamation against Margaret Douglas for her support of her husband in November 1592. She was said to be "a griter mellair", to have had more involvement in her husband's treasons, "than became a woman". They had at least four sons and four daughters: Francis Stewart
395-513: A cellar, where Bothwell's men "stobbed him with whingers till he was despatched". The following year Bothwell and other nobles felt that the beheading of James VI's mother Queen Mary demanded an invasion of England, a course of action the king disagreed with. Bothwell was warded for a time in Edinburgh Castle for his activities in trying to advance this course of action. On 10 May 1587, Bothwell and other nobles protested their innocence over
474-564: A collision between the King's forces and Bothwell's in the fields between Edinburgh and Leith , near Arthur's Seat , called in some books The Raid of Leith . There was not much bloodshed, the king remaining at the Burgh Muir , with Bothwell retiring to Dalkeith en route again to the Scottish Borders . Many thought had Bothwell pressed home he would have been the victor and had a warm welcome from
553-506: A fleet to fetch Anne. Bothwell's estimate of the costs involved was high and James decided to raise funds and make the voyage himself. Bothwell remained in Scotland and was given a share of the government. Subsequently, in November 1590 those accused of witchcraft in North Berwick were tortured and made confessions about causing the storms by magic. The historian Christina Larner proposed that
632-545: A household of ladies and gentlewomen to be about her. James VI came to Thirlestane Castle on 15 February 1591 to celebrate the marriage of his niece to the laird of Lugton. Sir Robert Ker of Cessford had married his niece Margaret Maitland, and he was able to help Maitland into the favour of Anne of Denmark. Sophie of Mecklenburg sent Maitland a letter of thanks in June 1591, after hearing good reports from Wilhelm von der Wense . James had asked him to resolve issues over pay in
711-452: A picture of James VI saying he should be "consumed at the instance of a noble man Francis Erle Bodowell." Another, Ritchie Graham, confessed and insisted he had conspired with the earl, leading to his arrest in April 1591. Francis broke out of the castle on 22 June 1591, while the king was away at the wedding of Lilias Murray and John Grant of Freuchie at Tullibardine , and headed south. He
790-542: A raid on Stirling Castle in November 1585. The king accepted their oaths and declared them to be his "honest and true servants". Francis, Earl Bothwell, swore an obligation in Council on 8 July 1587 as Keeper of Liddesdale to keep the peace there, and on 29 July he was made a full member of the Privy Council of Scotland – a body he had been attending since at least 1582. He attended the wedding of Henrietta Stewart and
869-588: A reforming body, eager to bring order to the royal finances and bear down on patronage. They imposed a 5% import tax and promoted an expedition into the Highlands to recover tax revenue. The Octavians appointed Henry Wardlaw of Pitreavie as Receiver General, responsible for the income from the Comptrollery , the New Augmentations (duties paid from former church lands), and the mint . The initial commission for
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#1732844332336948-540: A scribe of the Maitland Folio and Quarto. John Maitland married Jean Fleming , daughter of James, 4th Lord Fleming and Barbara Hamilton in January 1583. Their children included: Francis Stewart, 1st Earl of Bothwell Francis Stewart, 5th Earl of Bothwell (c. December 1562 – November 1612), was Commendator of Kelso Abbey and Coldingham Priory , a Privy Counsellor and Lord High Admiral of Scotland . He
1027-680: A set of red serge bed curtains. When Mary was pregnant in 1566 she made a will bequeathing her jewels . If she had died in childbed, Francis would have received several sets of gold buttons and aiglets , and a slice of unicorn horn mounted on silver chain, used to test for poison. Regardless of his youth, in December 1564 he was made Lord Badenoch and Enzie, and in 1566 he was appointed (nominal) Commendator of Culross Abbey. He was, before 1568, Commendator of Kelso Abbey in Roxburghshire , which position he had exchanged with John Maitland , in place of
1106-464: A side chapel on the north side of St. Mary's , Haddington , where a splendid monument, with an epitaph, composed by King James VI , was erected to his memory. Sir John Scot of Scotstarvet , writing in the seventeenth century, had this to say of the 1st Lord Maitland: "Mr John Maitland, second brother to Secretary Maitland, after he had studied the laws in France, was preferred to be a Lord of Session by
1185-419: A sum of money advanced on the security of some of the jewels of Anne of Denmark to the goldsmith and financier George Heriot . Preston however, had reserved the money for the costs of an embassy to France. John Maitland, 1st Lord Maitland of Thirlestane John Maitland, 1st Lord Maitland of Thirlestane (1537 – 3 October 1595), of Lethington , Knight (1581), was Lord Chancellor of Scotland . He
1264-539: Is not, for Aberdeen is near four score miles direct north from Edinburgh and Kelso is twenty eight miles direct south from Edinburgh. An English observer wrote of rumours that Bothwell had practiced with witches in some unlawful matter between him and Anne of Denmark, which had made him odious to the king. Bothwell was thought to be in Leith on 18 October, where his wife was staying, and the king hunted for him there. James Sandilands captured his servant Robert Scott, brother of
1343-562: The Earl of Huntly in July 1588, and his own appearance "set around with mirrors" drew attention. One of the honours he received with his earldom was that of Lord High Admiral of Scotland , and on 1 August 1588, he was ordered "to attend upon his awne charge of admirallitie" in order to resist the Spanish Armada . He remained active at sea, and on 12 November of the same year Frederick Freis, master of
1422-663: The Laird of Balwearie and Valentine, the earl's best horse, but the earl could not be found. On 27 December Bothwell broke into Holyroodhouse attempting to seek reconciliation, or as his opponents claimed, trying to assassinate James and Anne. The twins Patrick and John Schaw were killed trying to defend the king. Some of his supporters were captured, including David Cunningham of Robertland , and some sentenced to death. Anne of Denmark pleaded with James VI for their lives, especially for John Naysmyth . Reports of Bothwell at Morham , his mother's tower house , and Coldingham resulted in
1501-496: The North Berwick Witch Trials on 15 April 1591 by the confession of Richie Graham. Anne of Denmark disapproved of the pursuit of the rebel Earl, and blamed Maitland for seeking the "wrack of the king's blood". Another quarrel grew over her dowry lands. Anne of Denmark believed she was the rightful owner of Musselburgh and Inveresk , lands belonging to Maitland, which were properties of Abbey of Dunfermline south of
1580-623: The River Forth . These lands were transferred to her after a Danish ambassador Dr Paulus Knibbius made representations to Maitland in 1592. She came to resent Maitland's powers and in January 1593 appealed for help against him and his wife, Jean Fleming , who she believed had slandered her and accused her of being complicit with the Earl of Bothwell. In 1594, James VI appealed to her brother Christian IV of Denmark to ask her to take Maitland into her favour again. In February 1595, his relationship with
1659-567: The baptism of Prince Henry . In August, Joachim von Bassewitz, the ambassador of the Duke of Mecklenburg (who was Anne of Denmark's grandfather), offered to speak with the English ambassador Robert Bowes on Bothwell's behalf, but Bowes declined. As a result of his poverty and lack of support, Bothwell had no option left to him but to change religious sides. A new Privy Council proclamation against him, dated 30 September 1594, states that he had "thrown off
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#17328443323361738-558: The character of the witch hunt with the "demonic pact" which featured in the confessions was influenced by Danish practice. In July 1590 a number of so-called witches had been arrested in the Copenhagen witch trials in Denmark, including Anna Koldings , for causing the storms. One of the Scottish accused, Agnes Sampson , according to James Melville of Halhill , claimed the devil had shown her
1817-503: The 11th, at Linlithgow, with the news that the king proposed to modify his blanket pardon, and added a condition that Bothwell would have to go into exile. He went first to Crichton, then to Jedburgh. It was thought at first that Bothwell had not taken this badly and would comply, but feeling betrayed he soon returned to his old ways and in the first days of October his partisans, the Earls of Atholl, Montrose, and Gowrie, had been seen in arms in
1896-492: The 22nd of that month, his doom of forfeiture was reduced, and he was restored to all the honours, heritages, and offices he had formerly possessed. On 1 May 1585, plague came to Edinburgh and the king and councillors, including Maitland, went to Dirleton Castle , where their host James Stewart, Earl of Arran entertained them with a sumptuous banquet and a Robin Hood play. Maitland was appointed Vice-Chancellor on 31 May 1586, and
1975-645: The 7th Earl of Angus , in Holyrood Abbey . Francis studied at the University of St Andrews before travelling in 1578 to the Universities of Paris and Rouen (and possibly also to Italy). Recalled to Scotland by the king, he landed at Newhaven in June 1582. On 29 May 1583, the King, against the advice of Gowrie and the other Lords of the 'Ruthven Raid', who had controlled him for the past nine months, left Edinburgh, progressing first to Linlithgow Palace , accompanied by
2054-679: The Bothwell's daughters, who was "a very gallant lady", would marry the young Earl of Morton . These rumours or plans came to nothing. In July 1602 a marriage was contracted for Anna Home, the daughter of Sir George Home, and Sir James Home of Whitrig, Bothwell's nephew, and again it was thought that Bothwell himself might be restored. Bothwell lived in poverty in Naples , where he died in November 1612. The English ambassador in Venice, Sir Dudley Carleton , reported that Bothwell died at Naples after hearing news of
2133-683: The Canongate near Holyrood Palace in November 1583. On 13 May 1585, Bothwell, with others, was commissioned to assist the Warden of the Scottish Marches dealing with rebels. In June 1586 Bothwell was one of three Commissioners appointed by James VI to negotiate a military alliance between the English and Scottish Crowns, which was formally concluded on 5 July. He quarrelled with William Stewart of Monkton and then they fought on Blackfriar's Wynd. Bothwell stabbed him with his rapier and Stewart tried to hide in
2212-661: The Earl Marischal, Lord Home, Sinclair of Roslin and John Wemyss of Logie . On 13 July 1592, a new warrant was issued against Bothwell's supporters in the Borders, including Walter Scott of Harden and Dryhope and John Pennycuik of that Ilk. On 14 September, the Privy Council ordered an armed muster to attend the king into Teviotdale in pursuit of Bothwell's supporters. The king left Edinburgh for Dalkeith on 9 October and thereafter proceeded to Jedburgh . However, little or nothing
2291-572: The Earls of Bothwell. These included; Hailes , Yester , Dunsyre , Morham , Crichton , Wilton, Bothwell and many others in the sheriffdoms of Edinburgh, Roxburgh, Lanark, Dumfries, and Berwick, and the Stewartries of Annandale and Kirkcudbright. A letter of Marie Pieris, Lady Seton to Mary, Queen of Scots mentioned that Francis was "at the Schools, and in good health" in August 1570. His sister Christine
2370-803: The Earls of Mar, Angus, Bothwell and Marischal. At Linlithgow, Bothwell played football with the Earl Marischal . Bothwell knocked him over, then he kicked Bothwell on the leg. They decided to fight a duel the next day, but the Earl of Angus and the king, James VI , reconciled them. After this, Bothwell returned to Crichton. Bothwell quarreled with David Home of Manderston at Linlithgow Palace in November 1583. He killed him in 1584, and on 23 October 1584 he wrote from Crichton Castle to Sir Patrick Vans of Barnbarroch asking him to meet him at Dalkeith and support him at his trial in Edinburgh. He also fought with Alexander Home, Prior of Coldingham , and his brother in
2449-616: The Forth to travel north, Bothwell having been heard of in Dundee , and the Privy Council of Scotland denounced Ross of Balnagown , the Master of Gray and his brother Robert, and others for assisting Bothwell. When the Parliament of Scotland met on 5 June 1592 for the first time after nearly five years and the Privy Council was reconstituted, a proclamation was issued denuding Bothwell of honours, titles and lands. On 28 June, between one and two o'clock in
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2528-531: The King's person, and put the Chancellor to death. The King and Maitland were not, however, at Holyroodhouse and the plot failed. Several other plots were formed against him shortly afterwards, but they were all defeated. Maitland at first preferred that James VI marry Catherine of Bourbon . In June 1589, Edinburgh merchants protested against the possibility of James VI marrying Catherine, making "unreverent speeches" about her. They saw economic advantages arising from
2607-648: The Octavians lasted only one year, and was much disliked. Presbyterians attempted a coup on 17 December 1596. One demand was that the Octavians should be disbanded. James VI was in the Tolbooth of Edinburgh with most of the Privy Council and the Octavians. After a sermon given by Walter Balcanquhall in St Giles , the congregation came out crying "the sword of Gideon " and some rioters called for arms. The royal guard escorted James VI back to Holyroodhouse . When their commission
2686-542: The Octavians, gave Anne of Denmark a purse of gold which she then presented to the king as a New Year's Day gift. The details of this incident are obscure. The Octavians made particular efforts to reduce the cost of the royal households of James VI and Anne of Denmark. The chamberlain, the Duke of Lennox , and the Master Households, were encourage to reduce the number of courtiers who received fees and meals at court, and as many as 70 posts were trimmed. The Octavians were
2765-522: The Priory of Coldingham . This transaction was ratified by Mary, Queen of Scots on 20 April 1567. Upon the death of his father, he was appointed Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland , on 20 April 1567. He also supported Regent Moray and sat in his parliaments in December 1567 and August 1568. On 2 June 1568, he was created a Senator of the College of Justice as an Ordinary Lord on the spiritual side. He retained
2844-461: The Scottish diplomat Richard Cockburn of Clerkington and Essex's secretary Anthony Bacon . Essex replied that he wrote only with the queen's knowledge, and they would be happy to receive letters from Maitland or Cockburn. John Maitland died on 3 October 1595 at Thirlestane Castle , after a month's illness attended by the physician Dr Martin Schöner and the minister Robert Bruce . He was buried in
2923-556: The Shore of Leith before the king embarked in a ferry boat for Kinghorn and Falkland Palace. Bothwell conveyed the queen, Anne of Denmark , to Falkland the next day, and he gave the king two English horses and a dozen hounds. The King, however, was not yet finished, and when the Convention of Estates met at Stirling on 7 September he conspired with those opposed to Bothwell to recall his pardon and Royal messengers went to meet Bothwell on
3002-701: The Swedish ship Unicorn , brought an action in the Scottish Privy Council against the Earl Bothwell for the seizure of his ship. The Council ordered Bothwell to restore the ship to Freis within 24 hours. Bothwell was imprisoned in Holyrood Palace in May 1589, and called to James VI who was in the garden for his release. The king ignored him, and he was transferred to Blackness Castle and Tantallon Castle . Bothwell
3081-498: The arrest of his accomplices, including James Scott of Balwearie , Martine of Cardone, and Lumsden of Airdrie. Certain Borders lairds were ordered in June to assemble for his pursuit and were joined by the king himself on 6 July. They did not find the fugitive Bothwell and the pursuit was finally abandoned on 7 August, but the Crown obtained possession of all his houses and strengths. Several of Bothwell's supporters were locked up, including
3160-439: The barony of Liddington [ Lethington ] from his brother's son, James Maitland, was not thought lawful nor conscientious." A portrait of John Maitland by Adrian Vanson at Ham House was valued at £2 in 1683. Examination by Caroline Rae in 2016 showed that it was painted over an image of Mary, Queen of Scots . He was the brother of William Maitland of Lethington , Scottish Secretary of State, and Marie Maitland , considered
3239-609: The canker of her estate and safety." In February 1602, a rumour circulated that he had left Spain for the Low Countries and was trying to bribe Colonel Edmond or Captain William Brog (who were said to be rivals in emulation), with their Scottish soldiers, to join the Spanish service. In June 1602 there was a rumour that Sir George Home and Sir Thomas Erskine wanted to recall him to Scotland to strengthen their faction, and that one of
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3318-621: The citizens of Edinburgh, as his Protestant cause was gaining popularity. In April 1594, James VI sent Edward Bruce and James Colville of Easter Wemyss to London to complain about "secret intelligence" which had passed between the ambassador Lord Zouche and the rebel Earl of Bothwell. James VI wrote to the Earl of Essex asking for his support. In May 1594, Bothwell was in Northumberland and he heard that Jacob Kroger had stolen jewels from Anne of Denmark . Bothwell found Kroger at Edward Delaval's house near North Shields and took some of
3397-486: The cloik of religioun" (meaning Presbyterianism ) and openly allied himself in a new confederacy against the king with the Roman Catholic Lords Huntly , Angus , Errol , and others. The king proceeded north against them. The confederacy collapsed and Huntly and Errol agreed to go abroad. The king's pardon being revoked, another formal sentence of treason was proclaimed against Bothwell on 18 February 1595,
3476-616: The day of the execution of his half-brother, Hercules Stewart . Hercules supported his brother, but was captured, along with another person, by John Colville and William Hume, who promised them their lives. However, they were hanged "in spite of much popular sympathy, at the Market Place of Edinburgh." Until April 1595, Bothwell continued to lurk about Caithness and Orkney but eventually embarked for France, landing at Newhaven in Normandy . On 6 May 1595 Thomas Edmondes reported that Bothwell
3555-456: The death of Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales , whom he had hoped would restore his fortune. The Spanish Viceroy of Naples, the Count of Lemos , arranged a lavish funeral for the Scottish earl. On 1 December 1577, Francis, Earl of Bothwell, married Margaret Douglas (d. 1640), daughter of the 7th Earl of Angus , and widow of Sir Walter Scott of Branxholme & Buccleuch (d. 1574). Initially, after
3634-506: The end of December 1595 in a letter to James Hudson: "The queen's council joins with the prior (Alexander Seton) and other of the king's council for the reformation of the king's particular affairs". The committee for the queen's estates continued after the Union of Crowns , and new appointments were made in April 1617. It was said that at the end of December 1595, the Queen's council, newly appointed as
3713-513: The events of the marriage of James VI to Anne of Denmark in September 1589. She had been expected to sail from Denmark but was prevented by storms three times. The Danish admiral Peder Munk attributed the storms to witchcraft. The same weather caused an accident in the River Forth resulting in the drowning of Jane Kennedy , whom James had appointed to be chief of Anne's ladies-in-waiting. James then asked Bothwell, as Admiral of Scotland, to prepare
3792-432: The jewels, hoping to use them to bargain his way back into the king's favour. The Bailiff of Shields prevented him taking Kroger and his companion Guillaume Martyn back to Scotland. Bothwell seems to have spent some time in Scotland, at Hermitage Castle , in these months. In July, John Carey , an English officer at Berwick, heard that Bothwell had entered into a truce, arranged by Anne of Denmark's intercession, until after
3871-408: The king leading a party from Holyroodhouse on 13 January 1592 to apprehend him. However, the King's horse threw him into a pool of water, from which a local yeoman had to rescue him "by the necke", and the chase was abandoned. Early in 1592, Bothwell addressed a letter to the clergy of Edinburgh, indignantly disowning the witchcraft charges. On 7 April the King again went in pursuit of Bothwell, crossing
3950-479: The king's consideration. In January 1591 he was reported to have bought the Isle of May and to be building a house near Kelso not far from the English border. This may refer to the repair of Moss Tower at Eckford . Bothwell was arrested on accusations of witchcraft on 15 April 1591. Charged with trying to arrange the king's death through sorcery, he was imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle. These allegations arose through
4029-495: The king, or burn his effigy in wax, or enchant the king to stay in Denmark in 1590. Bothwell made speeches and other argument on his own behalf, and blamed his enemies Sir George Home and Sir John Carmichael . He was acquitted. The English ambassador Robert Bowes described how on 15 August 1593 James VI and the Earl of Bothwell enjoyed a particularly Scottish form of banquet involving "small provisions of delicates having spice [sweet]meat and wines, of no great matter or value" at
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#17328443323364108-511: The ladies in waiting to Anne of Denmark asked him to join with Jens Nilssøn , Bishop of Oslo to intercede with James VI for the pardon of David Cunningham of Robertland . He had been welcomed at the Danish court after fleeing Scotland in the aftermath of the murder of the Earl of Eglinton in 1586. Maitland and the Danish ladies in waiting had an audience with the king in the Old Bishop's Palace and
4187-688: The laird of Robertland was pardoned. On 15 December, James VI asked him to give the Danish counsellor Steno Brahe , brother of the astronomer Tycho Brahe , and the young king's lieutenant "Apill Gudlingstarre" or Axel Gyldenstierne gifts of silver plate from his cupboard, and Maitland was to keep the rest. The silver had been a gift to James VI from Queen Elizabeth , supplied by the London goldsmith Richard Martin . James VI ordered Maitland to give jewels to Christian IV and his mother Sophie of Mecklenburg and other royals. These gifts included four great table diamonds and two great rubies set in gold rings which
4266-473: The master of the royal wardrobe William Keith of Delny had brought to Denmark. Shortly after his return to Scotland, on 18 May 1590, Maitland was made a Lord of Parliament with the title Lord Maitland of Thirlestane. Anne of Denmark 's mother Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow had asked him to set up her daughter's household in Scotland and advise on matters of "honour and benefit." He consulted with Anne at Dunfermline Palace in July 1590 to ask her to appoint
4345-531: The morning, Bothwell, leading 300 others, attempted to capture Falkland Palace and the king. Forewarned, the king and queen and his immediate courtiers withdrew to the tower and locked it from within. Bothwell gave up and left with the horses from the royal stables. The English border reiver Richie Graham of Brackenhill and his companions sacked the Falkland town, taking horses, clothing and money. On 29 and 30 June proclamations were issued for Bothwell's pursuit and
4424-426: The offer of Coldingham Priory which Maitland then held until his forfeiture in 1570. Some historians give Sir Alexander Home as Maitland's successor; he in fact declined to accept his appointment, and Priory charters record Francis Stewart as the next Commendator. Francis was succeeded as Prior of Coldingham by his second son, John. On 10 January 1568, Francis was confirmed in the lands and baronies formerly held by
4503-482: The palace to help, but the king said things were fine. The king accepted Bothwell's protestations of loyalty and an agreement for his pardon was reached. (It received the Royal and other signatures on 14 August). So, just five days after his forfeiture, Bothwell and his accomplices received a blanket Act of Remission and Condonation. Bothwell rode to Durham on 2 August 1593, meeting Sir William Reed at Berwick-upon-Tweed on
4582-426: The queen seems to have improved, and the courtier Roger Aston reported that he had made friends with the queen's council of advisors, men who had previously been his "unfriends". The queen's council included Alexander Seton , Walter Stewart of Blantyre , James Elphinstone and Thomas Hamilton . In July 1595, Maitland wrote to the Earl of Essex , about their future "diligent intercourse of intelligence" involving
4661-502: The rich endowment of Coldingham until 1570. Following the Regent Moray 's assassination, Maitland joined the Lords who met on the Queen's behalf at Linlithgow and shared in the dangers of the civil war which ensued. At the end of 1570, he was denounced a rebel by the King's party with his brothers William and Thomas, and they were all forfeited in the parliament which met in the Canongate ,
4740-411: The royal households in April 1591 after kitchen staff deserted their posts, and discussed the subject of paying two departing members of the queen's household with either money or livery clothes, and he reminded Maitland of promises he had made to Sophie, writing "Suppose we be not wealthy, let us be proud poor bodies". A cousin of James VI, Francis Stewart, 5th Earl of Bothwell , was implicated in
4819-517: The said Earl of Arran's means, and thereafter became Chancellor. He was one of the Octavians [a name given to eight persons who managed affairs under king James VI], and was created Lord Thirlestane, and was an excellent Latin poet, as his verses inserted in Deliciae poetarum scotorum testify; and King James had such a respect to him, that he made the epitaph engraven on his tomb. Yet the conquest he made of
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#17328443323364898-580: The search for the rebel earl. James VI had gone to Kelso but there was news of Bothwell at Aberdeen. Hunter wrote, "Mirrie companyouns say atte thair wyne that all our trubillis ar bott tryfills to gett moir gowld frome Ingland, and thay seik my Loird Boithwell whear thay knaw he is nott, for Aberdene is neir fowr scoir mylis derrect north frome Edinburgh and Kellso is twenty eight mylis derrect sowth frome Edinburgh" - Merry companions say at their wine that all our troubles are but trifles to get more gold from England , and they seek my Lord Bothwell where they know he
4977-529: The so-called 'cropped parliament'. John Maitland was deprived of all his offices and benefices and thereafter took refuge in Edinburgh Castle . Upon its surrender on 29 May 1573, he was sent as a prisoner to Tantallon Castle in Haddingtonshire . After nine months' confinement there, he was removed to Hugh, Lord Somerville's house of Cowthallie , under house arrest with bail at £10,000 Scots. In 1574/5
5056-450: The town". In January 1593 Bothwell was in the north of England where he had a good reception, which much annoyed James VI. James wrote to Queen Elizabeth I on 7 June to ensure Bothwell's return to Scotland. He complained that Bothwell had been seen in public at a race meeting at Carter Moor near Ponteland , boasting of receiving financial support from Elizabeth, and was known to have stayed with William Fenwick at Wallington . Lord Bothwell
5135-399: The vicinity of Linlithgow. It is not clear whether Bothwell was with them. A warrant was issued against Bothwell and others on 11 October. Failing to appear, they were denounced rebels on the 25th. Bothwell had gone to Carlisle Castle and was received by Thomas Scrope . The Privy Council issued a Proclamation for a muster at Stirling for the pursuit of Bothwell on 2 April 1594, following
5214-441: The way. He spoke to the Dean of Durham , Tobias Matthew , and described his recent adventure in Holyroodhouse. He said he had 1,000 soldiers in his pay in Edinburgh. On Friday, 10 August, a formal trial (described by Spottiswoode as "a farce") of Bothwell was entered into on the old witchcraft charges in order to deal with them once and for all. The depositions of the Ritchie Graham were read out, that he advised Bothwell to poison
5293-423: Was a notorious conspirator who led several uprisings against his first cousin, King James VI (they were both grandsons of King James V of Scotland ), all of which ultimately failed, and he died in poverty in Italy after being banished from Scotland. Francis's maternal uncle, the 4th Earl of Bothwell (by the first creation), was the chief suspect in the murder of James VI's father, Lord Darnley . Francis Stewart
5372-437: Was a son of John Stewart , Prior of Coldingham (d. 1563), who was an illegitimate child of James V of Scotland by his mistress Elizabeth Carmichael. Francis' mother was Jane Hepburn , Mistress of Caithness , Lady Morham (d. 1599), sister of James Hepburn, 1st Duke of Orkney and 4th Earl of Bothwell . Francis is said to have been born in his mother's tower house at Morham. In 1565, Mary, Queen of Scots , gave Francis
5451-414: Was achieved in the expedition. October saw a new round of Cautions issued by the Privy Council to supposed supporters of Bothwell. On 20 November 1592, the Countess of Bothwell was forbidden by decree to be in the king's presence and "none allowed to contenance her". A warrant was subsequently issued by the Edinburgh magistrates for her arrest, with numerous other "adherents of Bothwell still lingering about
5530-409: Was also appointed Lord Chancellor of Scotland that year following the Earl of Arran's disgrace. The following year saw him granted the barony of Stobo . In 1589, a powerful combination headed by the Earls of Huntly, Errol, and Bothwell was formed against Maitland. The intention was to meet at Quarryholes, between Leith and Edinburgh, to march in a body to Holyroodhouse , make themselves master of
5609-632: Was convinced that the Chancellor , John Maitland of Thirlestane , was behind his accusation. He was proclaimed an outlaw three days later. James VI gave his lands and offices and the castles of Crichton and Hailes to the Duke of Lennox . Anne of Denmark tried to intercede for Bothwell, but found the king so "moved", so angry with those who had requested her intervention, that she dropped the issue. Bothwell spent his days at Crichton but hid at night in woods and other places. One of his chief confederates, Archibald Wauchope of Niddry , abandoned him. In July 1591 William Hunter sent news to William Cecil of
5688-414: Was equipped with cannon by John Chisholm , painted, and supplied with new banners and red taffeta was stitched on the sails. Carpenters made new storage spaces for the food mentioned by Fowler. There were barrels of English beer and wine from the cellars at Holyrood Palace . A boatman James Lun spent eight days loading the ship and then put the king and his company aboard. In Oslo, on 27 November, some of
5767-470: Was formally attainted by Act of Parliament, dated 21 July 1593. However, on Tuesday, 24 July, the Earl, helped by Marie Ruthven, Countess of Atholl, smuggled himself into Holyroodhouse and forced himself at last into the king's presence, in his bedchamber. It was said that Bothwell hid behind the tapestry or hangings until the best moment. Soon numerous Bothwell supporters also entered the room. The Provost of Edinburgh, Alexander Home of North Berwick , came to
5846-611: Was in Paris and had reported himself to the king, Henry IV , seeking help. James VI upon hearing this sent a special messenger to Henry IV asking for Bothwell to be banished from France, but the request was declined. After several months Bothwell left for Spain. Between 1598 and 1600 it was rumoured he visited London from Gravelines or Dieppe . James VI heard he was in London with John Colville in August 1598 but did not believe it. Walter Raleigh advised Robert Cecil that Elizabeth should detain Bothwell. Raleigh wrote that Bothwell "will ever be
5925-492: Was in the king's household at Stirling Castle , but another sister (who is less well-documented) had been sent away by Annabell Murray, Countess of Mar . Francis was 'belted' as Earl of Bothwell by his cousin, James VI, in the Great Hall of Stirling Castle on 27 November 1577, in the presence of his guardian, the 4th Earl of Morton , four days before his marriage to Margaret Douglas, formerly Lady Buccleuch and daughter of
6004-467: Was involved in financing and accounting for this journey. According to Thomas Fowler , Maitland paid for fitting out of one ship of 126 tons and half the cost of another. Lavish provisions and banqueting stuff betrayed the king's secret intention to sail to meet Anne of Denmark . Accounts of Maitland's expenses include the preparation of a ship, the James Royall of Ayr, hired from Robert Jameson , which
6083-500: Was renewed in 1597, they faced disabling opposition from vested interests, and some of the Octavians were suspect as sympathetic to Catholics. But the concept of the commission as an extension of the exchequer into government persisted, and under the name of New Octavians it played a part in Scottish administration into the reign of Charles I . John Preston of Fentonbarns was already involved in crown finance. A letter from James VI of June 1599 mentions that he had instructed him to repay
6162-580: Was so angry that he beat his wife and any of his servants who came near him. In 1589 an English pirate called Captain Coupland stole one of Bothwell's ships or barques and sold its cannon at Bridlington and Great Yarmouth . Bothwell, with others, including the Earl of Huntly , was charged with treason for engaging in an armed uprising and plotting to seize the king at Holyroodhouse . He surrendered himself on 11 May 1589 and their trial took place on 24 May. All were found guilty, but sentences were deferred for
6241-461: Was the second son of Sir Richard Maitland of Thirlestane, Berwickshire , and Lethington , Haddingtonshire , who settled the lands of Thirlestane upon him, and thereafter sent him abroad for his education. Through the influence of his brother, William Maitland , upon John Maitland's return, he received the offer of the position of Commendator of Kelso Abbey , which he shortly afterwards exchanged with Francis Stewart , later Earl of Bothwell, for
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