bar. The clergy granted a divorce on a blind excuse, which had been previously overlooked, viz. consanguinity to his lady, while the laymen granted it on the plea of the before-mentioned adultery. Some demur now took place in publishing the bans of this political marriage, which the conscientious principles of the Rev. John Craig could not overcome. On this occasion, Thomas Hepburn, minister of Oldhamstocks, was delegated to enforce the ceremony, but without effect; for it formed the subject of public reprobation, and was demitted. But he who has benefits to confer, can easily obviate scruples; and, accordingly, Bothwell, after being created duke of Orkney and Shetland, was, on the 15th May 1567, married to Mary, queen of Scots, in Holyroodhouse, by the bishop of Orkney, amidst very few spectators, while the French ambassador refused to attend.* The nuptials excited the indignation both of the nation and of foreign courts. A confederacy of nobles met at Stirling, levied troops, and prepared to march against the murderer of their king. The regicide being alarmed fled with Mary to Borthwick castle. Lord Home, who with other border chieftains had joined the confederacy, environed the castle; but Bothwell effected his escape, and the queen, disguised as a page, with some difficulty followed him to Dunbar.t The associated Lords, thus disappointed in their * Spottiswood's Hist. + Ibid. enterprise, proceeded to Edinburgh, and issued the following proclamation : "12th June 1567. "That the earl of Bothwell, having put violent hands on the queen's person, and shut her up in the castle of Dunbar; having proceeded to a dishonest marriage with her majesty after obtaining a divorce from his former wife; having already murdered the late king, and now attempting by his gathering toge ther of forces, to murder the young prince also: Therefore, they command all the lieges to be ready on three hours warning to pass forward with them, to deliver the queen's person, and take revenge on the earl of Bothwell, for ravishing and detaining her majesty; and charge all those who will not assist them, to depart from the town of Edinburgh within four hours, with certification," &c.* But while the inhabitants of Edinburgh heartily joined in the confederacy, the magistrates and town council found it convenient to stand aloof, and autho rized deputies to wait on the queen.† *Keith's Hist. 399. "Vndecimo, Junij, 1567.-The quhilk day, the provost, baillies, councill and deacons, names Edward Litel, baillie, William Fouller of the councill, and Michaell Gilbert, goldsmith, to pass to Dunbar to our soveraine, quha was there for the tyme with James Hepburn, duke of Orkney, &c. to excuse the gude town and councill their part anent the entering and continuing in this town, of my lords Athol, Montrose, Morton, Mar, Glencairn, Home, Lyndesay, Ruthven, Sanquhar, Semple, Tullibardyn, and Grange, &c. quha had convenit thamselffis in arms for punesing King Hary Stewart's murther, putting of our soverane to Linlythgow, dissolving of the marriage betwixt our soverane and the said duke, &c.”—Keith's Hist. Meantime both parties prepared for war, and in a few days after the queen's arrival at Dunbar, 4000 men had flocked to her standard. Confiding in her numbers, Mary left Dunbar with Bothwell on the 14th June, with 200 hakbutters, the flower of her forces, and some field-pieces from the castle; and lodged the first night at Seton. This news having reached the associated lords, they left Edinburgh early next morning, (Sunday,) and met the queen's forces at Carberry-hill, near Musselburgh. Here Bothwell a second time threw the gauntlet down to his accusers; but after the challenge had been for the second time accepted, he refused to fight. The confederates" conquered, ere a sword was drawn ;" and the poor buffetted queen surrendered herself to the laird of Grange, whilst the guilty Bothwell retraced his steps in a solitary flight to Dunbar.* Mary has been censured by her friends for leaving Dunbar so speedily. "This fort," says Keith," the lords could not have taken without ammunition and warlike engines, with which they were not provided, and for want of which each was on the point of dismissing and shifting for himself." The queen was led to Edinburgh the same day, and obliged to submit to the indecent aspersions of a heated populace. Still glued to her fate, she repented at having so hastily surrendered; and found means to bribe one of the guards to get a letter conveyed to Spottiswood, 207. Bothwell. This, however, the soldier delivered to the lords, who, finding that her majesty still doated on her outlawed husband, judged it necessary for the peace of the nation, that she should be sent to repent of her folly in the picturesque solitudes of Lochleven castle, while active measures were taken for the apprehension of her lord.* Accordingly, on the 26th June, the Lords of council ordained, “ letters to be directed in the queen's name, to heralds, &c. to pass and charge the keeper of the castle of Dunbar, to surrender the same to the executor of the said letters in six hours; because the earl of Bothwell was reset and received within the said castle.”+ Bothwell, afraid that he might be environed in Dunbar, fled by sea to Orkney, where he intended to defend himself in the castle of Kirkwall; but the keeper refused to admit him. After having eluded the vigilance of some vessels sent in pursuit of him, he was taken by a crew of Norwegians, while endeavouring to make prize of a Turkish vessel, and carried to Denmark. Here he paid the price of his crimes, by languishing out the remainder of his days in a loathsome dungeon, confessing his guilt in his last moments, and exculpating Mary from being privy to her husband's murder.‡ After an unsuccessful negotiation with Throckmorton the English ambassador, in August 1567, the confederated lords had reason to apprehend, that *Keith's Hist. † Melville's Mem. + Ibid. Elisabeth would shew her resentment by the force of war. Dunbar castle, besides protecting one Wilson, a convicted regicide, still held out for the duke of Orkney. The keepers at this period were Patrick Whitlaw of Whitlaw, John Newton, junior of Newton, and Mr Thomas Hepburn, minister of Oldhamstocks. The regent knew that it was of the first importance to get this fortress into his possession; and, accordingly, on the 26th August, the same year, an order was issued for "letteris to be directed to command and charge James erle of Bothwell, Patrick Quhytlaw of that ilk, Johne Newtoun, zoungar of that ilk, Mr Thomas Hepburne, parson of Aldhamstocks, and all utheris keiparis of the castell of Dunbar, to render and deliver the same, with all artaillierie, pulder, and munitionis, being thairin, to the officiaris executoris heirof, within sex houris after the charge, with certification of forfaulter, &c. as traittoures in case of refusal."* The same persons were likewise charged to deliver, before the justice and his deputies, within the Tolbooth of Edinburgh, in the space of twentyfour hours after the charge," the person of Patrick Wilson, who had been declarit traittour, and art and part in the kingis murthour, under the pain to be repute, haldin, callit, persewit, and denunceit as plane partakaris with the said Patrick in his rebellioun and Keith's Hist. |