In August 1524, Margaret Tudor sent him to England with the Earl of Cassilis and Scot of Balwearie to negotiate peace, and a possible marriage for James V with Princess Mary.
[3] When James V assumed the throne as an adult ruler and rejected the Douglases and their associates, Otterburn drew up charges of treason against them on 13 July 1529.
This meeting discussed the possible restoration of the Earl of Angus, an issue which Henry VIII could use as leverage to decide James's choice of future bride.
[15] Following the death of James V, Otterburn received from the king's wardrobe a gift of armour on 22 December by the order of Cardinal Beaton, including a "secret courage", a helmet covered with corduroy, a "jack of plate", two rapiers and other items.
[16] The English diplomat Ralph Sadler reported that Otterburn was a member of Cardinal Beaton's pro-French faction, but Adam insisted the contrary, attributing his troubles and difficulties during the adult rule of James V to his pro-English position.
[17] The Governor of Scotland, Regent Arran, ordered Otterburn's arrest on 28 April 1544 but Robert Reid the Bishop of Orkney interceded for him.
Years later in 1561, Ralph Sadler reminded the English Privy Council of Adam's words to him on the marriage proposed between Mary and Edward;"Our people do not like of it.
His holding of lands at Auldhame, like those of his neighbours Oliver Sinclair, the favourite of James V, and John, 5th Lord Borthwick, required duties to be paid to Cardinal Beaton.
Adam wrote to the Cardinal hoping for money owed to him by Sinclair, and he noted that Borthwick and other landowners south of the River Forth sold their wool in England.
[22] In October 1546, Adam set out with David Panter and a servant of d'Oysel, the French ambassador in Scotland to meet with Henry VIII at Oatlands.
[26] The "gorgeous" equipment included leather horse armour designed and made by the workshop of the Italian artist Nicholas Bellin of Modena.
"[31] Patrick Mure, laird of Annestoun near Lanark, and his son were charged with treason for his murder, their last recorded summons for the crime was at the instance of Mary of Guise.
In February 1544, another daughter was married and Adam asked Mary of Guise for financial support as "sik materis requiris coist and expensis", and again in 1546 he mentioned to David Beaton his difficulty in paying "my dochteris tocher".