[8] On his return from Denmark James VI made his lodgings and privy chamber within Holyrood Palace more private than before, and Sandilands' role included deterring unwelcome visitors, like Lord John Hamilton.
[14] On 27 December 1591 the Earl of Bothwell attacked Holyrood Palace and Sandilands was sent to fetch help from the Provost of Edinburgh, Nicol Uddert.
On 13 January 1592 James VI was riding near Haddington, in pursuit of the Earl of Bothwell, and fell into the River Tyne.
[16] Another prisoner Colonel William Stewart, to gain favour and divert suspicions, asked Sandilands to accuse Alexander Lindsay, 1st Lord Spynie of entertaining the rebel Earl of Bothwell at Aberdour Castle in 1592 but he denied this.
[17] Bothwell attacked Falkland Palace on 27 June 1592, with a force including men from the borders, both English and Scottish.
[19] In August 1592 James VI gave him the forfeited lands of Archibald Wauchope of Niddrie, a supporter of Bothwell, who he had helped in the past.
[20] In November 1592 Sandilands was identified with the Duke of Lennox, Sir George Home, Colonel William Stewart, the Laird of Dunipace, and Thomas Erskine, as a supporter of the king's former favourite James Stewart, Earl of Arran, working for his rehabilitation to the disadvantage of the Chancellor, John Maitland and the Hamilton family.
[23] The elder Sandilands of Calder had granted Hallyards to his widow, who had married John Graham, but had also issued another disposition of the lands.
[25] James VI made a hunting trip to the area in February, planning to visit Dunglass, Spott, Beil, Waughton, and Seton.
[34] James VI made Sandilands and the Chancellor John Graham, 3rd Earl of Montrose agree in November 1599.
[40] A court found in January 1601 that Edmonstone was not liable to pay sums from the Niddry estate to Jean Sandlilands and Francis Wauchope.
[41] On 6 August 1600 Sandilands and John Stewart, Master of Orkney rode to Dirleton Castle to arrest William and Patrick Ruthven, brothers of the Earl of Gowrie but they had fled, being forewarned by a man called Kennedy.
[43] On 27 March 1606 Anne of Denmark and Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales gave him silver gilt cups supplied by John Williams as presents at the christening of his child.
[44] Although the recorded names of Barbara Napier's children are John, Frederick, and Elizabeth, it is supposed this was the christening of "Anne Sandilands", mentioned below.
[51] On 4 May 1617, his daughter, Anne Sandilands, danced in Robert White's Masque of Cupid's Banishment, a show performed by young women from the Ladies Hall school at Deptford at Greenwich Palace for Anna of Denmark, with the encouragement of Lucy Russell, Countess of Bedford.