John Wemyss of Logie
[7] Logie remained in favour, and was probably the valet who attended the king at the wedding of Lilias Murray, the Laird of Tullibardine's daughter, and John Grant of Freuchie on 21 June 1591.
[9] An account for royal costume gives details of "ane stand of maskerye claythis to hym that wes his majesties vallett att thatt tyme".
[15] David Moysie wrote an account of the escape in Scots, here given with a modernised version;the same nycht that he was examinat, he escapit out by the meanis of a gentlewoman quhom he loved, a Dence, quho convoyed him out of his keiperis handis throw the Queinis chalmer, quhaire his Majestie and the Queine wer lyand in thair beddis, till a wyndow in the backsyde of the plaice, quhair he gead doun upone a tow, and schot thrie pistoletis in takin of his onlouping, quhaire sum of his servants with the laird of Nithrie wer awaiting him.the same night that he was examined, he escaped out by the means of a gentlewoman he loved, a Dane, who conveyed him out of his keeper's hands through the Queen's chamber, where his majesty and the queen were lying in their beds, to a window at the back of the place, where he climbed down on a rope, and shot three pistols as a sign of his getaway, where some of his servants with the Laird of Niddry were waiting for him.
The author draws attention to Margaret's role in the rescue as an act of charity and a good example for posterity, concluding that by "hir gude cheritable help he happilie escapit be the subteltie of loove".
[21] The author of the Historie may have been Mr John Colville, who was also an ally of Bothwell, and mentioned Logie in a letter to Henry Lock, a poet and agent of Sir Robert Cecil.
When he discovered that she was still inside, he signalled to James Sandilands and other accomplices to break down the doors and carry her back to Gray, while Lord Home and his followers prevented rescuers.
[24] In April 1594 James VI came to Rossend Castle in Fife to arrest those suspected of intrigue with Bothwell, including Logie and Archibald Wauchope of Niddrie.
[27] Margaret Vinstarr, now called "Lady Logie", went to Denmark or Holstein in June 1594 to see her family and returned to Scotland after a year in July 1595.
Logie had asked Archibald Douglas and Hudson himself to speak to Sir Robert Cecil to advance his suit to Queen Elizabeth.
Roger Aston, a servant of the king's bedchamber, wrote to Hudson that this was disappointing news at the Scottish court which must be otherwise than "her majesty meaneth.
"[30] Logie had been in London in person in June 1595 when Hudson wrote to Sir Robert Cecil that he had gone Holland with Mr Andrew Hunter, Bothwell's former chaplain.
Logie had information on Bothwell's movements and offered to broker peace with the Catholic earls Huntly and Errol, by 'delivering them from Spanish hopes' so that Elizabeth could intercede for them with James VI.
[31] Logie's own letter of 3 October 1595 to an unknown recipient in the circle of Robert Cecil describes his journey from England and a meeting with an Italian at Kiel in Holstein.
He had news that the Scottish diplomat Colonel Stewart was in Mecklenburg, and Christian IV of Denmark had been to Braunschweig to meet his future wife, Anne Catherine of Brandenburg.
[34] Sir Robert Sydney spoke to Logie in October 1596 at Middelburg, and mentioned him in letters to Cecil and Earl of Essex, as "a man of good wit; but men of his profession will ever praise their own commodities".
He confessed immediately when he was shown the rack, and blamed a Scottish Jesuit Dr Hamilton and two Spanish men who had approached him while he was in prison in Brussels.
[40] Another Scot, named Nicholson, was approached by Juan de Mancicidor secretary to Albert of Austria to help the Spanish take Veere.
[41] Robert Sydney and Mr Andrew Hunter, the Scottish preacher and informer, sent copies of Logie's confession to Cecil.
Hunter had recommended Logie to Henry Lock, who noted that the laird was cunning and had received a letter from the Earl of Essex.
