Raid of Holyrood

[2] Sir James Melville of Halhill, a gentleman in the household of Anne of Denmark, the courtier Roger Aston, and the English ambassador Robert Bowes, described the first raid on Holyrood Palace.

[4] Now it was a prison where one man, Sleich of Cumlege in the Merse, had been tortured with the "boot", a device for crushing the legs, on Christmas Day.

[7][8] James VI and Anne of Denmark retreated to the tower of the palace, while most of the court were still at supper in the great hall.

[10] A shot from the chancellor's chamber window killed Robert Scott, a brother of the Laird of Balwearie, and another raider was hit on the backside.

[15] John Shaw,[16] who had recently been awarded a property confiscated from Euphame MacCalzean,[17] and, according to some accounts, his twin brother Patrick were fatally injured in the struggle in the stable.

They were commemorated in a poem by Alexander Montgomerie, the Epitaph of Jhone and Patrik Shaues which compares John and his twin brother Patrick to Castor and Pollux.

[19] It was said that during the raid Margaret Douglas, Countess of Bothwell, waited in a house nearby in the Canongate with jewels and money, ready to receive the captive queen.

[20] The Privy Council later banished her from the King's presence, declaring that,the said Erllis wyffe, quha, as is knowne, hes bene a griter mellair in thir treassounable actionis and counsellis then become a woman; bot, howsoevir his Majestie, in respect of hir sex and present conditioun, thocht nocht convenient to deal so hardlie with hir at this tyme as she had worthelie deservit, yit meanit nocht nor nawayes allow that she sould remane ewest his persone or repair to his presensOr in modern spelling: the said Earl's wife, who, as is known, has been a greater dealer in these treasonable actions and counsels than becomes a woman; but, however his Majesty, in respect of her sex and present condition [pregnancy], thought it not convenient to deal so hardly with her at this time as she had worthily deserved, yet means not in any way to allow that she should remain near his person or repair to his presence.

[24] James VI made a proclamation against the masked riders, conspirators who "rydis missellit" with their faces covered and disguised.

James VI would now try more seriously to capture Bothwell, and promised his confiscated goods and lands to the Duke of Lennox, to secure his support.

The English border reiver Richie Graham of Brackenhill and his companions including Thomas Musgrave of Bewcastle sacked Falkland town, taking horses, clothing, and money.

[29] On 29 and 30 June proclamations were issued for Bothwell's pursuit and the arrest of his accomplices, including James Scott of Balwearie, Martine of Cardone, and Lumsden of Airdrie.

[32] On Tuesday 24 July 1593, the Earl of Bothwell in disguise, helped by Marie Ruthven, Countess of Atholl, smuggled himself into Holyroodhouse and forced himself into the King's presence, in his bedchamber.

The Duke and the Earl of Atholl came in the room and spoke on Bothwell's behalf, "May it please your grace, this is a noble man of your own blood, who would be loth to see you take any ill, and be ready always to venture his life with you.

[38] The Provost of Edinburgh, Alexander Home, came to the palace to help, but the king said things were fine and Bothwell told him to get packing.

[39] Various noblemen were present and Lord Ochiltree offered to fight Bothwell over the issue of the killing of his brother Sir William Stewart in 1588.

Two Danish ambassadors, Niels Krag and Steen Bille, who had come to inspect the queen's jointure settlement and land rentals, were in Edinburgh during the raid.

James VI had to explain the circumstances of Bothwell's appearance at Holyrood to them in a meeting with the Privy Council in the Tolbooth.