Aytoun was the son of Andrew Ayton of Kinaldie Castle, in Fife, Scotland, and Mary Lundie.

He became a groom in the privy chamber of King James in succession to Laurence Marbury, was knighted and became a gentleman of the bedchamber in 1612.

[4] The monument includes a bronze bust, attributed, variously, to either Hubert Le Sueur or Francesco Fanelli.

[9][10] Amongst his bequests, Aytoun gave a diamond hatband to William Murray and his French bed to Jane Whorwood.

The ballad recounts how Bothwell, in attempting to arrest Little Jock Elliot, suffers life-threatening wounds, though he ends by slaying his foe.