James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell
James Hepburn was the son of Patrick Hepburn, 3rd Earl of Bothwell, and Agnes Sinclair. He held the title Master of Bothwell from his birth in Scotland. His father died in 1556, allowing James to inherit the Earldom of Bothwell and Lord Hailes immediately. This succession placed him among the most powerful nobles in the Scottish kingdom. Early political alliances formed quickly as he supported Mary of Guise against Protestant Lords. On Halloween 1559, James and twenty-four followers intercepted six thousand crowns of English money near Haddington. The funds were destined for use against the Regent Mary of Guise. They took the money from the Laird of Ormiston during an ambush. This act demonstrated his loyalty to the Catholic cause at a time when many nobles switched sides. The Protestant leader Duke of Châtelherault retaliated by sending forces to seize Crichton Castle. James remained true to the Regent despite growing weariness with his position. By January 1560, rumors circulated about a scandal involving his sister Jean Hepburn.
Lord Bothwell visited Copenhagen around 1559 while serving as Lord High Admiral of Scotland. He fell in love with Anna Tronds, known in English as Anna Throndsen or Anna Rustung. Her father Kristoffer Trondson was a famous Norwegian admiral serving as Danish Royal Consul. After their engagement, Anna left her home to join Bothwell in Flanders. He claimed to be out of money and asked her to sell all her possessions. She complied and traveled to Denmark to ask her family for more funds. Anna became unhappy and complained frequently about how he treated her. His treatment of Anna played a part in his eventual downfall. In February 1566, Bothwell married Lady Jean Gordon, daughter of the 4th Earl of Huntly. They were divorced on the 7th of May 1567 citing adultery with servant Bessie Crawford. Mary Queen of Scots attended the wedding at Holyrood Palace eight days before they married. The banquet took place at Kinloch's house on the Canongate. Five days of jousting and tournaments followed according to Robert Lindsay of Pitscottie. This marriage lasted just over one year before ending in divorce.
On the 9th of February 1567 Bothwell left his lodging at Todrick's Wynd on the south side of the Royal Mile. He carried several kegs of gunpowder to Kirk o'Field lodging with accomplices Dalgliesh, Powrie and Wilson. They almost encountered Queen Mary en route while carrying the explosives. At Kirk O'Field they lit the gunpowder destroying part of the building and killing Henry Stuart Lord Darnley. Darnley died alongside his aide during the explosion. Bothwell was publicly accused of having murdered the Queen's consort shortly after the event. Darnley's father the Earl of Lennox and other relatives agitated for vengeance against him. The Privy Council began proceedings against Bothwell on the 12th of April 1567. Sir William Drury reported that the Queen was in continuous ill-health either melancholy or sickly. On the appointed day Bothwell rode magnificently down the Canongate flanked by the Earl of Morton and William Maitland of Lethington. His Hepburns trotted behind him as he approached the trial. The trial lasted from noon till seven in the evening. Bothwell was acquitted despite widespread rumors that he would marry Mary.
On Saturday the 19th of April 1567 eight bishops nine earls and seven Lords of Parliament signed the Ainslie Tavern Bond. This manifesto declared that Mary should marry a native-born subject and handed it to Bothwell. On the 24th of April while Mary was on the road from Linlithgow Palace to Edinburgh Bothwell suddenly appeared with 800 men. He assured her that danger awaited her in Edinburgh and proposed taking her to his castle at Dunbar. She agreed to accompany him and arrived at Dunbar at midnight. There Mary was taken prisoner by Bothwell and allegedly raped by him to secure marriage. Whether she was his accomplice or unwilling victim remains a controversial issue. On the 12th of May the Queen created him Duke of Orkney and Marquess of Fife at Holyrood. They were married in the Great Hall at Holyrood on the 15th of May according to Protestant rites. Adam Bothwell Bishop of Orkney and John Craig officiated the ceremony. Mary wore mourning clothes described as dule weed during the wedding. Only a few witnesses heard a sermon in the palace's chamber of presence. The French ambassador Philibert du Croc did not attend the Duke's creation or the wedding.
The marriage divided the country into two camps within weeks of its occurrence. On the 16th of June the Lords opposed to Mary and the Duke of Orkney signed a Bond denouncing them. A showdown between the two opposing sides followed at Carberry Hill on the 15th of June. From this confrontation Orkney fled after one final embrace never to be seen again by Mary. In December that year Bothwell's titles and estates were forfeited by Act of Parliament. After fleeing the confrontation he went to Huntly Castle and Spynie Palace. He took ship from Aberdeen to Shetland where Olave Sinclair helped him escape. William Kirkcaldy of Grange and William Murray of Tullibardine pursued him across the North Sea. Their flagship the Lion chased one of Orkney's ships near Bressay Sound. Four of the Duke of Orkney's ships set sail north to Unst where he negotiated with German captains. Kirkcaldy's flagship damaged both ships on a submerged rock during the chase. The Duke sent his treasure ship to Scalloway and fought a three-hour-long sea battle off the Port of Unst. A storm forced the Duke to sail towards Norway after losing control of his fleet.
He died in April 1578 after decades of confinement within Dragsholm Castle. His body was buried in a vault at Fårevejle church near the castle. In 1858 the body was exhumed and declared to be that of Lord Bothwell. It was in a dried condition and thereafter referred to as Bothwell's mummy. His extended family tried to get his body sent back to Scotland but their request was denied. The identity of the body has never been conclusively proven according to historical records. A body referred to as Bothwell's mummy materialised in 1976 in the Edinburgh Wax Museum on the Royal Mile. The guide book claimed it was brought to Scotland in 1858. This exhibit remained the only non-wax item displayed among wax figures. Parliament of Scotland officially stripped him of all Scottish titles including the Dukedom of Orkney in December 1567. The enduring historical debate continues over his guilt and character regarding Darnley's death.
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Common questions
Who was James Hepburn 4th Earl of Bothwell?
James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell, was the son of Patrick Hepburn, 3rd Earl of Bothwell, and Agnes Sinclair. He inherited the Earldom of Bothwell and Lord Hailes immediately after his father died in 1556.
When did James Hepburn 4th Earl of Bothwell die?
He died in April 1578 after decades of confinement within Dragsholm Castle. His body was buried in a vault at Fårevejle church near the castle.
How did James Hepburn 4th Earl of Bothwell die?
He died in April 1578 following years of imprisonment in appalling conditions at Dragsholm Castle west of Copenhagen. A pillar to which he was chained for the last ten years of his life can still be seen today.
What happened to James Hepburn 4th Earl of Bothwell after the murder of Darnley?
After fleeing the confrontation at Carberry Hill on the 15th of June 1567, he fled to Norway where he was caught off the coast at Høyevarde lighthouse. King Frederick II decided to take him into custody in Denmark instead of releasing him to Scotland.
Why was James Hepburn 4th Earl of Bothwell imprisoned in Dragsholm Castle?
The Duke was sent to Copenhagen where the Danish monarch deliberated on his fate and ordered his transfer to Malmøhus Castle before sending him to Dragsholm Castle. He remained imprisoned there until his death because Mary never again would become Queen without political support.