On this day in 1570 James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray, regent for the infant King James VI of Scotland, is assassinated by firearm, the first recorded instance of such. On Thursday 19 January 1570 Moray was at Stirling Castle where he had invited the English diplomat Sir Henry Gate, Marshal of Berwick, and the soldier Sir William Drury for dinner in the Great Hall. Later in his bedchamber he told the English visitors he would meet with them and certain Scottish nobles at Edinburgh on Monday or Tuesday to discuss the rendition of English rebels. Moray was troubled by the problem of Dumbarton Castle, which was held against him by supporters of Mary, Queen of Scots. On 21 January, he sent letters to summon Morton, Lindsay and Home to the meeting in Edinburgh. Moray was assassinated in Linlithgow on 23 January 1570 by James Hamilton of Bothwellhaugh, a supporter of Mary. As Moray was passing in a cavalcade in the main street below, Hamilton fatally wounded him with a carbine shot from a window of his uncle Archbishop Hamiltons house. After a time Hamilton fled the country and went to France where he offered his services to the Guise family, kinsmen of Mary. After a desperate ride, closely pursued by the Regents men, James made it to the safety of his triumphant kin in Hamilton. According to Morays contemporary George Buchanan the fatal shot also killed the horse of one of Morays companions. Regent Moray dismounted, wounded below his navel, walked to his lodging and died the same day, according to the Diurnal of Occurents at Linlithgow Palace in the hour before midnight. The incident was described in the contemporary diary of Robert Birrel: The Earl of Moray, the Good Regent, was slain in Linlithgow by James Hamilton of Bothwell-haugh, who shot the said Regent with a gun out at ane window, and presently thereafter fled out at the back, and leapt on a very good horse, which the Hamiltons had ready waiting for him; and, being followed speedily, after that spur and wand had failed him, he drew forth his dagger, and struck his horse behind; whilk causit the horse to leap a very broad stank; by whilk means he escaped News of the shooting quickly reached England. By 26 January, the Marshall of Berwick, William Drury, who had met with Moray at Stirling Castle on 19 January, knew that the Regent was dead, Bothwellhaugh had escaped, the Archbishops house at Linlithgow had been burnt, and the assassins gun, which he called a caliver, belonged to Lord John Hamilton, Abbot of Arbroath. By 29 January news of the shooting, but not Morays death reached Elizabeth I of England in London. According to David Calderwood, the next night after Morays death, Walter Scott of Buccleuch and Thomas Ker of Ferniehirst raided the English border deliberately to help the conspiracy. The Regents body was shipped to Leith then taken to Holyrood Abbey. Moray was buried on 14 February 1570 in St. Anthonys aisle at St. Giles, Edinburgh. Seven earls and lords carried his body; William Kirkcaldy of Grange held his standard, and John Knox preached at the funeral. John Knoxs own prohibition of funeral sermons (on the grounds that they glorified the deceased and displayed distinctions between rich and poor) was waived for the occasion. Moray was succeeded by his eldest daughter and heir, Elizabeth Stewart, 2nd Countess of Moray, whose husband, James Stewart of Doune acquired the earldom on their marriage
Posted on: Sun, 26 Jan 2014 08:52:41 +0000
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