James Hepburn Biography

Birth of James Hepburn, son of Patrich, 3rd Earl of Bothwell

Appointed Lord High Admiral

Created Earl of Bothwell, 4th

Appointed Warden of the Scottish Marshes

Leads an incursion across the English border

Marries Anna Throndsson in Denmark

Meets Mary Queen of Scots

Bothwell participates in Mary's early Scottish court politics

Appointed Privy Councillor under Mary Queen of Scots

Bothwell is arrested during Mary's early personal rule

Bothwell is arrested during Mary's early personal rule

Arrested for trying to capture the Queen, escapes

Arrested by the English

Escapes from English arrest to France

Marries Lady Jean Gordon, a Catholic

At Holyrood on the night of Rizzios assassination but denies knowledge of it

If authentic throughout, they provide proof of Marys complicity in the murder of her husband, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley. Casket Letters is the name generally given to a group of eight letters and a sequence of irregular sonnets said to have been addressed by Mary, Queen of Scots, to the Earl of Bothwell, between January and April 1566 or 1567

At Holyrood on the night of Rizzios assassination but denies knowledge of it

Casket Letters is the name generally given to a group of eight letters and a sequence of irregular sonnets said to have been addressed by Mary, Queen of Scots, to the Earl of Bothwell, between January and April 1566 or 1567

Signs a bond at Craigmillar with other nobles to rid Mary of Darnley

Appointed Sheriff of Edinburgh for his loyalty to Queen Mary

Appointed Warden of the Marches for loyalty to Queen Mary

A conference takes place between Bothwell, Morton, Archibald Douglas & Maitland

Mary & Bothwell visit Darnley who is killed by an explosion. Mary & Bothwell visit Darnley at Kirk oField who is killed by an explosion

Escorts Queen Mary back to Edinburgh with a force of 8,000

Spends the remainder of his days in a Danish cell

Created Duke of Orkney after marrying Mary Queen of Scots

Created Earl of Shetland after marrying Mary Queen of Scots

The Lords rebel & forces Bothwells escape to Denmark

The Lords rebel & forces Bothwells escape to Denmark

The Lords rebel & forces Bothwells escape to Denmark

Blows up Darnleys house

Brought to trial for the assassination of Lord Darnley & acquitted

28 Lords & prelates sign a docuement supporting Bothwells marriage to Mary

Intercepts Mary with 800 men & takes her to Dunbar Castle informing her of a rebellion

Mary authorizes Bothwells divorce from his wife, a week later they are married. Divorces Lady Jean

Marries Queen Mary after allegedly raping her at Dunbar & forcing her consent

Morton leads a force out of Edinburgh, confronts Mary & demands Bothwells surrender

Flees to Orkney, Shetland & then to Norway

Written by Mary to Bothwell. Treasonable letters are taken from 1 of Bothwells servants