Francis Stewart, 5th Earl of Bothwell facts for kids
Francis Stewart, 5th Earl of Bothwell (born around December 1562 – died November 1612) was an important Scottish nobleman. He held titles like the head of Kelso Abbey and Coldingham Priory. He was also a Privy Counsellor (a royal advisor) and the Lord High Admiral of Scotland (in charge of the navy). Francis was known for leading several rebellions against his cousin, King James VI of Scotland. He eventually had to leave Scotland and died in Italy, facing financial difficulties.
Francis was the grandson of James V of Scotland, making him a first cousin to King James VI. His uncle, James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell, was suspected in the death of King James VI's father, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley. This connection likely made things complicated for Francis.
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Early Life and Education
Francis Stewart was the son of John Stewart, who was the head of Coldingham Priory. John was an illegitimate son of King James V of Scotland. Francis's mother was Jane Hepburn, the sister of James Hepburn, 1st Duke of Orkney and 4th Earl of Bothwell. Francis was likely born at his mother's tower house in Morham.
When Francis was very young, in December 1564, he was given the title Lord Badenoch and Enzie. In 1566, he became the head of Culross Abbey. Before 1568, he also became the head of Kelso Abbey. Later, his second son, John, took over as head of Coldingham Priory.
On January 10, 1568, Francis was given control of many lands and castles that used to belong to the Earls of Bothwell. These included important places like Hailes, Crichton, and Bothwell.
In August 1570, a letter mentioned that Francis was "at the Schools, and in good health," meaning he was studying. His sister Christine lived in the king's household at Stirling Castle.
Francis officially became the Earl of Bothwell on November 27, 1577, at Stirling Castle. This happened just four days before he married Margaret Douglas. She was the daughter of the David Douglas, 7th Earl of Angus and had been married before. Their wedding took place at Holyrood Abbey. Francis studied at the University of St Andrews and then traveled to universities in Paris and Rouen in 1578. He returned to Scotland in June 1582 after the king called him back.
Conflicts and Royal Service
In May 1583, Francis Bothwell was with King James VI at Linlithgow Palace. Bothwell and the Earl Marischal played football and got into a fight. They planned to duel, but the king and the Earl of Angus helped them make up.
Bothwell had several arguments with other nobles. In 1584, he killed David Home of Manderston. He also fought with Alexander Home near Holyrood Palace in November 1583.
In May 1585, Bothwell was asked to help keep peace in the Scottish Borders. In June 1586, he was one of three people chosen by King James VI to create a military agreement between England and Scotland. This agreement was signed on July 5. Later, Bothwell fought William Stewart of Monkton and fatally wounded him.
After Mary, Queen of Scots, King James VI's mother, was executed, Bothwell and other nobles wanted to invade England. The king disagreed with this idea. Bothwell was briefly held in Edinburgh Castle because of his actions.
On May 10, 1587, Bothwell and other nobles swore they were innocent of a raid on Stirling Castle that happened in November 1585. The king accepted their promises and called them his "honest and true servants."
As Keeper of Liddesdale, Francis, Earl Bothwell, promised to keep the peace there on July 8, 1587. On July 29, he became a full member of the Privy Council of Scotland, a group of royal advisors.
One of his important titles was Lord High Admiral of Scotland. On August 1, 1588, he was ordered to use his naval power to help fight against the Spanish Armada.
He continued to be active at sea. In November 1588, a Swedish ship captain accused Bothwell of seizing his ship. The Privy Council ordered Bothwell to return the ship.
In May 1589, Bothwell was imprisoned in Holyrood Palace. He was later moved to Blackness Castle and Tantallon Castle. He was very angry during this time. In 1589, an English pirate stole one of Bothwell's ships.
Accusations and Rebellions
Bothwell was accused of treason for planning an armed uprising and trying to capture the king at Holyroodhouse. He surrendered on May 11, 1589, and was found guilty, but his sentence was delayed.
In January 1591, it was reported that he bought the Isle of May and was building a house near Kelso.
Witchcraft Accusations
Bothwell was arrested on April 15, 1591, because of witchcraft accusations. He was accused of trying to harm the king using magic. These accusations came after King James VI's marriage to Anne of Denmark in September 1589. Anne's journey from Denmark was stopped by storms, which some people blamed on witchcraft. The king then asked Bothwell, as Admiral, to prepare a fleet to bring Anne to Scotland.
Later, in November 1590, people accused of witchcraft in North Berwick were tortured and confessed to causing the storms. One accused witch, Agnes Sampson, claimed the devil showed her a picture of King James VI and said he should be harmed "at the instance of a noble man Francis Erle Bodowell." Another person, Ritchie Graham, also confessed and said he worked with Bothwell, leading to Bothwell's arrest.
Becoming an Outlaw
Francis escaped from Edinburgh Castle on June 22, 1591, while the king was away. He believed that the Chancellor, John Maitland, 1st Lord Maitland of Thirlestane, was behind the accusations against him. Three days later, he was declared an outlaw. King James VI gave Bothwell's lands and castles to the Duke of Lennox. Anne of Denmark tried to help Bothwell, but the king was too angry. Bothwell often hid in woods and other places.
In July 1591, news spread about the search for Bothwell. People joked that the king was looking for him in the wrong places to get more money from England.
There were rumors that Bothwell had used witchcraft in connection with Anne of Denmark, which made the king dislike him. On October 18, Bothwell was thought to be in Leith, where his wife was staying, and the king searched for him.
On December 27, Bothwell broke into Holyroodhouse to try and make peace with the king. His opponents claimed he was trying to assassinate the king and queen. Some of his supporters were caught and sentenced to death. Anne of Denmark asked King James VI to spare their lives.
Reports of Bothwell at his mother's tower house in Morham and at Coldingham led the king to try and catch him on January 13, 1592. However, the king's horse threw him into a pool of water, and the chase was stopped. In early 1592, Bothwell wrote to the Edinburgh clergy, strongly denying the witchcraft charges. On April 7, the king again went after Bothwell, who was heard to be in Dundee.
Raid of Falkland
When the Scottish Parliament met on June 5, 1592, Bothwell was officially stripped of his titles and lands. On June 28, Bothwell, leading 300 men, tried to capture Falkland Palace and the king. The king and queen were warned and locked themselves in a tower. Bothwell gave up and left, taking horses from the royal stables. An English border raider and his men looted the town of Falkland.
On the Run
The king continued to pursue Bothwell, but he was not found. The Crown took possession of all his houses and strongholds. Several of Bothwell's supporters were imprisoned.
On July 13, 1592, a new order was issued against Bothwell's supporters in the Borders. On September 14, the Privy Council ordered an armed gathering to help the king pursue Bothwell's supporters. The king went to Jedburgh, but little was achieved.
On November 20, 1592, the Countess of Bothwell was forbidden from being near the king. In January 1593, Bothwell was in northern England and was well-received, which angered King James VI. James wrote to Queen Elizabeth I to ask for Bothwell to be sent back to Scotland.
Loss of Titles and Final Exile
Bothwell officially lost his titles by an Act of Parliament on July 21, 1593. However, on July 24, Bothwell managed to sneak into Holyroodhouse and confront the king in his bedroom. Many of Bothwell's supporters also entered the room. The king accepted Bothwell's promises of loyalty, and an agreement for his pardon was reached on August 14. So, just five days after losing his titles, Bothwell and his friends were pardoned.
On August 10, a formal trial was held for Bothwell regarding the old witchcraft charges. This trial was seen as a way to finally deal with these accusations. Confessions from Ritchie Graham were read, claiming Bothwell wanted to poison the king or use magic against him. Bothwell defended himself and blamed his enemies. He was found not guilty.
However, the king was not finished. On September 7, the king decided to change Bothwell's pardon and add a condition that Bothwell had to go into exile. Bothwell felt betrayed and soon returned to his old ways. In October, his supporters were seen armed near Linlithgow. Bothwell went to Carlisle Castle and was welcomed by Thomas Scrope.
On April 2, 1594, a new order was issued to gather forces to pursue Bothwell after a small clash between the king's forces and Bothwell's near Edinburgh. Bothwell retreated to the Scottish Borders. Many believed that if Bothwell had pushed harder, he would have won, as his cause was becoming popular.
In May 1594, Bothwell was in Northumberland and heard that Jacob Kroger had stolen jewels from Anne of Denmark. Bothwell found Kroger and took some of the jewels, hoping to use them to get back into the king's favor. Bothwell also spent time at Hermitage Castle. In July, an English officer heard that Bothwell had agreed to a truce until after the baptism of Prince Henry.
Because he was running out of money and support, Bothwell decided to change his religious side. A new order against him on September 30, 1594, stated that he had "thrown off the cloik of religioun" (meaning Presbyterianism) and joined a new group against the king with Roman Catholic Lords like Huntly and Errol. The king went north against them, and the group broke apart. Huntly and Errol agreed to leave the country.
Life in Exile and Death
Bothwell's pardon was taken away, and he was formally declared a traitor again on February 18, 1595. This was the same day his half-brother, Hercules Stewart, was executed for supporting him.
Until April 1595, Bothwell stayed hidden in Caithness and Orkney. Eventually, he sailed to France, landing in Normandy. On May 6, 1595, it was reported that he was in Paris and had asked King Henry IV for help. King James VI asked Henry IV to banish Bothwell from France, but the request was refused. After several months, Bothwell left for Spain.
Between 1598 and 1600, there were rumors he visited London. King James VI heard he was in London in August 1598 but did not believe it. Walter Raleigh advised Robert Cecil that Queen Elizabeth should keep Bothwell detained, saying he would always be a problem.
In February 1602, a rumor spread that he had left Spain for the Low Countries and was trying to get Scottish soldiers to join the Spanish army. In June 1602, there was a rumor that some Scottish nobles wanted to bring him back to Scotland. These plans did not happen.
Bothwell lived in poverty in Naples, Italy, where he died in November 1612. The English ambassador in Venice reported that Bothwell died after hearing about the death of Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, whom he had hoped would help him regain his fortune. The Spanish Viceroy of Naples arranged a grand funeral for the Scottish earl.
Marriage and Children
On December 1, 1577, Francis, Earl Bothwell, married Margaret Douglas (died 1640). She was the daughter of David Douglas, 7th Earl of Angus, and had been married before. After their wedding, the new earl was not allowed to be near his new wife for a short time because he was so young.
King James VI issued an order against Margaret Douglas in November 1592 for supporting her husband. It was said she was more involved in her husband's rebellions "than became a woman."
Francis and Margaret had at least four sons and four daughters:
- Francis Stewart, Lord Bothwell and head of Kelso Abbey (born 1584). His baptism was celebrated with a banquet in Edinburgh, attended by King James VI. After his father died, he was sometimes called 'Earl Bothwell'. He later got back some of the family lands, but he sold them. He faced financial difficulties.
- John (second son), the last head of Coldingham Priory. He later transferred his title to his older brother, Francis.
- Frederick (third son) (born 1594).
- Henry (Harry) (fourth son) (born around 1594).
- Elizabeth (born 1590) (eldest daughter). She was baptized at Holyroodhouse on March 1, 1590. The English diplomat Robert Bowes gave her a silver gift. She married James, Master of Cranstoun.
- Helen, who married John Macfarlane.
- Jean (died after 1624), who married Robert Elliot.
- Margaret, who married Alan Cathcart, 5th Lord Cathcart.
In Plays
Francis Stewart is a main character in two plays: Jamie the Saxt (1936) by Robert McLellan and The Burning (1971) by Stewart Conn. Both plays show his time as an outlaw and rebel fighting against King James VI in the early 1590s.
