James Melville: Life Story

Moray’s Regency began to degenerate into faction, and quarrels. Melville, a firm supporter of Moray, tried to advise him, but his opinion of the Regent was that he was ‘good with good company, wise with wise company, stout with stout company, and contrariwise with others of contrary qualities.’

The Regent was assassinated by a member of the Hamilton family (who were of the Queen’s Party) in January 1570. In his stead, the Earl of Lennox, grandfather to King James, was suggested as Regent.At the same time, the Earl of Sussex was approaching the border with a large army. Melville was sent by a group who, whilst part of the King’s Party, were sympathetic to the Queen, to see what Sussex’ intentions were.

Melville was greeted courteously and even lent the Earl’s own furred nightgown (not a sleeping garment, more like an informal evening coat) as a token of how welcome he was. Sussex was full of gracious words – he respected the Queen of Scots, and her son, whom he took to be his own Queen’s next heirs; he was not planning to assist either side or involve himself in Scotland’s internal affairs. He was, in fact, just following orders.

Melville left the English camp, convinced that Sussex was, in fact, there to support the installation of Lennox as Regent and to promise assistance to the King’s Party, whilst also sending messages of support to the Queen’s Party, thus to foment further strife in Scotland. The Lennox and Hamilton families had been enemies for generations, so the appointment of Lennox as Regent would certainly limit any chance of reconciliation between the two sides.

Sussex crossed the border and took two castles, one of which was Home, driving Lord Home into the Queen’s Party.

Melville, who had been a supporter of the Darnley marriage, was on good terms with Lennox, and went to visit him. Lennox told Melville that Lady Lennox had recommended that he listen to advice from both Melville and his brother. The best advice that Melville could give was for Lennox to refuse the Regency, as it would probably cost him his life. He warned Lennox that he would have enemies (including a small group, originally in the King’s Party, but alienated by Moray, who were now holding Edinburgh Castle for the Queen). Melville promised to serve Lennox as Regent.

One of Lennox’ first actions was to capture a castle in the hands of the Queen’s Party. Melville had planned to ride with him, in part because he had been promised lands at Monimail, formerly in the possession of the Bishop of St Andrews, and then owned by Henry Balnaves. He was persuaded to stay in Edinburgh by the English ambassador, Sir Thomas Randolph, to try to broker a peace with the members of the Queen’s Party, still holding out in Edinburgh Castle. Randolph said he would speak to Lennox about the lands, making sure they were given to Melville.

Melville now claims to have been hoodwinked by Randolph. He believed Randolph to be his friend, as he had helped him during Randolph’s exile in France during the reign of Mary I of England. Randolph told Melville that he himself believed (in his personal capacity, not as Ambassador) that the only true authority in Scotland was Mary, and so Melville became a go-between Randolph and Sir William Kirkcaldy of Grange, who was holding the castle.

Kirkcaldy had originally been one of the King’s Party, but was increasingly disaffected, and after Moray’s death, had changed sides. Kirkcaldy and Melville had been friends for many years. In Melville’s view, Kirkcaldy was still open to reconciliation with Lennox, as he believed that internal strife in Scotland was just giving more opportunity to England to stir up trouble.

Randolph suggested that Kirkcaldy surrender the castle to an English appointee, at which point Kirkcaldy refused to have any further discussions. His position hardened, and he refused to give up the castle to the King’s Party.

Melville quarrelled with Randolph, probably because he failed to obtain the promised lands for him – even supporting their grant elsewhere. He now saw, or so he says, that Randolph had only meant to sow dissension.

There are two letters, written a fortnight apart in March 1572, from Melville to Randolph. In the first he talks of their old friendship and says he prefers to stay quietly in the country and not involve himself in affairs. In the second, he addresses him in very stiff language, requesting him to desist from harrying Melville’s widowed mother, who feared that Randolph would burn her property in revenge for attacks upon Morton.