218 The English Raids on Dumfries in 1570. 



distressed country was for five months witliout a recognised 

 head, the two parties failing to agree. Elizabeth, whose interests 

 were best served by a divided nation, had sedulously fomented 

 the dissension. 



The party supporting Mary consisted of the great majority of 

 the noblemen and ancient Catholic families ; its chief leaders were 

 Maitland of Lethington and John, Archbishop of St. Andrews, 

 virtual head of the Clan Hamilton, one of whose members was 

 the instrument of Moray's murder. The party adhering to the 

 infant King was not so distinguished. It was composed of the 

 Protestant clergy, several of the lesser barons, and of the larger 

 burghs, the bulk, in' fact, of the Commons. Its most able leader 

 was the Earl of Morton, whose firm support of Protestantism 

 covered a multitude of sins. From the composition of the two 

 parties it is clear that had Elizabeth not intervened as she did 

 in 1570 the Marian party would have gained the ascendancy for 

 a more or less lengthy period. 



In the South-West of Scotland all the principal noble and 

 landed families supported Mary. Chief among them was Sir 

 John Maxwell of Terregles, 4th Lord Herries, known for a time 

 as the Master of Maxwell, who, although a Protestant, was one 

 of the staunchest supporters of Queen Mary. He had com- 

 manded the horse at Langside, and, with him, Mary had fled into 

 England. Knox wrote of him as " a man stout and wittie, of 

 great judgment and experience." The King's party feared his 

 ability, and were picturesque in invective, as exemplified by 

 Bannatyne and Sir Nicolas Throckmorton, the latter saying he 

 was " The counynge horsleache and wysest of the wholle faction, 

 but as the queue of Scotland sayeth of hym, there ys no bodie can 

 be sure of hym."" Another important adherent was John Max- 

 well, 7th or 8th Lord Maxwell, and afterwards for a time Earl 

 of Morton. He was at this date a lad of seventeen. Lord 

 Herries was his guardian, and his influence over the youthful 

 Lord is apparent. In this district also Sir John Johnstone, of 

 Annandale, Michael 4th Lord Carlyle of Torthorwald, the 

 Kirkpatricks of Closeburn, Murrays of Cockpool, Carruthers of 

 Holmains, Griersons of Lag, Charteris of Amisfield, and the 

 Maxwells of Tinwald and Cowhill were adherents of the Queen. 



Illus. to the Reign of Q. Mary, Maitland Club, 1837. 



