Craigmillar Castle — Its Historical Associations. 37 



that occasion, and the result is thus given in the words 

 of those who initiated the business : " Her grace 

 answerit, that under twa conditions she might under- 

 stand the same — the ane, that the divorcement were 

 made lawfully; the other, that it war not prejudice to 

 her son — otherwise her hyness would rather endure all 

 torments, and abyde the perils that might chance her 

 in her grace's lifetime." In Pitcairn's ' Criminal 

 Trials ' it is stated that four of those then present — 

 viz., Argyll, Huntly, Maitland, and Bothwell — along 

 with a cousin of the last, Sir James Balfour, signed 

 a bond to the following effect: "That forsaemickle it 

 was thought expedient and maist profitable for the 

 commonwealth, by the haill nobility and lords under 

 subscryvit, that sic ane young fool and proud tyrant 

 suld not reign or bear rule over them ; and that for 

 divers causes, therefore, they had all concluded that he 

 suld be put off by ane way or another — and whosoever 

 suld take the deed in hand, or do it, they suld defend 

 and fortify it as themselves.'" It was by the merest 



' This passage from the bond was cited from memory by the 

 Laird of Ormiston, in his confession. See post, p. 39. 



