42 Craigmillar and its Environs. 



thereupon between him and his Councillors, he says : 

 " The place that I resolved this in was CraigmiUaire, 

 no ain of the haill counsale being present there." ^ 



After repeated insurrections of that turbulent 

 nobleman Francis Stewart, second Earl of Bothwell, in' 

 the reign of James VI., a battle was fought near 

 Craigmillar. On the 3d of April 1594, Bothwell and 

 Lord Ochiltree marched to Leith, accompanied by 

 four hundred valiant horsemen. The few noblemen 

 and gentlemen that were in Edinburgh, along with the 

 inhabitants of the town, armed themselves to assist the 

 King, and marched in order of battle towards Leith. 

 Bothwell, however, retreated by Restalrig to Dudding- 

 ston, so that it appeared' as if his intention was to flee. 

 He continued retreating by Niddrie Marischall up the 

 hill towards Woolmet. Thinking he had fled alto- 

 gether, the King commanded Lord Home, the Master 

 of Glammis, with their forces, and the guard of horse- 

 men and footmen, to follow Bothwell. In accordance 

 with these instructions, Bothwell was pursued to 

 Niddrie Green, where a consultation was held before 



^ Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, vol. iv. p. 427. 



