The Environs of Craigmillar. 201 



The estate, however, had been confiscated, and part 

 of it bestowed on Sir James Bellenden, Lord Justice- 

 Clerk, who was a favourite of Regent Murray, then 

 in power. Sir James seized upon the house, and 

 turned out Hamilton's wife, with her infant child, 

 in a cold November night, into the open fields, where 

 before morning she became insane. Wounded to 

 the quick by this inhuman act, Bothwellhaugh vowed 

 to be revenged, resolving at last to wait till his enemy 

 should pass through Linlithgow, on his way from 

 Stirling to Edinburgh. Having secretly introduced 

 himself, with his carbine, into an empty house favour- 

 able for his purpose, he barred the doors and windows 

 looking to the street, and placed a fleet horse ready 

 saddled at the back. Murray got a hint that danger 

 lurked in this street, but considered it cowardly to 

 turn, and kept on his way. Amid the vast assemblage 

 he rode slowly past the fatal house, which gave Both- 

 wellhaugh an opportunity for taking aim. He fired, 

 and the Regent fell, mortally wounded. The soldiers 

 rushed furiously at the door, but ere they could 

 force an entrance Bothwellhaugh had escaped. 



N 2 



