Patrick Hepburn, 3rd Earl of Bothwell
Encyclopedia
Patrick Hepburn, 3rd Earl of Bothwell (b. 1512 – died September 1556 at Dumfries
), was the son of Adam Hepburn
, Lord Hailes, who died at the Battle of Flodden the year after Patrick's birth.
Hepburn was known as the Fair Earl. He owed this more to his looks than his character, being described as "fair and white" whilst a young boy.
He was imprisoned in 1529 for two years for harbouring robbers. Once released he decided to exact revenge by beginning a treasonable correspondence with England
. He then spent much of the next years in England, and after James V
died following the Battle of Solway Moss
, Hepburn signed a pact with Henry VIII
promising to serve him and aid the commitment of the then infant Mary, Queen of Scots, into Henry's custody.
Despite having sworn loyalty to Henry VIII, Hepburn was awarded an annual pension of £1,000 from Mary of Guise
(Mary, Queen of Scots' mother) in return for his patriotic fidelity. It was said that Hepburn believed there was the possibility of marrying into royalty and that was his reason for divorcing his wife. However, the prospects for royal marriage were thin and despite Henry VIII engaging in another bloody invasion of Scotland, Hepburn resumed correspondence with the English Court.
In the intervening years, Hepburn played a role in the death of George Wishart
.
In 1548 Hepburn renounced his loyalty to the Scottish crown, and became a pensioner of England, earning £3,000 annually. He went into England in July 1549, staying two nights at Naworth Castle
. However, in 1554 he returned to Scotland after his formal pardon by Mary of Guise
.
The Earl of Bothwell married in 1534, Agnes (d.1572), daughter of Henry 3rd Lord Sinclair (who also fell at Flodden). They were divorced before October 16, 1543, whereafter she was styled Lady Morham
until her death. They had three children:
Dumfries
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
), was the son of Adam Hepburn
Adam Hepburn, 2nd Earl of Bothwell
Adam Hepburn, 2nd Earl of Bothwell was a Scottish nobleman, who succeeded his father Patrick Hepburn, 1st Earl of Bothwell in 1508...
, Lord Hailes, who died at the Battle of Flodden the year after Patrick's birth.
Hepburn was known as the Fair Earl. He owed this more to his looks than his character, being described as "fair and white" whilst a young boy.
He was imprisoned in 1529 for two years for harbouring robbers. Once released he decided to exact revenge by beginning a treasonable correspondence with England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He then spent much of the next years in England, and after James V
James V of Scotland
James V was King of Scots from 9 September 1513 until his death, which followed the Scottish defeat at the Battle of Solway Moss...
died following the Battle of Solway Moss
Battle of Solway Moss
The Battle of Solway Moss took place on Solway Moss near the River Esk on the English side of the Anglo-Scottish Border in November 1542 between forces from England and Scotland.-Background:...
, Hepburn signed a pact with Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
promising to serve him and aid the commitment of the then infant Mary, Queen of Scots, into Henry's custody.
Despite having sworn loyalty to Henry VIII, Hepburn was awarded an annual pension of £1,000 from Mary of Guise
Mary of Guise
Mary of Guise was a queen consort of Scotland as the second spouse of King James V. She was the mother of Mary, Queen of Scots, and served as regent of Scotland in her daughter's name from 1554 to 1560...
(Mary, Queen of Scots' mother) in return for his patriotic fidelity. It was said that Hepburn believed there was the possibility of marrying into royalty and that was his reason for divorcing his wife. However, the prospects for royal marriage were thin and despite Henry VIII engaging in another bloody invasion of Scotland, Hepburn resumed correspondence with the English Court.
In the intervening years, Hepburn played a role in the death of George Wishart
George Wishart
George Wishart was a Scottish religious reformer and Protestant martyr.He belonged to a younger branch of the Wisharts of Pitarrow near Montrose. He may have graduated M.A., probably at King's College, Aberdeen, and was certainly a student at the University of Leuven, from which he graduated in 1531...
.
In 1548 Hepburn renounced his loyalty to the Scottish crown, and became a pensioner of England, earning £3,000 annually. He went into England in July 1549, staying two nights at Naworth Castle
Naworth Castle
Naworth Castle, also known as, or recorded in historical documents as "Naward", is a castle in Cumbria, England near the town of Brampton. It is adjacent to the A69 about two miles east of Brampton. It is on the opposite side of the River Irthing to, and just within sight of, Lanercost Priory...
. However, in 1554 he returned to Scotland after his formal pardon by Mary of Guise
Mary of Guise
Mary of Guise was a queen consort of Scotland as the second spouse of King James V. She was the mother of Mary, Queen of Scots, and served as regent of Scotland in her daughter's name from 1554 to 1560...
.
The Earl of Bothwell married in 1534, Agnes (d.1572), daughter of Henry 3rd Lord Sinclair (who also fell at Flodden). They were divorced before October 16, 1543, whereafter she was styled Lady Morham
Morham
Morham, East Lothian, sometimes spelt Moram, Morum, Morhame, etc., in old records, is the smallest parish in Scotland, sandwiched between five other parishes: Haddington, Garvald, Yester, Whittingehame, and Prestonkirk, in the undulating lower reaches of the Lammermuir Hills.-Church and hamlet:For...
until her death. They had three children:
- James Hepburn, 4th Earl of BothwellJames Hepburn, 4th Earl of BothwellJames Hepburn, 1st Duke of Orkney , better known by his inherited title as 4th Earl of Bothwell, was hereditary Lord High Admiral of Scotland. He is best known for his association with and subsequent marriage to Mary, Queen of Scots, as her third husband...
, his son and heir, who eventually became the third and last husband of Mary, Queen of Scots. - Jean HepburnJean HepburnJean Hepburn, Lady Darnley, Mistress of Caithness, Lady Morham was a Scottish noblewoman and a member of the Border clan of Hepburn. Her brother was James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, the third husband of Mary, Queen of Scots. Jean's first husband was John Stewart, 1st Lord Darnley, an illegitimate...
(d. before 27 July 1599) whose first husband was John Sinclair, Master of Caithness (d.1578, v.p.), with issue; her second husband was John Stewart, Lord Darnley, Prior of Coldingham, by whom she had Francis Stewart, 5th Earl of BothwellFrancis Stewart, 5th Earl of BothwellFrancis Stewart, Earl Bothwell , was Commendator of Kelso Abbey and Coldingham Priory, a Privy Counsellor and Lord High Admiral of Scotland. Like his stepfather, Archibald Douglas, Parson of Douglas, he was a notorious conspirator, who died in disgrace...
; her third husband the notorious Archibald Douglas, Parson of DouglasArchibald Douglas, Parson of DouglasArchibald Douglas, Parson of Douglas, was also Parson of Glasgow, a Senator of the College of Justice, Ambassador to Queen Elizabeth I of England, and a notorious intriguer....
, a Senator of the College of JusticeCollege of JusticeThe College of Justice is a term used to describe the Supreme Courts of Scotland, and its associated bodies.The constituent bodies of the supreme courts of Scotland are the Court of Session, the High Court of Justiciary, and the Accountant of Court's Office...
, and brother of William Douglas of WhittinghameWilliam Douglas of WhittinghameWilliam Douglas of Whittingehame was a Senator of the College of Justice at Edinburgh, and a Royal conspirator.-Family:...
. - Janet Hepburn born about 1535, married John Stewart, 3rd Lord of Aubigny as his second wife.