Jean Gordon
Jean Gordon
Thomas Randolph to Sir William Cecil, Edinburgh, October 13, 1565
Another argument of [Mary’s] goodwill to the Queen my mistress is, that she, knowing and being told by myself long since, what spiteful words Bothwell had spoken as well of herself as the Queen’s Majesty, and having them verified unto her by those that heard them spoken (which in the one, though they may be true, yet in the other are most abominably false), yet is now content to make of him, to credit him and place him in honour above any subject she hath![1]
When the royalist forces returned home, Bothwell troops remained in Dumfries with his 11,000 Borderers and 300 hagbutters to prevent any counterattack from Carlisle, and to intercept communication between the vanquished Lords and Scotland. At the end of October 1565, he was relieved by Lord Herries and returned to Edinburgh.
He realised that a strong field artillery was essential to the Crown in dealing with lightly armed rebels, and he took charge in converting siege guns into field batteries, and reviewed methods of raising men and arms.
Meanwhile, he was also still responsible for the Borders, and his men were especially vigilant, given the presence of the rebels in England. In addition, the border Elliot clan had defected to the Queen of England shortly before the Chaseabout Raids (Robert Elliot had been having a strop because Bothwell had evicted him from Hermitage when he returned from France), and Bothwell was determined to pay them back. He burned their peels and threatened to kill Martin Elliot, who promptly looked to Elizabeth I for help.
Unfortunately for him, Elizabeth was seeking a reconciliation with Mary. Not out of any ideas of peace and love, of course, but because most of her ‘tools’ were now in exile and she wanted to find some way to get them back into position. A peace conference was suggested, to consist of two nobles each from England and Scotland. Bothwell’s name was suggested, but was not approved of by Elizabeth or Randolph, her Ambassador in Scotland. Both knew that Bothwell would not be willing to sell the information they needed. Mary refused to suggest an alternative name, and when she discovered that Randolph had received money from Elizabeth to fund Moray’s rebellion, she had him expelled from Scotland on 2nd March 1566.
Bothwell, meanwhile, had decided to marry Lady Jean Gordon , sister of the Earl of Huntly. Huntly needed the political favour an alliance with Bothwell would confer, and Bothwell needed the money that Huntly could provide as a dowry. The couple were distantly related, and so a Papal dispensation was sought and granted. The ceremony, however, despite the Queen's wishes, was to be a Protestant one. Bothwell was probably a firmer Protestant than is usuallyn is usually believed. He was, however, enlightened enough neither to feel the need for his religion to reduce his loyalty to his Queen, or to allow his loyalty to his Queen to interfere with his faith.
Bedford to Throckmorton, 14 February 1566:Bothwell and Huntly refused to go to Mass when the Queen would have had them, whereat I much marvel, for I took Bothwell to have been of no religion.[2]
They were married on 24th of February 1566 by the Bishop of Galloway in the Kirk of the Canongate, Jean wearing cloth of silver and white taffeta donated by Mary Queen of Scots. The wedding celebrations lasted for five days and were followed by a honeymoon at Seton House, ten miles east of Edinburgh.
Lady Jean brought a dowry of twelve thousand marks. Eleven thousand of these were used to redeem Crichton Castle from its creditors, and Bothwell signed it over to her in return. He also had miniatures painted of them both.
But Lady Jean was in love with another man, Alexander Ogilvie. He had recently become engaged to another woman, and Jean probably married on the rebound. By the end of the honeymoon, it was reported that the newlyweds were not on speaking terms.
References
[1] Calendar of State Papers relating to Scotland and Mary Queen of Scots Vol II. Ed Joseph Bain (HM General Register House, Edinburgh, 1898, 1900)
[2] Report on Pepys Manuscripts: Historical Manuscripts Commision (1911)