| James Hamilton | |
|---|---|
| James Hamilton preparing to assassinate the Regent Moray | |
| House | Clan Hamilton |
| Died | 1581 |
| Burial | Crosbie Church, Fullarton, Troon |
James Hamilton of Bothwellhaugh (died 1581) was a Scottish supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots, who assassinated James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray, Regent of Scotland, in January 1570.[1][2][3] He shot Moray from the steps of his uncle Archbishop John Hamilton's house in Linlithgow, in what is believed to be the first assassination using a firearm.[4]
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Hamilton was a member of Clan Hamilton from Bothwellhaugh, a village and castle in the Clyde Valley. The property of the Dukes of Hamilton, it no longer exists.[1]
Hamilton married Isobel Sinclair, the daughter of Oliver Sinclair and Katherine Bellenden, and the heiress of Woodhouselee, a castle in Midlothian, a quarter-mile (400 m) northwest of Easter Howgate and 2½ miles (4 km) north of Penicuik in the valley of the River Esk.[1] He fought for Mary, Queen of Scots, against Moray at the Battle of Langside and was captured, however his life was spared.
There is a traditional story (now discredited) that Woodhouselee was given to Sir James Ballenden, who took possession of the property in the middle of the night, throwing Hamilton's wife and newborn child out into the bitter cold in just their night clothes. The ghosts of his tragic wife and child are said to still haunt the site of the old castle and her frenzied and terrifying screams have been heard by those dwelling nearby.[5] However, the true reasons for the assassination are rooted in the political rivalries in Scotland at the time, and Hamilton's uncle, John Hamilton, Archbishop of St. Andrews, at least had prior knowledge of the plot.[6]
Moray had been appointed Regent of Scotland after his half-sister Mary abdicated in 1567, and had subsequently clashed with her and her supporters. He burnt down Rutherglen Castle in 1569 in retaliation against the Hamiltons for supporting Mary.[7] James Hamilton decided to assassinate Moray and travelled to the Borders, Edinburgh, York, London, Perth, Glasgow and Stirling without an opportunity arising. Finally Moray was making his way from Stirling to Edinburgh via Linlithgow when the chance for revenge presented itself. Hamilton prepared the assassination carefully, gaining access to a Hamilton family property which had a projecting gallery, placing feathers on the ground to deaden his footsteps, hanging a black cloth on the wall to hide his shadow and obtaining a brass match-lock carabine with a rifled barrel for accuracy. The weapon was long preserved at Hamilton Palace. He had a saddled horse waiting and all entrances were either barricaded or stuffed with spiny gorse.[8]
It is said that John Knox warned the Regent of the danger, and it was known the house used was the property of the Archbishop of Saint Andrews.[9]
On 23 January 1570 James Hamilton fired at the Regent from a window, behind some washing, and mortally wounded him.[10] He is the subject of a painting by George Cattermole, showing him about to assassinate the regent. The weapon illustrated is however a fire-lock and therefore not the type of weapon used.[9] The incident is also depicted on stained glass in St. Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh.
After a desperate ride, closely pursued by the Regent's men, James made it to the safety of his triumphant kin in Hamilton.[11]
As the Domestic Annals of Scotland put it:
The Earl of Moray, the Good Regent, was slain in Linlithgow by James Hamilton of Bothwell-haugh, who shot the said Regent with a gun out at ane window, and presently thereafter fled out at the back, and leapt on a very good horse, which the Hamiltons had ready waiting for him; and, being followed speedily, after that spur and wand had failed him, he drew forth his dagger, and struck his horse behind; whilk causit the horse to leap a very broad stank; by whilk means he escaped.[12]
James Hamilton used a carbine of 3 feet 5 inches (104 cm) length and a hexagonal bore barrel of 2 feet 5 inches (74 cm) length. The stock was inlaid with a deer feeding and at the butt had the usual covered container for storing bullets. The butt carried an oval brass plate inscribed: Bothwellhaughes Gun with which he Shot Regent Murray upon the 23d January 1570. The owner in 1890 was Lord Hamilton of Dalzell, who wrote: Hamilton of Bothwellhaugh was a nephew of Hamilton of Orbiston, and occupied Bothwellhaugh, a farm on the estate of Orbiston. The gun remained in the possession of the Orbiston family until my grandfather, General Hamilton of Orbiston and Dalzell, sold the estate of Bothwellhaugh sixty years ago to the then Duke of Hamilton, when he made a present of this carbine. At the sale of the Hamilton collection in 1882, the present Duke of Hamilton gave it back to me. It was exhibited at Glasgow in 1888.[13]
One of the finest remaining brasses in Scotland commemorates the murdered Earl of Moray; it is located in Saint Giles Kirk, Edinburgh. It carries the Moray arms and figures representing Religion and Justice.[14]
After a time he left the country and went to France where he offered his services to the Guise family, kinsmen of Mary. He was asked to assassinate Gaspard II de Coligny, however he refused, stating that a man of honour was entitled to settle his own quarrels, but not to murder for others.[11]
He must have married again as his son David is buried at Crosbie church and his sister married into the Fullarton of Fullartons as indicated further on and another daughter, Alison, married Gavin Hamilton, Bishop of Galloway.
The Archbishop of Saint Andrews was captured at Dumbarton and tried and convicted of art and part in the Regent's killing. He was hanged at Stirling.[15]
Pont's map of Linlithgow shows the houses of the High Street, one of which was the property of Archbishop Hamilton from which James Hamilton of Bothwellhaugh shot the Regent, James Stewart, Earl of Moray in 1570. Pont's map even details the gallery from which the shot was probably fired.[16][17]
One of David Hamilton's sisters married into the family of Fullarton of that Ilk from Ayrshire and he is buried at Crosbie Church, Fullarton, Troon.[18] A Fullarton family tradition suggests that this David Hamilton may have been closely involved in or might even have been the true assassin of the Earl of Moray.[19] In 1545 John Hamilton, abbot of Paisley, feued to David Hamilton his kinsman, the lands of Monktonmains near Prestwick.[20]