Page "James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran" Paragraph 17

Arran joined the Lords of the Congregation and fought tirelessly against the French and Mary of Guise in the cause of the Scottish Reformation.

With his cousin, Robert, Master of Maxwell, on his father's orders, he attacked Crichton Castle the home of the Earl of Bothwell, and Falkland Palace.

On 10 October 1559 Arran and his accomplices took money and silver ware from the place of Daldowie and on 9 November 1559 raided the Palace of the Bishop of Dunblane, taking a gold necklace belonging to Janet, Lady Fleming, and removing the Bishop and his silver to Stirling Castle.

The sixty-year-old Bishop was then imprisoned at Castle Campbell till Christmas and forced to pay for his lodging.

In January 1559 Arran was leading the war in Fife, writing reports to Ralph Sadler and Sir James Croft from Dysart, Wemyss, Cupar and Aberdour.

The French ambassador in England, Gilles de Noailles, reported that the Scottish rebels had told Queen Elizabeth that if they were victorious Arran would become King of Scotland by consent of Scottish lords with England as its superior kingdom.

Scotland would pay England an annual fee and Elizabeth would add the arms of Scotland to her heraldry.