Comments in refutation of pretensions advanced for the first time, and statements in a recent work "The Stirlings of Keir and their family papers"

WITH DRUMPELLIER'S EXPOSITION, &c. 239
concerned — exemplified in the notable jirivate agreement or settlement, it may
1 See ut mitc
be said, between the two conspn-ators, against Janet, in 1541, which the repeatedly.
Keir Performance does not venture to own or adduce from the Keir charter-
chest. It insensibly reminds us of the partition of booty in requital, or
for co-operation of mutual services between two foreign condottieri, equally
clandestine, and with objects not very dissimilar. This lamentable and dis-
creditable subject has been so fully dilated upon elsewhere, that it is unne-
cessary to say anything more upon it here.
The divorce of James of Keir and Janet of Gadder took place last of = see Ex-
January 1541,^ and on 21st April 1.543 there was a summons raised before p. 65.
the Supreme Civil Court, " at ye instance of Janet Striveling, Thomas Acts and
DccrGcts of
Bischop, hir spouse," against " Johne Kincaid, and his spouse," in reference supreme
to the lands of Over Carloury, formerly her heritage, and part of the Gadder
estate. Janet had thus been married to Bischop before this — probably in 1541.
The above lawsuit, April 1543, is the last notice we have of both parties Bischop,
together in Scotland. Bischop's restless activity of mind and body did not b.and of
' . . , Jauet of
allow him to remain long at ease in comparative idleness. He required cadder, his
main ob-
soraething more exciting than domestic comfort or rural occupation could ject being
Ob r attained,
afford to fill up his time and his thoughts, for we find in the following year, ^^If^^^ ^^^
in April 1544, a letter to Henry, Lord Methven, of the "escheat of all cornis, '"= <'^''^'""-
cattel, &c., quhilkis pertenit to Thomas Bischop of Ochiltree (which is scored
out, though completely identifying him), tlirow his being at the home for not
underlying the law for the slauchter of umquhile Andrew Johnston." ^ Register.
From the daring spirit of hostile enterprise and adventure, probably the
cause of the act, and from his qualifications and address, he was preferred
to the elevated position of private secretary to the noted Mathew, Earl of He obtains
Lennox, who, besides being a male Stuart, was descended from Mary, sister situation of
' ' o ' J ' private se-
of James IV., in virtue of whicli, coupled with some special arguments, he tJifprinceiy
competed with the house of Hamilton — between whom, therefore, and his ^^ri^oT'
own there was much enmity and rivalry — for the eventual right to the crown afterwai-ds
of Scotland. He was father of Henry Lord Darnley, gi'andfather of James So^uand".
VI., and, moreover, himself Regent of Scotland.
The Earl had recently returned from France, having distinguished himself
abroad, especially in the wars in Italy ; and being discerning, and versed in
public affairs, his selection of Bischop to a situation no doubt coveted by many,
must have been highly creditable to the latter. How the acquaintance first