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

240 COMMENTS ON KEIR PEEFOEMANCE,
And em- began seems unknown, but probably from Janet, Bischop's spouse, the
ployed in _ _ _
that capa- ci-dcvant Cadder heiress, and her ancestors having held the land of Lettyr
^ffareof (afterwards the heirloom of Drampellier), of the house of Lennox. This im-
im ortance p'^isd a feudal connection, which Bischop's sagacity may have tui'ned to ac-
both^E^g- count, together with his other endowments and qualifications.
Scotland in The vory first step or procedure of Earl Mathew in his negotiations with
interest""^ England for assistance and redress against Arran the Governor (the head of
the Hamiltons, and, of course, his enemy) and Cardinal Beatoun, of whom
he bitterly complained as injuring and oppressing his country, and denying
Foedera!'^ him lus clue rank and influence, is an especial commission, April 8, 1544, to
p. 19. " "Thomas Bischop, oui" Secretaire,"^ and Hew Cunninghame, "ourverray
lauchful and undowtit Procuratoris," &c., to " convene" and treat accordingly
at Carlisle with " my Lord Whartoun, Lord Wardane of the West Merchis of
Yngland, and Sir Robert Bowys, Knyght — Commissionaris," &c., for " the
Kingis Majesty (Henry VIIL)," public characters well known in history.
Ibid., Then actually at Carlisle, on the evening of the l7tli of May, there followed
solemn indentures of agreement between the English commissioners on the
part of Henry, and those on that of the Earl — viz., " William, Erie of Glen-
carue ; Robert, Bischop-elect of Caithnes, brother to the Richt Honorable
Matthow, Erie of Levenax (Lennox) ; as also Thomas Bischop and Hew
Cunnyngham, commissionaris nemmit " by a " commission maid under the
sehs, &c., of the saidis Erlis of Levenax and Glencarne."
They contain important conditions for tlie general behoof and state, inter alia
that Lennox " by his Secketaey " {Bischop of course, thus his confidant and
plenipotentiary) had " maid suit unto the Kingis said Majestic (Henry VUL)
to have in mariage my Lady Margarete Dowglas, His Majisteis neice." Here
Bischop had the honour of personally negotiating and promoting a marriage,
subsequently concluded, between these high parties, in the terms of the
above, by which Henry, Lord Darnley, their son, became next heir to the
English throne (some thought, from being born an Englishman, a preferable
one) after our Queen Mary, and which chiefly led to their union. Further
still, by another clause, Bischop, as one of the commissioners, is to do all in
his power to get " the young Quein of Scotland " (the latter) " in thair keip-
- ing," and afterwards dehver her to Henry VHL to be nourished "at his
Hienes order until (the most weighty afiair notoriously at the time) the
marrage quhilk his Majeste determynit betwein his Hienes maist excellent