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 DEUMPELLIER'S EXPOSITION, &c. 243
unfortunate lady having obtained, long before, a " licence " or safe-conduct for
, England from the Regent Arran, that was renewed by Queen Mary with his
consent by another, March 28, 1547, where the Queen, moreover, and
Governor " ratefey and a,pprevis all rychtis maid sene her departing furth of perfo™"^
our realm, and procuratories to James Striveling of the Keir, and to be maid tuiSy, p?"^
395 No
dming the tyme of this licence to ryn."^ Very probably Keir was very glad 173!
to have her out of the kingdom, independently of this further eligible guaran-
tee as to Cadder in his favour.
There is a curious and interesting letter, under the Privy Seal, by Queen
Mary, first only adduced in this Exposition,^ dated October 8, 1551, to = see p. 26.
Matho Hamilton of Mylnburn, that completes all ujoon this subject " of 3'e Last notice
escheit of all gudis, soumes of money, actis, contractis, jowelhs, gold, silver," jj^g^f*^
&c., " whilkis parteinit to .* Striveling, sumtyme Lady Caldoure, and ^^jf^then
now ye spous of Thomas Bischop, and now partening, &c., to om* soverane Lady," '"^^'s'^'^'^-
because she was in England remaining " wyt ye said Thomas, her spous, rebell
and traitour, &c., helping and supporting him." She still remained faithful and
attached to him, which naturally may have had a corresponding retm-n on his
side, and refute any ill treatment to be inferred from what is vaguely and
gratuitously again charged against Bischop in the Keir work.^ » note^. ^' '
Janet's career was, indeed, a baneful and partly a ruinous one to her
ancient house, and its lawful heirs and representatives, who have so unmerit-
edly suffered in conseqiience, and may be held the chief victims.
In the earlier part of Bischop's career, his conduct certainly merited repre-
hension, but his political life thereafter was in a great measure laudable and
consistent. He devoted the fervidicm ingenium of a Scotchman to the
advancement of Lennox, as well as of the cause . of the Queen. He could
never stimulate that nobleman sufficiently (whose secretary and confidant he
was, and over whom he even exeixised authority) to take steps he thought
conducive to his advantage. Even the royal Margaret Douglas (daugbtcr of
Margaret of England), whose marriage with the former he laad personally i see after-
negotiated and promoted,* was nothing when weighed in the scale of her 245.
husband, and his own, that was actually the royal cause.
He was so far a political zealot ; but at the same time this remarkable
person, though it is admitted unsciiipulous, artful, and intriguing from his
youtli, nevertheless was warhke -withal, and chivalrous, being, iu return for his
* So blauk in the original.