Abbotsford Club > Historical memoirs of the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots, and a portion of the reign of King James the Sixth

84 HISTORIE OF THE REIGNE OF a.d. 1567-
and John Hammiltoune (a fervant to the Archbifchop of S'. Androes),
whoe had flollen the kyes of the gates. They entred foftlie the King's
chamber, and found him afleep, where they both ftrangled him and his
man, William Tayleor, that lay by him on a pallet-bed. Thofe affaffi-
nats that are named to be with Bothwell, and a6lors, were thofe two
above named, Parris and Hammiltoune, John Hay of Fala, John Hep-
burne of Boltoune, Georg Dagleifli, and one Pierrie, Bothwell's men
all; James Ormiftoune of that Ilk, called Black Ormifloune, Hob Or-
miftoune, and Patrick Wilfone. After they had ftrangled the King and
his man dead, they carried them both out at a back gate of the toune
wall, which opened at the back of the hous, and laid them both doune
careleflie one from another, and then fyred fome barrells of powder, which
they had put in the roume below the King's chamber; which, with a
great noyfe, blew up the hous. They imagined the people would conceave
the hous to be blowen up by accident, and the corps of the King and his
man to be blowen over the wall by the force of the powder. But neither
were there fliirts finged, nor there cloths burnt (which were lykwayes laid
by them), nor there Ikins any thing toucht with fyre; which gave eafie
fatiffaclion to all that lookt upon them.
The blaft was fearfull to all about. Many rofe from there beds at the
noyfe, and came in multituds to looke upon the dead corps, without
knowing the caufe. The Magiftrats of Edinburgh rofe from there beds,
when they were informed of the matter, and made prefent fearch through
the toune for any fufpicious people. They found onlie one Captain
William Blackature, whoe had been drinking wyne in William Hender-
fon's hous at the Trone, whoe, at the noyfe of the crack, run out and
left the wyne undrunk. Him they tooke, and [he] was afterward hanged,
although no clear proofe was brought againft him. Bothwell himfelfe
went by a back way to his chamber in the pallace, and difmiffed his men.
The noyfe of the powder awakt the court, and the Queen, amazed, fent
for the noblmen neareft hand, whoe advyfed her to fend up to the toune
to try what the bufmes was. Bothwell would needs undertake this fearch,
whoe, upon his returne, made relation to the Queen of the bufmes, with
horrour. The Queen was fuddenlie taken with griefe ; and in this mean