Patrick (Hepburn) Hepburn Third Earl of Bothwell (abt. 1512 - 1556)

Born about 1512 in Haddingtonshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died Sep 1556 at about age 44 in Dumfries, Dumfriesshire, Scotland

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Biography

Patrick was the child of Adam Hepburn, 2nd Earl of Bothwell and his wife Agnes Stewart. He was born about 1512, as he was less then 2 years old when his father was killed at the Battle of Flodden on 9 September 1513.^[1]

Note N1153

On 26th April 1531 Patrick was appointed a Lord of the Articles but in december of that year he entered into a treasonable correspondence with Henry VIII of England which upon being discovered he was imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle. He was still there in July 1533. At the end of 1540 he was banished from Scotland. Following the death of King James V he returned and on 14th December 1542 he commenced proceedings which resulted in him regaining properties forfeited previously. It was rumoured that he was interested in marrying Mary of Lorraine, the Queen-Dowager, and doubtless in the hope of this union he procured a divorce from his first wife before October 1543. His expectation was disappointed.

He again intrigued with the english, traitorously corresponded with the Earl of Hertford during the latter's invasion of Scotland in 1544 and was summoned for treason in Parliament in November of that year. He nevertheless had a remission the following month. One of the charges against him was the acceptance of great gifts and money from Henry VIII. He was said to be heavily in debt at the time and this may account for his actions. Notwithstanding his remission he again underwent a term as a State prisoner and was only released after the battle of Pinkie which took place on 10th September 1547. He was subsequently deprived of his castle at Hailes and Earl Patrick promptly renounced his allegiance and adhered to England. Although again arraigned for treason he appears again to have been rehabilitated, as he died at Dumfries in September 1556 "Lieutenant in the honourable service of the realm".

Sources

1. ↑ Cokayne, George Edward, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom extant, extinct or dormant, 2nd ed., vol. 2, revised & edited by Hon. Vicary Gibbs, London: St Catherine Press, 1912. pp. 238-239. Digital image, Internet Archive, https://archive.org/details/completepeerageo02coka/page/238/mode/2up : accessed 22 April 2021.