The Mermaid and the Hare
Bothwell
James Hepburn, fourth Earl of Bothwell.
Born c. 1535 son of Patrick, Earl of Bothwell (The Fair Earl) and his wife Agnes Sinclair.
A protestant lord, Bothwell always put his loyalty to the crown ahead of his religion and
unusually among the Scottish nobility did not join the Lords of the Congregation in opposing
Mary of Guise's rule as Regent. He also earned a reputation for being anti-English and
stubbornly refused any bribes of English money to influence his behaviour at the Scottish court.
He inherited his father's title at age 21 and quickly established a reputation as a fearless soldier
as well as an astute courtier. His loyalty to the sovereign guaranteed his ascendancy with the Queen
Regent and later her daughter, Mary Stuart.
Born c. 1535 son of Patrick, Earl of Bothwell (The Fair Earl) and his wife Agnes Sinclair.
A protestant lord, Bothwell always put his loyalty to the crown ahead of his religion and
unusually among the Scottish nobility did not join the Lords of the Congregation in opposing
Mary of Guise's rule as Regent. He also earned a reputation for being anti-English and
stubbornly refused any bribes of English money to influence his behaviour at the Scottish court.
He inherited his father's title at age 21 and quickly established a reputation as a fearless soldier
as well as an astute courtier. His loyalty to the sovereign guaranteed his ascendancy with the Queen
Regent and later her daughter, Mary Stuart.
