Lesmahagow

The King was not to be turned aside from his purpose, and subsequently embarking with a squadron of seven vessels, landed at Dieppe.  Marie de Bourbon was captivated with her intended husband, but the feeling was not mutual, and James transferred his affections to the Princess Magdalen, who was already stricken with consumption, and who died shortly after her marriage with the King.

Sir James Hamilton was now cupbearer to James V., Steward of the Royal Household, and Superintendent of Royal Palaces and Castles. Under his auspices the palaces of Falkland and Linlithgow were erected, and the castles of Edinburgh, Stirling, Rothesay and others, were rebuilt or adorned by his genius.  It is not therefore surprising that his own castle of Draffan or Craignethan should have been a model of the taste of the times.   It may briefly be described as occupying the summit of a promontory, high above the river Nethan, which at that part of its course, flows through a deep, narrow, and winding valley, the precipitous banks of which, below the castle, are beautifully wooded.   The enclosures form a parallelogram.  The outer walls are of considerable height and thickness, and a gallery or platform appears to have extended along the top of them.  Each angle was defended by a high square tower, and on one side by two smaller ones.  The tower on the north-east was very large, and within it, no doubt, it was intended that part of the garrison should be lodged.  Within the enclosure are the remains of a broad ditch or dry moat, which must have been crossed by a drawbridge.   The arched gateway in the west curtain is much admired.  Openings at intervals in the outer walls were obviously intended as loopholes for annoying assailants.  A the norht-east end of the inner court stands the Castle itself.   It contained the banqueting hall and principal apartments on the ground floor, beautifully arched.   Beneath, a series of vaults were constructed, so extensive as to suggest the idea that they may have served as places for storing provisions and warlike supplies, in the event of a protrated seige.  On the summit of the castle there appears to have existed an embattled parapet, with small turrets at the corners.

Sir James Hamilton married Elizabeth, only child and heiress of Sir Robert Livingstone of Easter Wemyss.

As an incident in Scottish history, it is interesting to know that in 1540 James V. paid a visit to Craignethanm, to assist at the marriage of Agnes Hamilton, his cupbearer's daughter, with James, Master of Somerville.  No formal record of the royal visit exists; but it is easy to imagine the feudal grandeur which would be displayed on such an occasion.  The description of an "infare" or entertainment to the bride of Hugh Somerville, on her arrival at her new home, Cowthally Castle, near Carnwath, a few years previously, so well illustrates the customs of these rude times, that we transcribe it from the work called the "History of the House Somerville:" - "The company went to supper, where the fare was beyond all that the young lady had seen, whole sheep and legges of cows being served up on timber platters, or rather in troughs of ane awell (oval) form, made out of the trunks of trees, black and firm in the timber as if they had been ebony or brizzel.  This was a vanitie and great quantitie of these, and abundance of tame and wylde fowll, that they gloried most.  The fashion of kickshaes and desertes was not much known, nor served upon great men's tables, before Queen Marie's reign."

"The marriage of Sir James Hamilton continued not long,  for unhappily he fell under the King's displeasure., being suspected in 1541 of some design against His Majesty's life, and was execute and forfault."  That Sir James ever entertained such a design is, doubtless, a foul calumny.  He was, however, a man of imperious temper, and in the difficult times in which he lived, viz, teh dawn of the Reformation, had the misfortune to be the nominee of the church as Commissioner for the trial of heretics.

The story of his downfall, as told by Tytler ("Hist. of Scotland," vol. v., p 232), is as follows:- "The monarch (James V.), who had left the capital ot pass over to Fife, was hurriedly accosted by a stranger, who demanded a speedy and secret audience, as the business on which he had been sent was of immediate moment, and touched the King's life.  James listened to the story, and taking a ring from his finger sent it by the informer ot Learmont, master of the household, and Kircaldy, the treasurer, commanding them to investigate the matter, and to act according to their judgment of its truth and importance.  He then pursued his journey, and soon after received intelligence that Hamilton was arrested.  It was found that his accuser was James Hamilton of Kincavil, Sheriff of Linlithgow, and brother to the early reformer, Patrick Hamilton, in whose miserable death Sir James had taken an active part.   The crime for which he was arraigned was of old standing, though now revealed for the first time.  It was asserted that Hamilton, along with Archibald Douglas of Kilspindy, Robert Leslie, and James Douglas of Parkhead, had, in the year 1528, conspired to slay the King, having communicated their project to the Earl of Angus and his brothe, Sir George Douglas, who encouraged the atrocious design.  Some authors have asserted that the intention of Hamilton was to murder James by breaking into the royal bed-chamber; but, in the want of all contemporary record of the trial, it is only known that he was found guilty and executed".  His estates were immediately forfeited to the Crown, and the Treasurer's accounts, A.D. 1541 ("Pitcairn," i. 316*), show the following curious entries:-

Item. - To Dauid Orrok, for keeping of the Castell of Craignethan fra ye secund of September, ye zere of God 1540,  to ye               samin day September, 1541 zeris, included ane hale yere, takand ilk day for his ordinar wage for himself, his servand,               and hors, 4s. - Summa,  ...........     £72  0   0

Item.- To George Tod, portar in ye said Place, be ye space foresaid, takand ilk day, 16

             - Summa,    ..........       24   0  0

Item. - To Maister John Dauidsoune, to geve to Quintyne Were, Johnne Mylhous, Malie Hill, and to Atken Gardnar, all                servandis in Nathane (Craignethane), in complete payment of yair wages restand vnpayit, be Andro Bowe, to ye last day of     August, 1541,    ..........         10 19  8

Item.- To Jonet Browne, quhilk was restand awing to hir by vinqle Schhir James Hammiltoune, for feeding of vii.
Oxin,    ..........     5 13   4

The Lord High Treasurer's accounts of same date with an entry previously alluded to, whereby James V. had a bone of St. Mahago or Machute encased in silver, contain the following curious entry:-

1540-1.

Oct. 11. - Item, gevin to Johnne Mosman, for making of the Princis Armis vpoun Schir James Hamiltonis Chapell gair; yat is to say, ane croce of silver, two chandelaris, ane hali-watter-fatt (vat), with ane styk, twa crowettis, ane bell, ane boist (box) to keip Hoistis in (the host or Eucharist), and ane cover to serue for ye Pax - all deliuerit to Thomas Dudingstoune, Maister of Howshald to my Lord Price, and for mending of twa flaconis (flagons),  . . . . . . . .        20s.