Secret Bond

{{Short description|Scottish document drawn up on 24 July 1543}} [[File:Linlithgow Palace NE 01.jpg|thumb|right|An army gathered around [[Linlithgow Palace]] in July 1543]] The '''Secret Bond''' (also known as the '''Secret Band''') was a document drawn up by [[David Beaton|Cardinal Beaton]] and signed at [[Linlithgow]] by a number of Scottish peers and lairds on 24 July 1543.<ref>[[Jenny Wormald]], ''Mary, Queen of Scots: Politics, Passion and a Kingdom Lost'' (Tauris Parke, 2001), p. 56: Jenny Wormald, ''Lords and Men in Scotland: Bonds of Manrent'' (Edinburgh: John Donald, 2015), p. 404 no. 7.</ref> They agreed to prevent the marriage of [[Mary, Queen of Scots]], to [[Edward VI|Prince Edward]] of England. The document is sometimes called the "Linlithgow Bond". After an agreement was reached with the Governor of Scotland, Regent Arran, Mary moved from [[Linlithgow Palace]] to [[Stirling Castle]].<ref>Carol Edington, ''Court and Culture in Renaissance Scotland: Sir David Lindsay of the Mount'' (Tuckwell, 1995), p. 59: [[Margaret Sanderson]], ''Cardinal of Scotland'' (Edinburgh: John Donald, 1986), p. 167.</ref>

==Historical context== Following the death of [[James V of Scotland]] in December 1542, his infant daughter, Mary, Queen of Scots, succeeded to the Scottish throne. A struggle for the [[regent|Regency of Scotland]] between Cardinal Beaton and the [[James Hamilton, Duke of Châtellerault|Earl of Arran]] was won by the latter.<ref>Morgan Ring, ''So High A Blood: The Life of Margaret Countess of Lennox'' (Bloomsbury, 2017), p. 78: Alec Ryrie, ''The Origins of the Scottish Reformation'' (Manchester, 2006), p. 55.</ref> On 1 July 1543, Regent Arran entered into the [[Treaty of Greenwich]] with [[Henry VIII of England]].<ref>[[Marcus Merriman]], ''The Rough Wooings'' (Tuckwell, 2000), pp. 112, 118-121.</ref> Under the treaty, Mary would marry Henry's son, Edward. The alliance and eventual union of the thrones of England and Scotland which the treaty envisaged was controversial in Scotland. Some thought the union might only enrich England. The treaty's Anglo-centric policy was resisted by many who preferred to continue the [[Auld Alliance]] with France.<ref>Marcus Merriman, ''The Rough Wooings'' (Tuckwell, 2000), pp. 123-4.</ref>

Mary remained with her mother [[Mary of Guise]] at [[Linlithgow Palace]], where she had been born. She was nursed in Mary of Guise's own chamber, five [[rockers (royal courts)|rockers]] looked after her cradle.<ref>''State Papers of Henry the Eighth'', part 4 cont., vol. 5 (London, 1836), p. 240.</ref> When Mary of Guise made arrangements to move to [[Stirling Castle]] in February 1543, Arran would not allow it.<ref>Rosalind K. Marshall, ''Mary of Guise'' (Collins, 1977), p. 119.</ref> Opponents of the marriage continued to worry that Mary would be taken to England. After a rumour Mary would be taken to France, Regent Arran increased security at Linlithgow Palace. Shots were fired at the English ambassador [[Ralph Sadler]].<ref>Rosalind K. Marshall, ''Mary of Guise'' (London: Collins, 1977), pp. 128-129.</ref>

Mary of Guise seems to have been in control of the situation. She wrote to an ally, [[David Paniter]], on 12 July, saying that she expected to agree with the Governor, Regent Arran, about a move to Stirling. After arriving at Stirling, Mary of Guise wrote to her mother, [[Antoinette of Bourbon]], Duchess of Guise, in positive terms about the situation in Scotland. The Duchess replied that she rejoiced to hear that her daughter and the little queen were in good health and their long captivity was over.<ref>[[Marguerite Wood]], ''Balcarres Papers'', vol. 1 (Edinburgh: SHS, 1923), pp. 93–4.</ref>

==Two armies== According to the Scottish chronicle writer [[Robert Lindsay of Pitscottie]], Cardinal Beaton and Mary of Guise persuaded the Earl of Argyll to raise an army of Highlandmen and men from the Mearns. The force assembled at Linlithgow to prevent Regent Arran taking Mary away. They stayed long enough to devastate the cornfields around the town, "thair oist in Linlythgow quha lay thair so lang that they distroyit the haill cornis around the towne bayth of pure and riche the space of ane myll round about" ― their host in Linlithgow who lay there so long that they destroyed the whole corns around the town both of the poor and rich the space of a mile round about.<ref>[[Aeneas James George Mackay|Aeneas Mackay]], [https://digital.nls.uk/publications-by-scottish-clubs/archive/107681923 ''Historie and cronicles of Scotland'', vol. 2 (Edinburgh, SHS, 1899), pp. 12-14]</ref> This also appears in David Lindsay's poem, ''The Tragedie of Cardinal Beaton'':<blockquote>The Governour purposyng to subdew<br>I rasit ane oyst of mony bold Baroun<br>And maid ane raid quhilk Lythgow yit may rew;<br>For we distroyit ane myle about the town<ref>Douglas Hamer, [https://digital.nls.uk/publications-by-scottish-clubs/archive/107294159 ''Works of David Lindsay'', vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1938), p. 135 lines 161-165]</ref><ref>Janet Hadley Williams, ''Sir David Lyndsay, Selected Poems'' (Glasgow: Association for Scottish Literary Studies, 2000), pp. 118, 277.</ref></blockquote> Meanwhile, Arran's forces gathered in Edinburgh. The English diplomat in Edinburgh, [[Ralph Sadler]], estimated that the Cardinal's party had as many as 5 or 6,000 men at Linlithgow, while Regent Arran's strength at Edinburgh was 7 or 8,000.<ref>''State Papers of Henry the Eight'', part 4 cont., vol. 5 (London, 1836), p. 326: [[British Library]] Add MS 32651 f.139r.</ref>

==The Secret Bond== On 24 July 1543, when Mary was to be moved from [[Linlithgow Palace]] to [[Stirling Castle]], the leaders of the Scottish-French party signed a bond drawn up by Cardinal Beaton.<ref>[[Marcus Merriman]], ''The Rough Wooings'' (Tuckwell, 2000), p. 125.</ref> The notary who penned the original document was John Lauder. The signatories pledged themselves to resist the marriage and the realm being "swbdewit till our awld enymyis of Ingland" by the transport of Mary to England. The signatories included Beaton, a number of churchmen, and these lords and lairds:<ref>''Letters and Papers Henry VIII'', 18:1 (London, 1901), no. 945: [https://archive.org/details/cu31924091786032/page/630/mode/2up ''Hamilton Papers'', vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1890), p. 630 no. 446] See external links for images.</ref> {{columns-list|colwidth=20em| *[[George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly]] *[[Archibald Campbell, 4th Earl of Argyll]] *[[Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox]] *[[Patrick Hepburn, 3rd Earl of Bothwell]] *[[John Gordon, 11th Earl of Sutherland]] *[[William Graham, 3rd Earl of Menteith]] *[[John Erskine, 5th Lord Erskine]] *[[William Ruthven, 2nd Lord Ruthven]] *[[Malcolm Fleming, 3rd Lord Fleming]] *William Crichton, 5th Lord Crichton of Sanquhar *David Drummond, 2nd Lord Drummond *John Lyle, 4th [[Lord Lyle]] *[[George Home, 4th Lord Home]] *William Abernethy, 5th Lord Saltoun *[[Hugh Fraser, 3rd Lord Lovat|Hugh Fraser, Master of Lovat]] *[[Lord Forbes|William, Master of Forbes]] *John Campbell of [[Cawdor Castle|Cawdor]] *[[John Campbell of Lundy|John Campbell]] of [[Lundie]] *[[Walter Scott of Branxholme and Buccleuch|Walter Scott of Buccleuch]] *Walter Ker of [[Cessford Castle|Cessford]] *[[William Murray (died 1562)|William Murray]] of [[Tullibardine Castle|Tullibardine]] *[[Mark Kerr (abbot)|Mark Kerr]] *John Cunningham of Caprington *[[Robert Douglas of Lochleven|Robert Douglas]] of [[Lochleven Castle|Lochleven]]. *[[Walter Ogilvie of Dunlugus]] *James Stirling of Keir *John Ross of Craigie *James Kennedy of [[Blairquhan Castle|Blairquhan]]. *William Edmondstone of Duntreath *John Leslie of Balquhain *James Grant of [[Castle Grant|Freuchie]] *George Gordon of [[House of Schivas|Schivas]] *John Colquhoun of Luss *George Buchanan of that ilk. }}

==Mediation at Kirkliston== [[File:Kirkliston Parish Church - geograph.org.uk - 554840.jpg|thumb|right|Mary's immediate future was determined during mediation at [[Kirkliston]]]] In England, [[William Parr, Marquess of Northampton|William Parr]] collected conflicting intelligence reports and he heard on 22 July that Regent Arran and the opposition might fight a battle near Linlithgow, or that Arran might be persuaded to join their cause and change his policies.<ref>''Letters and Papers Henry VIII'', 18:1 (London, 1901), nos. 904, 923, 937.</ref> Ralph Sadler wrote:<blockquote>Surely, here is great appearance of much mischief and rebellion, for great preparation is on both parties; the Cardinal, the Earls of Argyll, Lennox, Huntly, with their friends, of one party, and the Governor [Regent Arran], the Earls of Angus, Cassilis, the Lord Maxwell, and their friends, of the other party. What will be the end, I cannot yet tell; but, if I should say my own phantasy, I think surely, when all is done, they will not fight, for all their brags.<ref>''State Papers of Henry the Eight'', part 4 cont., vol. 5 (London, 1836), pp. 322-3 (modernised here).</ref></blockquote>

Meanwhile, Sadler was collecting signatures to another bond, Henry VIII's "secret device", an undertaking that some Scottish nobles would support the English marriage plan regardless of the Scottish politics of the moment.<ref>''State Papers of Henry the Eight'', part 4 cont., vol. 5 (London, 1836), p. 319.</ref> He later wrote to Parr, explaining that he ought not to fully trust information from the spies he employed in Scotland.<ref>''State Papers of Henry the Eight'', part 4 cont., vol. 5 (London, 1836), p. 330.</ref>

Around the time the secret bond was made, the two opposing factions met for talks. Pitscottie and [[George Buchanan]] say the mediation was made at [[Kirkliston]].<ref>Rosalind K. Marshall, ''Mary of Guise'' (London: Collins, 1977), p. 129.</ref><ref>James Aikman, [https://archive.org/details/historyofscotlan02buchuoft/page/332/mode/2up ''History of Scotland by George Buchanan'', vol. 2 (Glasgow, 1827), pp. 333-4]</ref><ref>Aeneas Mackay, [https://digital.nls.uk/publications-by-scottish-clubs/archive/107681927 ''Historie and cronicles of Scotland'', vol. 2 (Edinburgh, SHS, 1899), p. 14]</ref> Ralph Sadler described two meetings in the "middle waye betwene Edenburgh and Lythcoo".<ref>Joseph Bain, ''Hamilton Papers'', vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1890), p. 592 no. 425: ''Letters and Papers Henry VIII'', 18:1 (London, 1901), no. 950.</ref>

The two sides made an agreement at Kirkliston which was enacted on 25 July 1543 by a mass meeting for reconciliation in a field between Edinburgh and Linlithgow with "shaking of hands" and "friendly embracings".<ref>Rosalind K. Marshall, ''Mary of Guise'' (London: Collins, 1977), p. 130.</ref> This ceremony was described by Ralph Sadler in a letter to Henry VIII:<blockquote>it was agreed that the said Cardinal and his complices, with the nombre of oone hundreth persons and th'erle of Anguysshe with such other barons as were nowe with the Governor [Regent Arran] with the like nombre of oone hundreth persons shulde mete altogither in the feeldes betwene this towne [Edinburgh] and Lythcoo, and so to talk famyliarly togither like freends ... there was shaking of hands one with another, freendlie embracings and familiar communications and verie good agreament amongst them<ref>Joseph Bain, ''Hamilton Papers'', vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1890), pp. 592-3 no. 425: [[British Library]] Add MS 32651 ff.141v-142r., See external links.</ref></blockquote>

On completion of this peace making, the [[Gilbert Kennedy, 3rd Earl of Cassilis|Earls of Cassilis]] and [[William Cunningham, 4th Earl of Glencairn|Glencairn]] rode to Linlithgow Palace to order the household appointed for the queen by Regent Arran to stand down. Four governors or neutral lords previously appointed by [[Parliament of Scotland|Parliament]] (on 15 March) as Mary's keepers took charge at the Palace, and on the next day, 26 or 27 July,<ref>Marcus Merriman, ''The Rough Wooings'' (Tuckwell, 2000), p. 126.</ref> Mary and her mother [[Mary of Guise]] moved from Linlithgow to the relative security of Stirling Castle.<ref>Joseph Bain, ''Hamilton Papers'', vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1890), p. 592-593 no. 425: Lucinda H. S. Dean, 'In the Absence of an Adult Monarch', Kate Buchanan, Lucinda Dean, Michael Penman, ''Medieval and Early Modern Representations of Authority in Scotland and the British Isles'' (Routledge, 2016), p. 147.</ref> The [[Earl of Lennox]] with foot and mounted soldiers, escorted Guise and her daughter to Stirling. Twenty four horses transported the luggage, including Mary's cradle, a [[Domestic furnishing in early modern Scotland|great bed]] and the beds of the ladies in waiting, and nineteen horses carried the [[food and the Scottish royal household|kitchen and baking equipment]].<ref>Rosalind K. Marshall, ''Mary of Guise'' (London: Collins, 1977), p. 130 quoting from National Records of Scotland ''Despences''.</ref>

Regent Arran's eldest son, [[James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran|James Hamilton]], was sent to [[St Andrews Castle]] as the Regent's pledge or hostage to Cardinal Beaton under the terms of the agreements made at Kirkliston.<ref>Aeneas Mackay, ''Historie and cronicles of Scotland'', vol. 2 (Edinburgh, SHS, 1899), p. 15.</ref> According to Ralph Sadler, the four keepers of Mary at Stirling Castle (Lords [[John Erskine, 5th Lord Erskine|Erskine]], [[Malcolm Fleming, 3rd Lord Fleming|Fleming]], [[Alexander Livingston, 5th Lord Livingston|Livingston]], and [[William Ruthven, 2nd Lord Ruthven|Ruthven]]) refused to allow Cardinal Beaton to stay in the castle with the queen.<ref>John G. Harrison, 'The Royal Court and the Community of Stirling', ''Forth Naturalist and Historian'', 30 (2007), p. 35: Arthur Clifford, [https://archive.org/details/sadlerstatepaper01sadl/page/244/mode/2up ''Sadler State Papers'', vol. (Edinburgh, 1809), p. 245]</ref> An agreement was also made for Cardinal Beaton to have a say in a termly rotation of the four lords keeper of the queen.<ref>Margaret H. B. Sanderson, ''Cardinal of Scotland'' (Edinburgh, 1986), pp. 167-8.</ref>

Ralph Sadler offered an explanation for the move to Stirling, explaining that the households of the four keepers could not all be accommodated at Linlithgow, because "the house of Lythcoo is so lytell". The remark may have intended to reassure Henry VIII that all was well with his plans.<ref>David Hay Fleming, ''Mary Queen of Scots: From her Birth to her Flight into England'' (London, 1907), p. 185 note 37.</ref> As [[Marcus Merriman]] suggested, the move may instead indicate Regent Arran's waning hopes for Mary's English marriage.<ref>Lucinda H. S. Dean, 'In the Absence of an Adult Monarch', Kate Buchanan, Lucinda Dean, Michael Penman, ''Medieval and Early Modern Representations of Authority in Scotland and the British Isles'' (Routledge, 2016), p. 147: Marcus Merriman, ''Rough Wooings'', pp. 126–127.</ref>

==A developing situation== In August, Ralph Sadler obtained a copy of the "secret bond" or "band" made at Linlithgow from a Scottish spy and forwarded it to Henry VIII, drawing the king's attention to the signatories.<ref>Joseph Bain, ''Hamilton Papers'', vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1890), p. 630 no. 446.</ref> The significance was that some of those who signed had been captured at the [[battle of Solway Moss]] and made pledges to Henry VIII, or had previously made "[[Assured Scots|assurances]]" of their support for English policy.<ref>Morgan Ring, ''So High A Blood: The Life of Margaret Countess of Lennox'' (Bloomsbury, 2017), p. 76: ''State Papers Henry the Eighth'', Part 4 cont., vol. 5 (London, 1836), pp. 232-5.</ref> Sadler also showed the bond to Regent Arran, who said he was unaware of it. Sadler described the bond as Cardinal Beaton's sole work, his "only act and device".<ref>Arthur Clifford, [https://archive.org/details/sadlerstatepaper01sadl/page/256/mode/2up ''Sadler State Papers'', vol. (Edinburgh, 1809), pp. 256-7]</ref>

Sadler went to Stirling, and reported to Henry VIII that:<blockquote>"(Mary of Guise) is very glad that she is at Stirling, and much she praised the air about the house,<ref>[[Marcus Merriman]], ''The Rough Wooing'' (Tuckwell, 2000), p. 62 "ayre about the house".</ref> and told me, "That her daughter did grow apace; and soon," she said, "she would be a woman, if she took of her mother;" who indeed, is of the largest stature of women. And therefore she caused also the child to be brought to me, to the intent I might see her, assuring your majesty, that she is a right fair and goodly child, as any that I have seen for her age.<ref>Arthur Clifford, [https://archive.org/stream/statepaperslette01sadluoft#page/252/mode/2up ''Sadler State Papers'' (Edinburgh, 1809), p. 253]</ref></blockquote>

Mary was [[Coronation of Mary, Queen of Scots|crowned]] at Stirling Castle on 9 September 1543.<ref>Marcus Merriman, ''The Rough Wooings'' (Tuckwell, 2000), p. 127: [[John Guy (historian)|John Guy]], ''Mary Queen of Scots'' (Fourth Estate, 2009), pp. 25-27: Morgan Ring, ''So High A Blood: The Life of Margaret Countess of Lennox'' (Bloomsbury, 2017), p. 81.</ref> By this time, Arran had changed his position, renouncing religious reform and pro-English policy, and was now aligned with the signatories of the Cardinal's secret bond.<ref>Amy Blakeway, ''Regency in Sixteenth-Century Scotland'' (Boydell, 2015), pp. 6-7: Clare Kellar, ''Scotland, England, and the Reformation'' (Oxford, 2003), p. 89: Rosalind K. Marshall, ''Mary of Guise'' (London: Collins, 1977), pp. 132-3.</ref>

==War and rivalry== Henry VIII, understanding the reversal of Scottish policy, had, before the end of September 1543, made plans to invade Scotland and waste the countryside to the gates of Edinburgh. His advisors and military experts in the north of England argued against starting before winter, and suggested some cross-border raids.<ref>''State Papers of Henry the Eight'', part 4 cont., vol. 5 (London, 1836), pp. 336-347.</ref>

On 15 December 1543, the Parliament of Scotland rejected the Treaty of Greenwich and other treaties with England.<ref>David M. Head, 'Henry VIII's Scottish Policy: A Reassessment', ''Scottish Historical Review'', 61: 171 (1) (April 1982), p. 21.</ref> Scotland's rejection of the treaty and its pursuit of a French alliance led to the war known the [[Rough Wooing]], Henry VIII's attempt to impose his matrimonial policy by force, which lasted until the Treaty of Norham in 1551. The first major action was the [[Burning of Edinburgh]] in May 1544.<ref>Rosalind K. Marshall, ''Mary of Guise'' (Collins, 1977), pp. 144-146.</ref>

After the English invading army left Scotland, Arran's regency was challenged at a council meeting and convention in Stirling on 29 May 1544 which continued in June in the [[Refectory|frater]] of the Grey Friars,<ref>[https://archive.org/details/statepapers05grea/page/390/mode/2up ''State Papers Henry the Eighth'', vol. 5 (London, 1830), pp. 391-394]</ref> and for a time Mary of Guise was acknowledged as Regent by her allies. She began to mint four penny [[bawbee]]s at Stirling with her insignia. Arran gained control of Edinburgh. Arran and Guise held rival parliaments in November, but she was forced to concede her claim to the regency to Arran.<ref>Rosalind K. Marshall, ''Mary of Guise'' (Collins, 1977), pp. 148-153: Joseph Stevenson, ''Selections from unpublished manuscripts illustrating the reign of Mary Queen of Scotland'' (Glasgow, 1837), pp. 7, 10: [https://archive.org/details/cu31924091786040/page/408/mode/2up ''Hamilton Papers'', 2, pp. 409-410]</ref>

==Historians and the secret bond== [[John Knox]] included a slightly different version of these events in his ''History of Reformation''. He described Cardinal Beaton meeting his allies at Linlithgow, to "raise a party against the Governor, and against such as stood fast at (supported) the marriage and peace with England". He does not mention the negotiations or the reconciliation, and wrote that the Cardinal's party escorted Mary and her mother to Stirling, not the four lords chosen by Parliament.<ref>David Laing, ''Works of John Knox'', vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1846), p. 108.</ref> [[John Lesley]] attributed the controversy at Linlithgow to the [[Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox|Earl of Lennox]] and also wrote that the Cardinal's party conveyed Mary to Stirling.<ref>John Lesley, ''History of Scotland'' (Edinburgh, 1830), pp. 173-4.</ref> Mary's secretary [[Claude Nau]] emphasised the role of Lennox and described the enduring enmity of his family and the Hamiltons.<ref>[[Joseph Stevenson]], [https://archive.org/details/historymarystew00naugoog/page/311/mode/2up ''History of Mary Stewart'' (Edinburgh, 1889), p. 311]</ref> A brief summary in the chronicle ''A Diurnal of Remarkable Occurents'' may be more accurate.<ref>''Diurnal of Occurrents'' (Edinburgh, 1833), p. 28.</ref>

The conflict and the "secret band" were described by the historian [[David Hay Fleming]] who used contemporary letters first published in 1890 in the ''Hamilton Papers''.<ref>David Hay Fleming, ''Mary Queen of Scots: From her Birth to her Flight into England'' (London, 1907), pp. 6-7, 184-186.</ref> Douglas Hamer gave a summary in his notes on [[David Lyndsay|Lindsay's]] ''Tragedie of Cardinal Beaton''.<ref>Douglas Hamer, [https://digital.nls.uk/publications-by-scottish-clubs/archive/107283023 ''Works of Sir David Lindsay of the Mount'', vol. 3 (Edinburgh: STS, 1934), pp. 163-4]</ref> [[Rosalind K. Marshall]] emphasises that Mary of Guise gained an advantage and increased power by the move to Stirling, especially because she was the owner of Stirling Castle.<ref>Rosalind K. Marshall, ''Mary of Guise'' (London: Collins, 1977), pp. 130-1.</ref> [[John Guy (historian)|John Guy]] gives Mary of Guise a more active and central role in these events.<ref>John Guy, ''Mary Queen of Scots'' (Fourth Estate, 2009), pp. 25-27: Rosalind K. Marshall, ''Mary of Guise'' (Collins, 1977), pp. 126-130.</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/Viewer.aspx?ref=add_ms_32651_f213r Images of Ralph Sadler's copy of the Secret Bond, British Library MS Viewer] * [http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/Viewer.aspx?ref=add_ms_32651_f141r Images of Ralph Sadler's letter describing the reconciliation on 25 July 1543, British Library MS Viewer]

{{Mary, Queen of Scots}}

[[Category:1543 works]] [[Category:1543 in Scotland]] [[Category:16th-century documents]] [[Category:Mary of Guise]] [[Category:Mary, Queen of Scots]] [[Category:Rough Wooing]]