Took holy orders and was made parson of Ashkirk and Canon of Glastow, named by Pope Paul IV as Bishop of Orkney 2 Aug., 1559, admitted to the temporalities of the See 11 Oct. 1559.

This in itself is interesting since he was Catholic and yet by then he had been “married” for 7 years (wed to Margaret Murray abt. 1552 in Touchadam, Stirlingshire, Scotland) and sired the first two (John, 1556 and Francis, 1558) of at least eight children (John was made Lord Holyroodhouse in 1607).


The reformation came to Scotland in 1560 following the death of the regent and Elizabeth of England sent troops (artillery and naval forces) to help the "Lords of the Reformation" take control of the Parliament and outlaw the Mass before Mary of Scots returned to the Country.

The new Bishop was in his diocese when it became clear that the reforming party, the Lords of the Congregation, had succeeded and that Orkney had joined the world of the Reformation.

"When idolatry and superstitione were suppressed, he suppressed the same also in his bounds, preached the Word, administered the Sacraments, planted Ministers in Orkney and Zetland, and gave stipends out of his rents to ministers, exhorters and readers, and [subsequently] when he was a Commissioner, visited all the Kirks of Orkney and Zetland twice, to the hazard of his life, in dangerous storms on the seas, ..."

He survived at least one ambush/assassination attempt during his reign (the people of Orkney apparently preferring the more traditional church to the Scottish Reformed Church.)

According to "A CHRISTIAN HISTORY OF ORKNEY" (http://www.orknet.co.uk/fdb/reform.htm), "Adam Bothwell seems to have been a conscientious bishop of Orkney - though described by a descendent as 'boring', prone to writing sound spiritual advice in family letters to relatives. He had little political influence, however, and he controlled a bishopric with substantial lands and income. These he was forced to part with: by his patron, a lawyer powerful at court: Bellenden of Auchnoule, Justice-Clerk; and by his brother in law the adventurer Gilbert Balfour - who built Noltland Castle, on Westray, which still stands as a testimony to his need for protection and defence. In 1570, having alienated much of the income of the bishopric, Adam Bothwell was compelled to exchange his post with Lord Robert Stewart, abbot of Holyroodhouse and step-brother to Queen Mary. Bishop Bothwell does not appear to have been in Orkney after 1568. Lord Robert became Earl of Orkney, controlling the lands and revenues and patronage of both the Crown and the Bishopric, and coming to exercise his powers in person as a sort of Stewart throw-back to the days of the Norse warrior-Earls.

"To replace Bishop Bothwell, the General Assembly appointed as Commissioner in Orkney, Mr James Annand; and as Commissioner in Shetland, Gilbert Foulsie. …"

Adam had problems with Henry and Robert Sinclair in Orkney, who were married to sisters of Adam’s “cousin-german,” the Justice-Clerk Bellenden. In 1561, he went to France to lay his complaints before Queen Mary and returned to Scotland in her train.

Adam adopted the “reformed” faith.

On 14 Jan. 1563-64 he was made an extraordinary Lord of Session and an ordinary Lord on 13 Nov. 1565. Also served on the Privy Council and presided over the (third) marriage of Queen Mary, to James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, at Holyroodhouse Abbey in 1567. As a result of that, and for other alleged offences, he was “delated” for a period of time by the General Assembly of the Kirk.

He crowned the infant king, James VI, in the parish church of Stirling on 29 July, 1567, following the old Roman ceremony, much to the distain of the minister who preached the sermon at the ceremony, John Knox.

Adam was part of the expedition headed by Murray of Tullibardine, the Comptroller and and Kirkcaldy of Grange, which, acting under the orders of the Privy Council, was dispatched to capture Hepburn.

Adam accompanied the Regent Murray to the Conference at York and Westminster in 1568 as one of the commissioners and was the one who gave in the written accusation denouncing Queen Mary as being implicated in the death of Darnley.

In Sept., 1568 he exchanged the major part of the “temporalities” of the See of Orkney with Robert Stewart, the Abbott of Holyroodhouse for that abbey, thus becomming Commendator of Holyroodhouse as well as Bishop of Orkney.

Briefly imprisoned at Stirling for joining the protests of the Earl of Montrose and Lord Lindsay on 16 July 1578 against the actions of the Earl of Morton.

Participated in the Ruthven Raid of 23 Aug., 1582 and was nominated on the following 26 Oct. to replace the Duke of Lennox on the reconstituted Privy Council.

He held sasine of Eistoun of Dunsyre on 2 Nov., 1560 as heir to his parents, had a charter of the barony of Alhammer or Whitekirk 11 March 1587-88 and another of Brighouse, in the sheriffdom of Linlithgow, 3 Aug., 1592.

At this time, bishops were elected by the chapter of the cathedral church (As personnel or staff, ecclesiastical law requires that a cathedral should have a chapter, taking the place of the ancient presbyterium and constituting, as it were, the senate of the church and the bishop's council. The chief obligation of the chapter is daily to celebrate the Divine Office and Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in the name of the entire Christian community. Its members, dignitaries, and canons escort and assist the bishop when he pontificates; even when he merely presides at the services they form an entourage of honor for him. In the United States there are no chapters, properly so called, these being replaced to a certain extent by "consultors" (III Conc. Balt., passim). )

Succeeded his father as Commendator of Holyroodhouse Abbey 21 Feb 1581-82. On 11 March 1587-88 he held a charter of Alhammer or Whitekirk to his father in life rent and himself in fee, with remainder to his four brothers successively.
Succeeded his father on 2 July 1593 as an Ordinary Lord of Session and was twice chosen as one of the Lords on the Articles.

Sworn to the Privy Council and accompanied James VI to England in 1603.
In 1604 and 1605 he was a Commissioner of Parliament and served in the Privy Council. He was created a peer under the title of Lord Holyroodhouse on 20 Dec., 1607 by King James I of the United Kingdom (King James VI of Scotland) and the lands and baronies of Dunrod, Meikle and Little Kirklands in the Stewarty of Kirkcudbright, the monastery of Holyroodhouse, and Alhammer or Whitekirk in the county of Haddington were created into a free temporal lordship for him and his male heirs., or the male heirs of his father, or his “heirs and assigns whatsoever.”

Date of contract

Held a royal charter of the lands of Over and Nether Stewartoun, Peeblesshire (14 June 1589).

Kiled in a feud near Tantallon Castle by Robert Douglas, son of John Douglas, M.A., parson of Longformacus.

Not known to have married.

In his mother’s will he is referred to as Capt. George.

This may be the George Bothwell who served with the Scots Brigade during the Netherlands war of independence. On Jan 19, 1606 he succeeded Alexander Erskine and was in turn succeeded by James Henderson on Nov. 14, 1618.

Erskine had commanded a cavalry company as part of the regiment commanded by Sir William Edmond, who described it as “The first and oldest regiment of foreign nationality in these Netherlands” and it apparently had arrived in the Netherlands to come to the aid of “William the Silent” around 1603.

Although they had children, the link with Elizabeth is not proven.

Not known to have married.75
Interdicted himself 4/24 1605. His brother, Capt. George, was served as his heir on 18 Jan 1609.

Not known to have married.75

died unmarried. Her brother, George, had a precept of “clare constat” as her heir in an annualrent 7/14/1599.