ime. After the
explosion he hurried back to Holyrood and feigned surprise at the
receipt of the news half an hour later, ascribing the catastrophe to
"the strangest accident that ever chancit, to wit, the fouder
(lightning) came out of the luft (sky) and had burnt the king's
house."[2]

Bothwell's power was now greater, and the queen's affection for him more
ardent than ever. She was reported to have said that she cared not to
lose France, England and her own country for him, and would go with him
to the world's end in a white petticoat ere she left him.[3] He was
gratified with further rewards, and his success was clouded by no stings
of conscience or remorse. According to Melville he had designs on the
life of the young prince. On the demand of Lennox, Darnley's father,
Bothwell was put upon his trial in April, but Lennox, having been
forbidden to enter the city with more than six attendants, refused to
attend, and Bothwell was declared not guilty. The queen's intention to
marry Bothwell, which had been kept a strict secret before the issue of
the trial, was now made public. On the 19th of April he obtained the
consent and support of the Protestant lords, who signed a bond in his
favour. On the 24th he seized Mary's willing person near Edinburgh, and
carried her to his castle at Dunbar. On the 3rd of May Bothwell's
divorce from his wife was decreed by the civil court, on the ground of
his adultery with a maidservant, and on the 7th by the Roman Catholic
court on the ground of consanguinity. Archbishop Hamilton, however, who
now granted the decree, had himself obtained a papal dispensation for
the marriage,[4] and in consequence it is extremely doubtful whether
according to the Roman Catholic law Bothwell and Mary were ever husband
and wife. On the 12th Bothwell was created duke of Orkney and Shetland
and the marriage took place on the 15th according to the Protestant
usage, the Roman Catholic rite being performed, according to some
accounts, afterwards in addition.[5]

Bothwell's triumph, however, was shortlived. The nobles, both Protestant
and Roman Catholic, now immediately united to effect his destruction. In
June Mary and Bothwell fled from Holyrood to Borthwick Castle, whence
Bothwell, on the place being surrounded by Morton and his followers,
escaped to Dunbar, Mary subsequently joining him. Thence they marched
with a strong force towards Edinburgh, meeting the lords on the 15th of
June at Carberry Hill. Bothw