Maitland, William (Maitland of Lethington), 1528?–1573, Scottish statesman. In 1559 he deserted the regent Mary of Guise Mary of Guise (gēz), 1515–60, queen consort of James V of Scotland and regent for her daughter, Mary Queen of Scots .
..... Click the link for more information. and joined the revolt of the Protestant nobles. When Mary Queen of Scots Mary Queen of Scots (Mary Stuart), 1542–87, only child of James V of Scotland and Mary of Guise . Through her grandmother Margaret Tudor , Mary had the strongest claim to the throne of England after the children of Henry VIII.
..... Click the link for more information. returned to Scotland two years later, he became her secretary and close adviser. A skilled diplomat, Maitland refused to be swayed by religious passions, which led to suspicion from both Catholics and Protestants. His chief desire was to effect a union of Scotland and England based on Mary's right of succession to the English throne after the death of Elizabeth I. After Mary's marriage to Bothwell, Maitland joined the opposition, but he later worked for her restoration. In the civil war following the murder (1570) of the earl of Murray Murray or Moray, James Stuart, 1st earl of
..... Click the link for more information. , Maitland led the queen's party and held out in Edinburgh Castle from 1571 to 1573, but died soon after. He is the probable forger of portions of the so-called Casket Letters.

Bibliography

See E. Russell, Maitland of Lethington, the Minister of Mary Stuart (1912).

Maitland (of Lethington), William

(born c. 1528, probably Lethington, East Lothian, Scot.—died June 9?, 1573, Leith, Midlothian) Scottish statesman. As secretary to Mary, Queen of Scots (1560), he sought to unite the realms of England and Scotland by securing Mary recognition as the successor to Elizabeth I. With that aim, he supported the murders of David Riccio and Lord Darnley, and he joined a coalition of Protestant and Catholic nobles. After Mary fled to England in 1568, Maitland tried to restore her to power and broke with the supporters of the infant King James VI (later James I). In the ensuing civil war, he held Edinburgh Castle until forced to surrender; he died in prison.