biography
| name: |
Maitland (of Lethington), William
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| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (c.1528–73)
|
| biography:
| Scottish statesman, probably born in Lethington, East Lothian, E Scotland, UK. In 1558 he became secretary of state to the queen-regent, Mary of Guise. He represented Mary, Queen of Scots, at the court of Elizabeth, but made her his enemy by his connivance at Rizzio's murder in 1566. He was also privy to the murder of Darnley, and was one of the commissioners who presented to Elizabeth an indictment of Mary in 1568. Accused of plotting against his colleagues, he was imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle, and later died in prison at Leith. |
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