The story of Francis Stewart or Hepburn, fifth and last Earl of Bothwell, was hardly less eventful and exciting than that of his predecessor. He has been described as "one of the most treacherous men of his time," always plotting and counterplotting against his relative James VI. After a very stormy career he went to France, was pursued thither, and forced to fly to Spain and Italy. He died at Naples in poverty and disgrace, in , his title and possessions having been forfeited in , after a daring attempt to carry off the King from Falkland Palace.
His possessions in Liddesdale, including Hermitage Castle, were conferred upon Sir Walter Scott of Buccleuch, who was created, in , as first Lord Scott of Buccleuch, from whom descended the Dukes of Buccleuch, holders of the title.
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Or, it may help you find the answer! Nicholas was one of the claimants for the Scottish throne which was eventually settled by Edward I of England on John Balliol. At this time Nicholas de Soulis earlier claim to the throne had severe implications for his family - his son William forfeited the castle in when he was accused of the attempted murder of Robert I the Bruce and imprisoned for life in Dumbarton Castle.
Robert granted Hermitage to his illegitimate son, Sir Robert Bruce. A peace treaty was signed between England and Scotland in which instructed the restoration of property in Scotland originally owned by English Lords. Hermitage fell under this category based on Sir John Wake's occupation in but, despite the treaty, the Scots initially refused to handover the castle.
Eventually it was handed to Sir Ralph de Neville from Northumberland but his ownership was short-lived; in Sir William Douglas, Knight of Liddesdale seized the castle. Shortly after William was also a prisoner after his defeat and capture at the Battle of Neville's Cross - taken to the Tower of London he forged a treasonous pact with the English to allow access for their armies through Liddesdale.
Now this de Soulis was said to be a witch. He was accused of abducting children and using their blood in dark magical practices, safe in the knowledge that a prophecy that said he could not be harmed by steel nor bound by rope. These prophecies always seem to have a twist to their words and so it proved with de Soulis. The local populace rose up and seized him. He was bound by bands of lead and boiled to death in a brass cauldron at the stone circle of Ninestanes Rig.
Another version of the story says that he was killed by True Thomas, who bound him in ropes made of sand and boiled him in molten lead. Well, it makes a good story, but he actually died in prison at Dumbarton Castle. The castle is said to be haunted by victims of Lord Soulis, and in fact, it has a reputation as one of the most haunted castles in Britain. There have been sightings of figures at upper windows that are impossible to access, and mysterious sounds when there is no one present.
In the de Soulis family became embroiled in a plot to kill Robert the Bruce and were ousted from Hermitage Castle. The castle changed hands several times during the Scottish Wars of Independence until it was finally taken by Sir William Douglas in The oldest parts of the current castle date to this time, and have much more in common with castles in northern England than with any contemporary Scottish design.
Douglas wanted the important post of Sheriff, but there was a rival for the position in the person of Sir Alexander Ramsay. Douglas seized his rival and threw him into the dungeon, where he starved to death.
But Douglas himself was to meet a violent end. In he was murdered by his own godson. His successor was an Englishman, Hugh d'Acre de Dacre. Dacre's successor was William, 1st Earl of Douglas, and it is to him that we owe much of the castle we see today.
In the s the 3rd Earl of Douglas added huge corner towers to the defences. The Hermitage is very much built for defence, not for comfort. The Douglas family gained in power and influence over the ensuing century, but their very power raised suspicion and antagonism. One of the most famous of the Hepburns is responsible for the most vividly remembered event in the castle's long history. In the owner of the Hermitage was James Hepburn, better known to history as the 4th Earl of Bothwell.
Bothwell had enormous influence at the Scottish court of Mary, Queen of Scots, and was almost certainly the queen's secret lover. In October of , the Earl was wounded in a skirmish with reivers and was carried to his castle to recuperate.
When the queen heard the news, she impetuously set off from Jedburgh with her retinue on a wild ride to be at Hepburn's side. A perilous journey Hermitage Castle was also the scene of a dramatic episode in the life of Mary Queen of Scots.
Natural history Wildlife around the castle includes: wildflowers growing along the banks of Hermitage Water ospreys that nest nearby and often fly overhead in spring and early summer. Opening times This site is closed. Find out more about our reopening plans. Places nearby You might also like.
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