, lord of Thirlstone, and afterwards chancellor of Scotland, one of
, lord of Thirlstone, and afterwards
chancellor of Scotland, one of the Latin poets of that
country, the second son of the preceding, was born about
1537. He was educated in Scotland, and afterwards sent
to France to study the law. On his return to his native
country, he practised that profession with great success.
In 1567, as already noticed, his father resigned the privyseal in his favour; but in 1570 he was deprived of that
office, from his attachment to queen Mary. In 1581 he
was made a senator of the college of justice. In 1584 he
became secretary of state to king James VI. and the year
following, on the death of the earl of Arran, was created
lord chancellor of Scotland. The power and influence of
the chancellor created him many enemies among the
Scotch nobility, who made several unsuccessful attempts
to destroy him. In 1589 he attended the king on his
voyage to Norway, where his royal bride, the princess of
Denmark, was detained by contrary winds. The marriage
was there completed, and they passed the winter at Copenhagen. During this residence in Denmark, Maitland
became intimately acquainted with Tycho Brahe. In 1590
he was created lord Maitland of Thirlstone. Towards the
end of 1592, the chancellor incurred the queen’s displeasure for refusing to relinquish his lordship of Musselburgh, which she claimed as part of Dumferling. He absented himself from court for some time, but was at length
restored to favour. He died of a lingering illness Oct. 4,
1595, and was much regretted by the king. He is spoken
of by Spotiswood and Johnston as a man of great learning,
and eminent political abilities. Of his works, we have
“Johannis Metellani, Thirlstoni domini, epigrammata
Latina,
” published in the second volume of the “Delicioe
Poetarum Scotorum,
” Amst. aganist sklanderous toungis,
” and an “admonitioun
” to the regent Mar, published in Mr. Pinkerton’s
collection of“Ancient Scotish Poems.
”