Herries, John Maxwell (c. 1512–1583)

Scottish politician. In early life he was a supporter of the Reformed party and a friend of the leading Scottish Protestant reformer John Knox, but in 1566 he cast in his lot with Mary Queen of Scots and joined her at Dunbar. He led her cavalry at Langside, and rode with her into England in 1568. On his return to Scotland he worked for Mary's cause and was imprisoned by the Regent of Scotland, James Stuart Murray. In 1578 he was involved in the plot to deprive James Douglas Morton of the Scottish regency, and after Morton's death in 1581 was closely allied with the Regent Lennox in his schemes for Mary's release.