Maitland, William (1528-1573)

Scottish statesman. He was secretary of state to Mary Queen of Scots 1561-66. He probably participated in the murder of Darnley. After Mary's flight to England he became the leader of her cause with a party of her adherents. They held out in Edinburgh castle till 1573, when he surrendered.

He was the son of Sir Richard Maitland, Lord Lethington, known as ‘Secretary Lethington’. He was educated at St Andrews. He became secretary of state to Mary of Guise, the Queen Regent of Scotland, in 1558, but joined the Lords of Congregation, then in arms against her. In 1560 he was sent on a mission to the English court as the representative of Protestant interests in Scotland. At first he seems to have favoured Bothwell, but on Bothwell's marriage to Mary, he sided with the insurgents against her forces at Langside. He died in prison at Leith.