Sir James Sandilands (died 1618) was a courtier to King James VI and I and captain of Blackness Castle.
Career James Sandilands of Slamannan was a Gentleman of the Bedchamber to the king in 1590 and later keeper of Blackness Castle.Amy Juhala, 'The Rise of James VI's Chamber', Miles Kerr-Peterson & Steven J. Reid, James VI and Noble Power in Scotland (Abington, 2017), pp. 161-2, 165, 174.
He was a half-brother of Sir James Sandilands of Calder, Lord Torpichen, a son of John Sandilands of Calder and Jean Fleming,James Beveridge and Gordon Donaldon, Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, 5:2 (Edinburgh, 1957), p. 5 no. 2498. who was a daughter of Malcolm Fleming, 3rd Lord Fleming.Balfour Paul, Scots Peerage, vol. 8 (Edinburgh, 1911), pp. 388-9. For a time, he was "Tutor of Calder", in charge of his younger brother's estates.Thomas Thomson, The historie and life of King James the Sext (Edinburgh, 1825), p. 265. In June 1591, he was a curator of his brother's affairs, with two co-curators Joseph Douglas of Pumpherston and Andrew Sandilands.John Anderson, Calendar of Laing Charters (Edinburgh, 1899), p. 300 no. 1217.
He married Jean Crawfurd, and secondly Barbara Napier.Balfour Paul, Scots Peerage, vol. 8 (Edinburgh, 1911), pp. 388-9.
In August 1588 the Privy Council decided to raise a force against the threat from the Spanish Armada. Sandilands and George Douglas of Niddry were made captains of 100 light horsemen. The commander was Sir John Carmichael.David Masson, Register of the Privy Council of Scotland: 1585-1592, vol. 4 (Edinburgh, 1881), pp. 315-6.
In May 1589 Sandilands helped the double-murderer Archibald Wauchope, younger of Niddrie, escape from Edinburgh's Tolbooth. Despite this, Sandilands soon regained royal favour.David Calderwood, History of the Kirk, vol. 5 (Edinburgh, 1844), p. 57.
Norway and Denmark Sandilands went with James VI to Norway in 1589 to meet Anne of Denmark.David Stevenson, Scotland's Last Royal Wedding (Edinburgh, 1997), p. 121. James Melville of Halhill mentions that Sandilands did not sail in the king's ship, but in one of three other ships, along with Lewis Bellenden, John Carmichael, the Provost of Lincluden, William Keith of Delny, George Home, and Peter Young.Thomas Thomson, James Melville Memoirs of his own life (Edinburgh, 1827), p. 372
On his return from Denmark James VI made his lodgings and privy chamber within Holyrood Palace more private than before, and Sandilands' role included deterring unwelcome visitors, like Lord John Hamilton.Calendar State Papers Scotland: 1589-1593, vol. 10 (Edinburgh, 1936), pp. 298-9. Sandilands' lodging at Holyrood was a bed chamber located on the floor above the King's cabinet room. He was knighted on 4 November 1590, when Alexander Lindsay was made Lord Spynie.James Dennistoun, Moysie's Memoirs of the Affairs of Scotland (Edinburgh, 1830), pp. 85, 122
In 1590 and 1591 Sandilands was involved with the English subsidy money, accounting for £6,000 Scots brought by Thomas Foulis, giving £300 to John Wemyss of Logie and to an English woman called Rachael, and £260 to the king to play cards.Miles Kerr-Peterson & Michael Pearce, 'James VI's English Subsidy and Danish Dowry Accounts', Scottish History Society Miscellany XVI (Woodbridge, 2020), pp. 5, 55, 57, 69, 72-3: British Library, 'Hopetoun Manuscript', Add. MS 33531: Julian Goodare, 'James VI's English Subsidy', in Julian Goodare and Michael Lynch, Reign of James VI (East Linton, 2000), p. 118. In March 1591 he planned to visit the English court, but did not go.Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 10 (Edinburgh, 1936), pp. 482, 491.
The king gave him the estate of Cliftonhall, taken from Euphame MacCalzean (who was falsely convicted of witchcraft) in 1591.Louise Yeoman, 'Hunting the rich witch in Scotland', in Julian Goodare, The Scottish Witch Hunt in Context (Manchester, 2002), pp. 107-8.
Bothwell On 18 October 1591 Carmichael joined the Duke of Lennox and the Earl of Huntly in Leith to search for the rebel Earl of Bothwell. Carmichael captured Bothwell's servant Robert Scott, a brother of the James Scott of Balwearie with Bothwell's horse "Valentine".Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 10 (Edinburgh, 1936), p. 578.
On 27 December 1591 the Earl of Bothwell attacked Holyrood Palace and Sandilands was sent to fetch help from the Provost of Edinburgh, Nicol Uddert. On 13 January 1592 James VI was riding near Haddington, in pursuit of the Earl of Bothwell, and fell into the River Tyne. He changed clothes with Sandilands.HMC Salisbury Hatfield, vol. 4, p. 178: Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 10 (Edinburgh, 1936), p. 627: David Calderwood, History of the Kirk, vol. 5 (Edinburgh, 1844), pp. 140-1, 144.
Sandilands was captain of Blackness Castle, and in March 1592 received the Earl of Huntly as a prisoner. The historian David Calderwood said that Huntly and his servants became the true keepers in effect.David Calderwood, History of the Kirk, vol. 5 (Edinburgh, 1844), p. 149. Another prisoner Colonel William Stewart, to gain favour and divert suspicions, asked Sandilands to accuse Alexander Lindsay, 1st Lord Spynie of entertaining the rebel Earl of Bothwell at Aberdour Castle in 1592 but he denied this.John Spottiswoode, History of the Church of Scotland, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1847), p. 423
Bothwell attacked Falkland Palace on 27 June 1592, with a force including men from the borders, both English and Scottish. Sandilands captured nine or ten men, mostly of the Armstrong surname, on Bothwellmure. Five were executed, but the others were spared at the request of the border warden Sir John Carmichael because they were not habitual border reivers.David Calderwood, History of the Kirk, vol. 5 (Edinburgh, 1844), p. 168.
Lennox and the four young and counselling courtiers Sandilands was a friend of the Duke of Lennox, and in June 1592 the Secretary Richard Cockburn of Clerkington heard that Lennox intended to go travelling with Sandilands and young Robert Melville, the son of the Treasurer-depute Robert Melville of Murdocairnie.Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 10 (Edinburgh, 1936), p. 703.
In August 1592 James VI gave him the forfeited lands of Archibald Wauchope of Niddrie, a supporter of Bothwell, who he had helped in the past.John Maitland Thomson, Register of the Great Seal: 1580-1593 (Edinburgh, 1888), p. 737 nos. 2156-7.
In November 1592 Sandilands was identified with the Duke of Lennox, Sir George Home, Colonel William Stewart, the Laird of Dunipace, and Thomas Erskine, as a supporter of the king's former favourite James Stewart, Earl of Arran, working for his rehabilitation to the disadvantage of the Chancellor, John Maitland and the Hamilton family. The English diplomat Robert Bowes called this group the "four young and counselling courtiers."Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 10 (Edinburgh, 1936), pp. 819, 821. This faction was aligned with Anna of Denmark.David Calderwood, History of the Kirk, vol. 5 (Edinburgh, 1844), p. 253.
A feud and with the Grahams As tutor or administrator of James Sandilands of Calder, he entered into a dispute with the lawyer John Graham of Hallyards, over the lands of Hallyards in Midlothian.David Dalrymple, An Historical Account of the Senators of the College of Justice of Scotland (Edinburgh, 1849), pp. 191-4. The elder Sandilands of Calder had granted Hallyards to his widow, who had married John Graham, but had also issued another disposition of the lands.Thomas Thomson, The historie and life of King James the Sext (Edinburgh, 1825), p. 265.
Lord Home invited an English official, John Carey, to come from Berwick to meet James VI at Dunglass in January 1595, but Carey refused to make the trip.Joseph Bain, Calendar of Border Papers, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1896), p. 11 no. 19. James VI made a hunting trip to the area in February, planning to visit Dunglass, Spott, Beil, Waughton, and Seton.Annie Cameron, Calendar State Papers Scotland: 1593-1595, vol. 11 (Edinburgh, 1936), p. 529 nos. 464-5.
On 13 or 14 February 1593 Sandilands shot John Graham dead in Leith Wynd in Edinburgh.David M. Bergeron, The Duke of Lennox, 1574-1624: A Jacobean Courtier's Life (Edinburgh, 2022), p. 32. Sandilands was in the company of the Duke of Lennox, going to play golf at Leith.Annie I. Cameron, Calendar State Papers Scotland: 1593-1595, vol. 11 (Edinburgh, 1936), p. 49. It was said they had lured Graham to go Leith with an order for him to cross to Fife by ferry. Alexander Stewart of Newtonleys, a follower of the Duke of Lennox was also killed, by a pistol shot to the head.Thomas Thomson, The historie and life of King James the Sext (Edinburgh, 1825), p. 267. His father, also called Alexander Stewart, was Captain of Blackness.John Mackenzie, A chronicle of the kings of Scotland (Edinburgh, 1830), p. 146 Calderwood said that Graham was finished off by Sir Alexander Stewart's French page in revenge for his master's death. Sandilands then went travelling in Italy, returning to London in September 1594.Annie I. Cameron, Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 11 (Edinburgh, 1936), pp. 49, 447: David Calderwood, History of the Kirk, vol. 5 (Edinburgh, 1844), pp. 223-4. In January 1595 he fought with the Master of Graham and his followers on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, and was shot twice. George Lockhart of Ayr and John Spottiswoode, the future Archbishop of St Andrews came to his aid.David Calderwood, History of the Kirk, vol. 5 (Edinburgh, 1844), p. 361.
On January 1595, to avenge his kinsman, the Master of Graham fought with him on the Royal Mile at the Salt Tron. Sandilands' brother-in-law William Crauford, brother of the laird of Carse was killed.John Mackenzie, A chronicle of the kings of Scotland (Edinburgh, 1830), p. 152: 'The Diarey (sic) of Robert Birrell', in John Graham Dalyell, Fragments of Scottish History (Edinburgh, 1798), p. 34 There were over 100 pistol shots and Sandilands was wounded. In the confusion, a rumour spread that King James was besieged in Holyrood Palace.Keith M. Brown, "Burgh, Lords and Feuds", Michael Lynch, The Early Modern Town in Scotland (Croom Helm, 1987), p. 112: Joseph Bain, Calendar of Border Papers, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1896), p. 10-12 nos. 19, 22.
James VI made Sandilands and the Chancellor John Graham, 3rd Earl of Montrose agree in November 1599.John Duncan Mackie, Calendar State Papers Scotland, 13:2 (Edinburgh, 1969), p. 579.
Catherine Carnegie In June 1593 he helped John Wemyss of Logie abduct Catherine Carnegie, the niece of David Carnegie of Colluthie,William Fraser, History of the Carnegies, Earls of Southesk, vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1867), pp. cvi, 49-50. from Robert Jousie's house on the Royal Mile, for James Gray, a son of Lord Gray and a gentleman of the king's bedchamber.Annie I. Cameron, Calendar State Papers Scotland: 1593-1595, vol. 11 (Edinburgh, 1936), p. 98. After this episode, he spent a year travelling in Italy and returned to London from Vlissingen on 17 September 1594.Annie I. Cameron, Calendar State Papers Scotland: 1593-1595, vol. 11 (Edinburgh, 1936), p. 447.
Lewis Adventurer and the Niddry estates In December 1595 he received £1,000 from the treasurer, jointly with Robert Jousie for the expenses of the royal household.
In 1598 Sandilands was one of the Gentleman Adventurers of Fife, who attempted to resettle and colonise the Isle of Lewis.Aonghas MacCoinnich, Plantation and Civility in the North Atlantic World (Leiden, 2015), pp. 17, 370, 382: Thomas Thomson, Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland: 1593-1625, vol. 4 (1816), p. 249.Ernest Beveridge, Churchyard Memorials of Crail (Edinburgh, 1893), p. 151.