John Wemyss, of Logie

John Wemyss, younger of Logie, was the hero of a romantic adventure, which is commemorated both in song and story. He was one of the gentlemen-in-waiting to King James VI, but was won over by the arts of the famous Francis Stewart, Earl of Bothwell, then in disgrace, and promised to admit the earl privately to the presence of the king. King James, however, was forewarned, the scheme was frustrated, and young Logie, with a fellow-conspirator, Balfour of Burley, was arrested. Burley confessed, but Logie denied, or defended himself in such a way that he was committed to trial, that he might be "execut to the dead." Young Logie was securely warded in the palace of Dalkeith, where the king then was, but as has been said, love laughs at locksmiths, and in this case the prisoner found it to be so. One of the queen's maid of honour, a Danish lady named Margaret Vinstar, for whom Wemyss had a "great honest affection," which she returned with interest, now brought her woman's wit to his aid at his utmost need. She availed herself of her position in the royal household, and beguiled the guard by a false message that the prisoner was to be brought to their majesties. She led the captive to the king's chamber door, and thence, having eluded the guards, to a window, where she provided him with a rope, by which he descended to the ground, and sa be hir gude cheritable help he happelie escapit be the subteltie of loove. This incident gave rise to the popular ballad known as The Laird o' Logie, which preserves the main facts of the escape, while the fancy of the ballard-maker has embellished the details.

Source : Memorials of the family of Wemyss of Wemyss, Volume I, page 63