Sir James Elphinstone, 1st Lord Balmerino

He held the office of Lord of Session [Scotland] on 4 March 1586/87. He was styled as Lord Innernochtie [Scottish Law Lord] on 4 March 1586/87. He held the office of a Commissioner of the Treasury in 1595/96, one of eight ('the Octavians'). He held the office of Secretary of State in 1598. He was invested as a Privy Counsellor (P.C.) on 4 May 1603. In 1604 the lands of the Abbey of Balmerinoch were erected for him into the territorial Barony of Balmerinoch. He held the office of President of the Court of Session on 1 March 1605. He was created 1st Lord Balmerinoch [Scotland] on 11 July 1606. On 10 March 1608 convicted of treason and forfeited /9 for fabricating a bogus letter from JAMES VI and I to POPE CLEMENT VIII. On 10 March 1608/9 he was found guilty of fabricating a letter from King James VI to Pope Clement VIII, and was attainted and sentenced to death.