James Melville of Halhill

Sir James Melville (1535–1617) was a Scottish diplomat and memoir writer, and father of the poet Elizabeth Melville. Life Melville was the third son of Sir John Melville, laird of Raith, in the county of Fife, who was executed for treason in 1548. One of his brothers was Robert, 1st Baron Melville of Monimail (1527–1621). James Melville in 1549 went to France to become page to Mary, Queen of Scots. Serving on the French side at the Battle of St. Quentin in 1557 Melville was wounded and taken prisoner. He subsequently carried out a number of diplomatic missions for Henry II of France. On Mary's return to Scotland in 1561 she gave Melville a pension and an appointment in her household. Given duties as a diplomat, Melville included an account of his meeting with Elizabeth I in 1564 in his memoir. She showed him miniature portraits and arranged for him to hear her play the virginals. Mary employed him as special emissary to reconcile Elizabeth to her marriage with Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley.