behalf of the evicted widow of one of his tenants. George Buchanan later wrote that she came by boat from Newhaven, crewed by "notorious pirates", associates of the Earl of Bothwell including William and Edmund Blackadder. Darnley came to Alloa by land but she told him to go away. It is also said she went to Stirling in disguise dressed as an ordinary townswoman "in homely sort" and joined in a dance around the Market Cross. In December 1592 the widower John Erskine, Earl of Mar married Marie Stewart a daughter of Esmé Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox, and the wedding celebrations were held at Alloa. James VI of Scotland and Anne of Denmark gave the bride clothes, and there was a masque in costume in which Anne of Denmark performed, dressed in silk taffeta and "gold tock". The festivities were cut short when Sir John Carmichael and Sir George Home arrived from Edinburgh with news of the crisis caused by the discovery of the Spanish blanks. References External links National Trust for Scotland page Houses completed in the 14th century Towers completed in the 14th century 14th century in Scotland Category A listed buildings in Clackmannanshire Castles in Clackmannanshire Listed castles in Scotland National Trust for Scotland properties Historic house museums in Clackmannanshire Tower houses in Scotland Alloa