to the English diplomat Henry Killigrew and Cecil for help. Melville said his enemies were destroying his reputation, saying that he had hindered peace, and knew all the secret dealings between France, England and Scotland. He said he had never been happy to receive help from Flanders. Melville hoped for English political intervention for his release. On 19 October 1573 Melville was questioned about negotiations for the marriage of Mary Queen of Scots to John of Austria, her escape from Lochleven Castle, her good and jewels, her proposed marriage to Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, the siege of Edinburgh Castle and those who supplied it with silver or gave loans secured against pledges of Mary's jewels. In 1582 Melville was rehabilitated and gained a role in the Scottish exchequer as Treasurer-Depute. In 1587 he was sent to England with William Keith of Delny and the Master of Gray to intercede for Mary's life. Their speeches and manner of mediation was said to have been counter-productive. In the late 1580s James VI of Scotland asked him to help the printer Robert Waldegrave who was in trouble in England. He was Chancellor when James VI sailed to meet Anne of Denmark. On 11 May 1590 he hosted the Danish Admiral Peder Munk at Rossend Castle at Burntisland. Munk was travelling to Falkland Palace to take sasine of Anne of Denmark's "morning gift". In August 1592 the court was at Dalkeith Palace. Margaret Winstar, a Danish servant of Anne of Denmark, helped her lover, the rebel John Wemyss of Logie escape from the palace. James VI was angry and held a council, and sent the Earl of Morton and Melville to the queen to demand she sent Winstar back to Denmark. The queen refused to speak to them. In July 1593 he was ambassador in London and had an audience with Elizabeth I of England. His mission was to collect a subsidy or annuity of £4,000 which Elizabeth gave to James VI, and ask for 34 elm trees for the king's garden. She later complained that Melville had spent half of the money in London for the king, rather than taking it back Scotland. In 1594 he was made a judge as Lord Murdocairnie. Melville was involved with the factional politics of Anne of Denmark. James VI came to Holyrood Palace on 25 July 1595 from Stirling Castle, after receiving a letter