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Maitland, William, known as Secretary Lethington c.1528-1573
Scottish politician

The son of Sir Richard Maitland, in 1558 he became Secretary of State to the queen-regent, Mary of Guise. He represented Mary, Queen of Scots at the court of Elizabeth I, but aroused her hostility by his connivance at David Rizzio's murder in 1566. He was also privy to the assassination of Lord Darnley and was one of the commissioners who presented to Elizabeth an indictment of Mary in 1568. Accused of plotting against his colleagues, he was jailed in Edinburgh Castle and died in prison at Leith.