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| He was legitimated as above in 1546, seems to have gone to France in 1560. He is described as 'an Englishman born'. As John Sempill of Beltries, he was called as one of the substitutes in the conveyance which his father made of his estates on 8 November 1572. The Regent Morton is said to have coveted the aftermentioned lands granted by Queen Mary, and to have endeavoured to reduce the gift. Having used intemperate threats, Sempill was arrested on a suspicion of conspiring against the life of the Regent, and on being tortured with the boot, confessed. He had certain jewels and furs belonging to Queen Mary and was imprisoned in Blackness because he would not deliver them to the Earl of Lennox. On 15 June 1577 he was convicted of treasonably conspiring for the slaughter of the Earl of Morton, the Regent.10 |
| He and his wife had a grant from Queen Mary, 20 March 1564-65, of the lands of Over Drumdelgie and others in the barony of Strathbogie, on the forfeiture of the Earl of Huntly, but in 1567, Huntly having been restored to the lands, they got instead the Island of Little Cumbrae and others.11 |
| certainly | The information is supported by primary sources. |
| probably | The information is supported by secondary sources which is most likely based on primary sources. |
| possibly | It is unclear if the secondary source cited is based on primary sources, or the information is an assumption well supported by other evidence. |
| likely | The information is only found in secondary sources with questioned quality, or there is a reason to suspect the information is wrong. Or the information is a likely assumption based on other evidence. |
| apparently | The information is doubtful and poorly documented, but still most likely correct. |
| perhaps | The information might be correct or it might be wrong. It is not supported by any trustworthy sources. It might me an assumption. |
| disproved | The information is proven to be wrong. |