request, and the baron as kindly met the wishes of the king. On the 30th of May, 1858, by invitation of Baron Adeler, I went to Adelersborg, where, on the following morning, we were joined by Professor Worsaae (R. of D. and D. M. Professor extr. in Northern Antiquities at the University, &c. &c.) and Professor Ibsen (R. of D. Lecturer in Medical Science at the University), both appointed by his Majesty to be present at the opening of the vault. At noon we proceeded to the church of Faareveile, and found that the workmen, six in number, had just completed their task, on which they had been engaged since 4 p.m. of the day before. It was soon evident that there were but two coffins in the vault, of a date as ancient as the latter end of the sixteenth century; and, as Professor Ibsen pronounced the remains in one of them to be those of a female, all our attention and interest were concentrated on the other.
This coffin was of simple deal, without ornament or date, in perfect preservation, of a high square form, somewhat resembling a large trunk, and such as was commonly used in Denmark at the close of the sixteenth century. This very coffin had, several years ago, been pointed out to Professor Worsaae by the aged schoolmaster of Faareveile as the coffin of Bothwell, stating in addition that his prede- cessor had also informed him that such had always been the tradition in the parish.
The remains of the shroud proved it to have been of a rich texture. The pillow was of white satin. The coffin, shroud, &c. were such as would appertain to a man of rank, although poor, and corresponding exactly to that of a prisoner of state.
The skeleton was that of a strong, square-built man, from 5ft. 8in. to 5ft. 7in. long; light hair mixed with grey remained attached to the skull; the forehead was low and sloping; the cheek-bones high; the nose prominent; and the hair and teeth agreed with Bothwell's age.
On opening the coffin no skull was visible; but Professor Ibsen found it under the shoulders of the skeleton, and it was the professor's opinion that, at a previous examination, the skull had fallen off, and was then placed as now discovered; "for," added the professor, "the man, whose skeleton this is, was not beheaded."
After a thorough investigation of coffin, shroud, and skeleton, the conclusion come to, was "Nothing absolutely certain of its being Bothwell's remains, but nothing as yet against it." The coffin with its contents was then removed to a vault in the chancel of the church for further investigation at a future time, if necessary.
Since the foregoing occurrence I have tried at various sources, but unsuccessfully, to gain some description of Bothwell's personal appearance, in the hope of its tallying with the above. Perhaps if you would bring this subject before a
