‘ ' ' 14 ro72 11s)zece

S I R WILLI M SE COND LOR R UT HVE N 1 2 8 4 2 K E E P ? A , D , 5 55 , E R 0 1 T H E PR I VY S E L AN D PROVOST OF PE RT H 1 2 A , , 5 9 T H E R U T H V E N FAMI LY PAPERS

R uthven Version of the Consp iracy and

’ A ssassination at Go wrze H ouse

P rth 5 h Au ust 1600 e , t g

CRI TI C ALLY R E VI SE D AND E D I TE D

BY

SAMUEL C OWAN , J . P .

T HE R YAL HOUS E OF S TUART T HE L RD C HA N E LL R O , O C O S " “ OF SC TLAN D T HE AN I ENT A PI TAL OF S C TLAND O , C C O “ ” “ LI F E OF MARY QUEEN O F S COTS LI FE OF " , N A R A RE T E T . E T UEE M G c C. Q , ,

q 1

L LONDON

I MPK I N M R LL H M L K E NT S , A SH A , A I TON, CO .

19 12 I LLU S T RATI O N S

S I R WILLI S EC O O RU VE . AM , ND L RD TH N

L Y LILI U VE HI S D UG ER M RRI E O D VI LOR AD AS R TH N, A HT , A D T A D , D

L DRUMMOND OF S TOBHA L .

L Y B RB R RU VE HI S D UG ER M RRIE To THE S I" AD A A A TH N, A HT , A D TH O G A L RD R Y .

M IE RU V E D U E O P ICK U VE WI E O AR TH N, A GHT R F ATR R TH N AND F F

I R O A D C K S ANT NY V N Y . (Fr o m the original in the Munich Gallery)

G E L P ICK R U V L O FO B E O EN RA ATR TH EN, EAR F RTH AND R NTF RD ,

O IC E CO I I N THE O GU S VU S OLP U S FF R MMAND NG ARMY F TA AD H ,

- - AND COMMANDER I N CHI EF OF THE TROO PS UNDER CHARLES I .

F om th ori inal in the I m e ial Museum S tockho lm ( r e g p r , )

ES I LO R RU VE O F EEL . JAM , F FTH D TH N F R AND

M D U E O E C PBE O S HAW FI ELD ARY , A GHT R F WALT R AM LL F I LAY AND S ,

WIF E OF THE FIFTH LORD R UTHV EN OF FREE LAND .

E U V E BO 1 8 1 I I E I E R I S COU S I J AN R TH N, RN 7 (MA N L N ); MARR ED H F R T N,

E S U VE BO 1 8 . JAM R TH N, RN 7 3

E S U VE O I I M R B R 1 2 M L E . JA TH N, N 75 ( A N N )

O RU VE O I I B 1 L E . J HN TH N, RN 753 (MA N N )

ES RU VE BO 1 8 I I E JAM TH N, RN 7 3 (MA N L N ).

S O THE L O GO IE ARM F EAR F WR .

P IV E S E F THE ’ O I R AT AL O EARL OF G WR E . AUTHOR’S PREFACE

H I STORICAL events affecting Scottish history , or

S O indeed any history , and occurring far back as

1600 r , o fully three centuries ago , are rarely called

o f in question even by students history , nor is it desirable t o encourage what would challenge the accuracy and integrity Of the generally accepted historical record , unless the material so produced were beyond doubt and unchallengeable . In that

so - notable and momentous event , the called Gowrie

Of Conspiracy , which we have now unquestionable proof , there has always been mystery surrounding

o n Of it , evidently founded the refusal the Scottish

Of Clergy and Magistrates Perth , and the majority o f the Scottish people Of that period , to recognise f ’ it as a conspiracy O the Ruthvens , and the Clergy s

’ refusal to pray for the King s deliverance ; be liev ing , as many of them did , that the King was himself the author Of the plot . It is a notorious

’ fact that it is the King s version Of the plot , and n o other version , that has been before the public these three hundred years , notwithstanding there are historians who have pointed out that no narrative by the Ruthven family has ever been forthcoming . 5 AUT H OR ’S PREFACE

That point is now set at rest by the issue of this volume . It now app ears that a Ruthv en narrative has been

o r bona written by the Ruthven family , at least by a

fid e member o f it . On a careful inspection recently

Of the Ruthven Family Papers , at the request Of

Lord Ruthven Of Freeland , we have discovered this

a a e r document ; p p Of historical value , i n respect that it confirms the views of the Scottish Clergy and

Of 1600 Magistrates Perth Of , that the King , and not

Gowrie , was the conspirator , and stamps the King

S ix and his nobles , amongst whom were divided the

SOle illegally confiscated Gowrie estates , as the con

S irat o rs p , enterprisers , and negotiators Of the plot , and alone responsible for the consequences Of that catastrophe with all its brutalities , cruelties and persecutions . The narrative from the Ruthven charter chest ought to have been published long ago , but though late in the day in reaching publication it will be regarded by all unprej udiced readers as Of supreme importance . The Scottish Parliament Of that period was evidently not an impartial tribunal . The political circumstances of the time rendered im partiality impossible , and the reader is referred fo r information o n this point to the narrative o f the

o n 1 - 1 1 Privy Council Register pages 45 5 . In such im art ialit turbulent times p v could not be expected , 6 AU TH OR ’S PREFACE and the Ruthven family , by means Of a fraudulent and an utterly mysterious and unexpected co n s irac p y , were driven from their estates and homes ,

o f the heads the family Slain , the dead bodies o ut raged , and the Gowrie estates divided among the six satellites Of the King who committed the in I famous deed . t now turns out that all this was

f V I . done at the instigation O James , was homolo gated by the Scottish Parliament without adequate

Of reason , and it is to be regretted that the Acts this Parliament and the Offi cial records of the time are

ad nauseam Simply full , , of this piece of wholesale ” butchery , falsely called Gowrie Conspiracy . The reader may well ask what can be the ex d planation Of all this , and we can o nothing but refer him fo r answer t o the following pages . The Ruthv en family of to- day recognise with pride that many Of their distinguished ancestors were promi nent men on the political platform Of the Ancient

Of Kingdom Of Scotland , at a trying period Scottish history ; and , notwithstanding their persecution and supposed extinction , the main branch never was extinct , but has been vigorous and representative through all these centuries , while the Freeland branch Of the family is represented to- day by Lord

R as uthven , and , will be seen from the Kalendar , many Of its members rose to an eminent position in the government and administration Of t he kingdom . 7 AU T H O R’S PREFACE The first Lord Ruthven was the friend and supporter Of King James I I I . , and provided his sovereign with 3 000 men at the battle Of Sauchie a burn , where the King lost his life . The M ster Of

Ruthven , son of this Lord Ruthven , fell , sword in

Flo dde n 1 1 hand , at the battle of , in 5 3 ; and down to the catastrophe o f 1600 the heads Of the House Of

o f Ruthven , in the administration the kingdom ,

- occupied a position that was supreme ; but , while saying so , we are not to be understood as endorsing all the political acts Of Patrick , Lord Ruthven , and

Of his son William , first Earl Gowrie , who were men to be reckoned with in the reign Of Queen

Mary . Lord William was fo r a limited period Lord

Of Treasurer Scotland , and was the champion who conceived and carried out the Raid Of Ruthven and capture of the boy king . A noble Scottish family was the Ruthvens , Of whom the nation had reason

"who i e i to be proud ; but , alas can resist the n v t

Or able , fight with the vicissitudes Of fortune ; and S O the elder branch Of this ancient and venerable

’ S O family , long identified with Scotland s imperial

1600 administration , passed , in , from the region of

Of f politics to that citizens O the realm .

All the. branches have representatives alive at this date , while the family name o f Ruthven has long since been restored , and the fraudulent and illegal attainder cancelled by the Parliament of Charles I . 8 AU TH O R ’S PREFACE

Act in 1641. This important Of Parliament will be found in the text , as well as other Acts Of the

Scottish Parliament relating to the Ruthvens . The volume concludes with a Short biography of

Of John , third Earl Gowrie , and a family history Of the Ruthvens , extracted from the family papers . The family can trace their origin t o a very early

S O date , and appear to have been identified far back as the twelfth century with the parish o f Tibb e rmo re in Perthshire , as extensive territorial landowners . From the chartulary Of Scone (Liber ecclesice d e S oon) we have reproduced the only charters re corded there relating to the Ruthven family . The author acknowledges with thanks the sub stantial help he has received i n the production of this volume from a member Of the Ruthven Family ,

- f Mrs Ruthven Stuart O London .

ARM S T HE E ARLS O F G OVVRI E

F rom t he S tone in Gowrie H om e, P ert h

Tibi So l i (To t he e Alo ne ) De id Schav (De e d s Sho w) The Rut hve n Family Pap e rs

CH A PT E R I

— KALE NDAR O F THE RUTHVE N FAMILY OR IGIN AND PRO G RE S S I VE STAG E S O F THE RUTHV E NS I N E ARLY — SCOTTI S H HISTORY RUTHVE N CASTLE AND I TS

C E T E E AND THE B E E I I Y HAP LS OF S P T R L S S D V RG N MAR , — ' B RMUI R C E OF O I B TI B E HART R THOR , LORD F T BE R — M IR CH R E R O F WILLI M THE LI 1 18 U A T A ON , 5

The four founders Of t he great Ruthven family thus

T HOR

SWA I N E

s are (The e unchallengeable . )

I I K A L E ND A R

OF THE RU T HV E N FAMI LY

‘ 1 10 0 t o 1600

HOL DE RS OF THE L A N DS AN D D I GN I TI ES

NAM E PE RIOD

T L Tibbe rmore hor , ord of I I I 7 and

Swain , his son O f waI rI Alan , son S randSon Sir Walter Ruthven , g of

Swain . . R Of Sir Gilbert uthven , son Sir

Walter . G Sir William , brother of Sir ilbert R Sir Walter uthven , son of Sir

William . Sir William Ruthven; son Of Sir Walt er R Sir William uthven , his son

NO. Sir William Ruthven , son of 9 Of N 10 Sir William Ruthven , son o . Of N I I Sir John Ruthven , son o . Of Sir Patrick Ruthven , son Sir John L R Sir William , first ord uthven , son of Sir Patrick L R Sir William , second ord uthven , grandsoriof first Lord L R Patrick , third ord uthven , son

Of second Lord . L R William , fourth ord uthven , E Of first arl Gowrie , son of third Lord t s James Ru hven , econd Earl of G E owrie , son of first arl R E John uthven , third arl of E Gowrie , son of first arl .

12 THE RUTHVEN FAMI LY PAPERS

n ble man o r Thor , a q believed to be Of Saxon

Danish origin , lived in Scotland in the reign Of

I . Of . David , and probably that Malcolm I V It is generally understood that he Obtained from Prince

’ s n Of fo r Henry , King David s o , a grant land

so n Swaine , his , as he gratefully commemorates the Prince i n the charter to the monks Of Scone .

so n Swaine , Of Thor , lived long under William the Lion , and enjoyed the manors Of Ruthven and

Ti bermuir . b , as well as other lands in Perthshire He gave the monks Of I nchco lm a toft in Tibber

co n more and a meadow at Methven , which were

firmed by King William , and by his grandson ,

f 1 62 Walter , son O Alan , and , in 3 , by his kins man and descendant , William de Ruthven .

He also possessed , as Superior Lord , the lands Of

Crawford in upper Clydesdale , which the progeni f tor O the Lindsays held as vassals under him , as appears from a confirmation by King William o f a donation to the monastery of Newbattle by

Of William de Lindsay , part the lands Of Crawford

so n o f which William himself holds of Swaine ,

Thor .

11 s n Alan ( 77 the High Steward , o Of

Ev a Walter the Steward , married , daughter

o f so n o f f Ti be rm re . Swaine , Thor , Lord o b o

Alce sto r r His second wife was , o Alison ,

Mo r und . daughter of g , fifth Earl Of Mar

13 THE RUTH VEN FAMI LY PAPE RS

two The issue by the second marriage was sons ,

12 0 Walter and David . Alan died in 4, and was interred before the High Altar in Paisley Abbey . This was in the fortieth year Of the reign of William the Lion . ’ Of Alan , son Swaine , confirmed his father s donations to this religious community in the beginning Of the reign Of Alexander I I . , and was

wa twice designed Alanus fi lius S ini. He left three

. suc sons , Walter , Henry and Alan He was cee ded desi by his eldest son , Walter , who is g nated in charters o f that period Walter Of t Ru hven , being the first Of the family to assume a surname . This Walter Of Ruthven became known as Sir Walter Ruthven , and was the earliest r ancestor Of the Ruthven family . He took his su f name from his lands and possessions , and in O ficial

so n documents is designated Walter de Ruthven ,

Of f f Alan , who was son o Swaine , son O Thor ,

Ti r Lord of bbe mo re . Sir Walter was there

Of . fore grandson Swaine He married Cecilia , daughter Of Gilbert , Earl Of Strathearn .

Of Walter , brother Alan , witnessed a donation

Of Of Gilbert , Earl Strathearn , to the monastery o f Scone , designated Walterus filius S waini tem ore re is Alexandri S ecundi p g , reign Of

. s n Alexander I I Walter , o Of Alan , confirmed his predecessor ’s donations in these words

14

THE RUT HVEN GENEALOGY

Walterus fi liu-s Alani to tam terrain illam q uam S wainus filius Th ori av' us meus d edit in Tibber

of muir ; to which Gilbert , Earl Strathearn , and

- 12 12 0 . his son were witnesses , 3 5 4 With his wife

Cecilia , daughter Of the Earl Of Strathearn , he

o t o f C ow ask g the lands g and others , in these words : Waltem s filius Alani uxorem duxit

e ciliam liam Gilberti omitis d e S trathearn. C fi , C Walter thus confirmed the donations which

s n f Swaine , o o Thor , his grandfather , gave to

Tibbermuir t o o f , which Gilbert , Earl Strathearn , and his son , Robert , are witnesses . Sir Walter was witness to the controversy with

alfrid 12 . G , Bishop Of Dunblane , in 3 9 Sir William Ruthven confirmed the donations of

12 t his predecessor in 60 , and is witness o two dona

to 12 6 : William tions the Priory of St Andrews , 7 de R uthv en d ominus ejusd em confirmasse carta d omini Walteri fi lii Alani bona memoria p atris mei d e o e t Canonicis d e S cone 12 60 . , Sir William left w t o . sons , Walter and Gilbert

The fortalice , Ruthven Castle , with the chapels o f Tibbe rmo re Ruthven Castle and , dedicated , the former to St Peter and the latter to the Blessed f i Virgin Mary , would be foundations o th s great f i T rm . territorial landlord , Thor , Lord o bbe ore

of He was owner these chapels , and made a charter of donation t o the monks of Scone I S THE RU TH VEN FAM I LY PAPERS

he was during his lifetime . T charter confirmed by wh Walter , o probably married , secondly , Marj ory ,

o f daughter of Henry , Prince Scotland , Sister to

V re Malcolm I . and William the Lion , but this quires confirmation . Almost .the only thing recorded

o f Ed naham o f of Thor is his charter of the lands , which he was proprietor , to David , Earl Of Hunt

in do n a I . 110 g , fterwards David , dated between 7

o f o f and 1117. This account the origin the Ruthven family is rather different from that o f the

P eera e new g (Balfour Paul), which we now proceed

i exten ne r to give n so . We can not verify the o o f the other , as there are neither o ficial records nor t family papers , of that early or prehistoric period , o draw upon . There can be no doubt that Sir Walter

R uthven , the first to assume a surname, was the ancestor of the Ruthvens . That point , which may be regarded as settled , is Of supreme importance , as other and highly erroneous versions have been put before us .

During the administration of Alan , the High

Steward , we have preserved an ancient paper , a

o f o f Ednaham f charter the gift , by Thor , Lord o

Tibbe rm r o e . The text o f the charter is TO his dearest Lord , David the Earl (of Huntingdon)Thor wishet h entirely his , health . Know my Lord that

n ham King Edgar , your brother , gave to me E d a ,

, waste which I by his assistance , and my own

16

B B U VE U E O O LADY AR ARA R TH N , DA GHT R OF T H E S E C ND L RD , AND WIF E OF T HE SI"TH LORD GRAY THE RUTHVEN GENEAL OGY money , have inhabited and have built from the foundation the Chapel , which your brother the King caused to be dedicated in honour of St

Cuthbert and enlivened with o ne carrucat e o f land . f This same chapel , I for the souls o my Lord ,

o f King Edgar , and your father and mother , and fo r o f o f your weal and that King Alexander , and

Queen Matilda , have given to the aforesaid Saint and his Monks . Wherefore I pray y o u as my

fo r dearest Lord , that the souls of your parents ,

- o u and for the well being of the living , that y grant this donation. to Saint Cuthbert and the monks who ” Shall serve him for ever . (The authority for this charter is the National

M . S H . S M . of Scotland , published by order of

Stationery Office . ) There is a Ruthven charter dated 12 00 (reign

o f of William the Lion) from Walter , son Alan ,

o f and grandson Swaine , to the Abbey of Scone , conveying that whole land which Swaine , the v son of Thor , my grandfather , ga e to them

Tibbe rmo re — in , according to its marches viz .

’ from the King s Well , in the street which comes from Perth and lies in the village of Tibber more . This well is four and a half miles from

Perth . This is the earliest Ruthven charter known to exist , and its author , Sir Walter Ruthven ,

o f grandson Swaine , is the earliest ancestor Of the

B 17 THE RUTHVEN FAMILY PAPERS

f . noble family o Ruthven It is said , but not confirmed , that Walter the Steward was born in

1173 .

TRAN SLATION OF CHARTER OF WILLIAM THE LION

11 GRANTING TO ILBERT EARL OF ( 65 G ,

STRATHEARN THE LANDS OF MADDERTY. Date

M sara circa . Li sul s m . A. D 118 . ber I n e i 6 5 ( , p , — with facsimile , p . 7 Bannatyne Club Publica

tions ,

ILLI M o f Go d i the W A , by the grace , "k ng] Of

Scots , to the bishops , abbots , earls , barons , etc . Greeting Let (all men)present and future know that I have given , granted , and by this my present charter

Madd rnin have confirmed , to Gilbert of Strathearn , y

(Madderty) by its right marches , and with all its f lawful pertinents o woo d and plain , lands and waters , meadows and pastures , moors and mosses , mills and stanks and all other its lawful pertinents w t heame ith sac and soc , tholl and and infangthef To be held by him and his heirs of me and my heirs in fee and heritage freely , and peacefully , fully and honourably by the service of o ne knight ; yet so that neither he no r his heirs Shall at any time sell (any part) o f the land to Gilleco lm

Mare scal or r f , to his heirs o to any o his kinsfolk n whomsoever , Should the latter ever wish o this

18

CH A PT E R I I

— I — I E RUTHV E N P E E RAc E S E GE OF PE RTH S R JOHN RUTHV N , — S H E RIFF OF PE RTH ; CORMAC ATTACK C R E ATION O F

WI I M FI R E — R E HI S LL A , R ST LORD UTHV N LOR D UTHV N ,

AND LOW S W AR K— THE S E C AND HI S SON , OND LORD

F MILY— C R E R OF SW I E S ON OF R 1 16 A HA T A N , THO , 3 — CONFIR MATION CHARTE R BY KING ALE"ANDE R 11.

R E C R E R 12 — C FI RM I CH R E R UTHV N HA T , 39 ON AT ON A T , — W L E R S O F L R E C R E R 1 62 A T , N O A AN UTHV N HA T , 3

IT Tibbe rmo re is believed that Thor , Lord of , was

. so n o f founder of this family Swaine , Thor , settled in Perthshire and granted between 1188 and 1199 to the monks of Scone certain lands in that

o f Tibbe rmo re . county , some limits , as also a toft at

The charter was confirmed by King William , by

’ o f Swaine s grandson , Walter , son Alan , and by

William de Ruthven . Swaine was also superior of the lands of Crawford in Lanarkshire , and he wit ne ssed 1 a charter Of Malcolm I V . between 1 63 and

116 . 4 He left issue , two sons , Alan and Walter .

- f Alan married Cecilia , daughter and co heir o Sir

o f Fo ulis William Maule , by whom he had three

H s n children , Walter , enry and Alan . Walter, o of

2 0 THE RUTHVEN PEERAGE f this Alan , granted a charter to the monks o Scone

12 2 o f Cul ask before 3 , and received a charter g

C ow ask - in- ( g ) from his brother law , Robert , Earl o f 12 2 12 1 Strathearn , between 3 and 3 , as Walter ,

. to son of Alan , of R uthven He was witness a

12 charter about 34, and a little later he is designated

12 Walter o f Ruthven . In 45 Sir Walter Of Ruthven was apparently the first of his family to assume that surname . He married Cecilia ,

o f Of daughter Gilbert , Earl of Strathearn , Sister

Earl Robert , and had issue , three sons , Alexander ,

o ne Gilbert and William , and daughter , who married Patrick Edgar , and had issue , Walter , to whom two charters to East and West C ultma lundie , were granted by his uncle , Gilbert , both

16th 12 undated , but confirmed May 79 by

Alexander I I I .

o f Gilbert of Ruthven , son Sir Walter , witnessed

12 a charter along with his father about 45 . As Sir

12 12 Gilbert he is a witness to Charters in 47 and 66 . In 12 62 he renounced his right t o the lands o f E v e lick and of the succession to Fo ulis through

. f Cecilia de Maule He married Cecilia , daughter o

Sir John Maule of Fo ulis . He died between 12 66

12 and 79 , when the charter to his nephew , Walter

Edgar , was confirmed by Alexander I I I . He was

12 0 . succeeded by his brother William , anno 7

o f William Ruthven , perhaps the same who was

2 1 THE RUTHVEN FAMI LY PAPERS

Chamberlain to Malise , Earl of Strathearn , wit

AS o f nessed a charter in 12 70 . Sir William

Ruthven , he witnessed two charters in January

- 12 6 68 12 0 . 7 , and another in 9 He did homage to

12 1 12 6 . AS Edward I . in 9 and 9 William Of

be 12 8 COnfi rmed Ruthven , Lord of that ilk , about 9

f o f the charter o his father , Walter , son Alan , of

f . the lands o Scone He left two sons , Walter and

( 1. . Gilbert , by Margaret , Of Ramsay of Auchterhouse

S 12 At the iege of Perth in 97, Si r William Wallace substituted his own garrison for that o f the English , but whether he appointed Sir John

o f Ramsay or Sir William Ruthven , Governor

Perth , is certainly not clear . Sir William , with thirty followers , joined Wallace at this engagement and fought , it is recorded , with determined energy . Fo r his gallant conduct Wallace appointed Sir

W f Of illiam Ruthven Sheri f Perth , to be hereditary in the Ruthven family . Sir William died i n the

12 8 . following year , 9

o f Walter Ruthven , who succeeded , was a consent

’ 1 ing party to his father s Charter to Scone in 2 98 .

S t ratho rd He surrendered to the English at , along h with Sir John Comyn of Badenoch , 9t February

1 0 - 3 3 4, and died about 13 3 0 . His successor was

William o f R uthv en , who paid a fine for the relief

1 . of Newton , in Edinburgh , in 33 0 He died before

1 6 Easter 3 4 , having been slain at the battle of

2 2 THE RUTHVEN PEERA GE

Durham , and left issue , it is supposed , William

1 and Margaret . The latter i n 346 married Sir

so n o f . John Seton , of Alexander Seton that ilk

1 0 His successor , Sir William Ruthven , anno 3 5 ,

1 8 1 1 62 1 6 had safe conducts in 3 5 , 3 59 , 3 , 3 5 , and

2 t h 1 6 . died before 5 June 3 7 A payment to Joanna ,

1 6 . Of his wife , is entered in 3 3 Sir William

Ruthven had a charter from Robert I I . of the lands

o f o f Ruthven and Balerno , and another the

- f f 1 . co n Sheri fship o Perth , 3 93 95 He had a safe duct in 1400 . He or his successor witnessed a charter by Sir f John Oliphant o Aberdalgie , to Malcolm , his brother , which was confirmed by Sir John Mont

f 1 12 . gomery o Ardrossan , 4 He died the same year . I t is supposed he had two sons , William and

David . The latter was granted by his brother the

f Muirhall 1 00 . lands o , Perth , in 4 S ir William R uthv en of Balerno succeeded his father . He granted a charter to Walter Haliburton o f Dirleton , which was confirmed by Robert , Duke

- o f 2 nd 1 0 8 . Albany , the Regent, February 4 7 Sir William was in England as a hostage for the

- I . 1 2 2 . 1 2 8 ransom of James , 4 4 7 He died i n 4 , and

o ne two o ne left issue , son , John , and daughters ,

o f an married to Sir Walter Drummond Cargill , ce sto r of the Mercers , the other to George Douglas o f Leswalt .

2 3 THE RUT HVEN FAMILY PAPERS

Ruthv en o Ruthv en S ir j o hn f , who succeeded his

o f 10th 1 0 father , was at the assize August 44 , and

f 2 1st 1 . was appointed Sheriff o Perth , April 444

h 1 He probably died before 2 6t July 454, from which date William Murray of GaSk appears to have been

Sheriff o f Perth , and engaged in the temporary administration of that Office .

rma o f In 1443 John Go c of Atholl , captain a band f of freebooters , attacked Sir John Ruthven , Sheri f f o Perth , at the head of his guards , while leading a

e m thief from Atholl to the gallows . A skirmish

C o f sued , when ormac and thirteen his men were

o n Slain , by Sir John and an escort , the North Inch

o f . to Perth According the Exchequer Rolls , Sir

John was also slain ; but this is not confirmed . On account o f the weakness and inadequacy of the administration , no trial appears to have taken place in connection with this remarkable event .

o ne . Sir John left issue , son , named Patrick

P atrick R uthv en f - , probably Sheri f depute of

th 1 Perth , 9 May 444. He appears , along with his

2 nd father , January 145 1 ; is designated so n o f Sir

John Ruthven , and grandson o f Sir William

2 th 1 Ruthven , 4 December 458 . He was knighted some time after ; and as Sir Patrick Ruthven was 6th on a j ury , October 146 1 He married a daughter o f Sir Thomas Cranston , who is styled grandfather

1 6 to his son and successor , 4 5 , and left issue , o ne 2 4 THE RUT H VEN PEERAGE so n named William , who became the first Lord

Ruthven .

S ir William R uthv en o n 2 15 t 1 8 , September 4 4,

’ was conservator of the three years truce ; was

o f created by James I I I . a Lord Parliament under

- 2 0t h 1 8 8 8 . the title of Lord Ruthven , Jan uary 4 7

18 th 1 88 On June 4 , Sir William Ruthven joined

. 000 King James I I I at Perth with 3 troops , which

o f formed , at the battle of Sauchie , a division the

o f army under the command Sir William Ruthven , F and where the King was basely murdered . o r his heroic services Sir William was o n 2 0th January created first Lord Ruthven . He received many charters o f lands in Perthshire before 149 2 . Lord Ruthven is said to have possessed great influence “ t o in his day , as he got the limitation his

s n natural o , and was an extensive landowner in

Perthshire . f Sir William , first Lord Ruthven . In the Acts o

o f 1 8 Auditorium 47 , Sir William , Lord Ruthven , is stated to be son Of Patrick Ruthven , grandson of f Sir John Ruthven , and was made a Lord o Parlia

o n 2 0t h 1 88 . ment January 4 William , Lord f Ruthven , and Isobel , his wife , had charters o the

o f C o usland I lands from Henry , Lord Sinclair , st

1 o f May 493 , and from David Bruce Clackmannan ,

1 00 f 9th July 5 . Lord Ruthven had charters o

Airle wi ht Pit lo ur y g , Kinnaird , and Wester in 2 5 THE RUTHVEN FAMI LY PAPERS

f t rathbraan Fife ; and half of the lands o S , Auch

o f more and Glenshee . He also had charters Legert

Bla khall o f law and c in Perthshire , and part the barony o f Lunan . Charters were granted by Lord Ruthven to the Master Of Ruthven and

John Lindsay of Ruthven . The Master of Ruthven

2 nd 1 80 was legitimated under the Great Seal , July 4 ,

o f 1 and had a Charter the barony of Ruthven , 480 .

He and his father , Lord Ruthven , granted a

mo rt ifi cat io n 1 1 f charter of , 4th January 509 , o an annual rent of £ 10 for the support o f the chaplain in the Chapel of St Peter at Ruthven Castle , and £ 10 fo r the support of the chaplain in the Church of

V Tibbe rmuir the Blessed irgin Mary at , in the

o f cemetery the church there . The Master of

l dde Ruthven predeceased his father , and fell at F o n,

1 1 . l o th 1 2 5 3 His father died September 5 8 .

In 1493 there was a quarrel between the to wn o f

Perth and Lord Ruthven , indicated in the following brief entry in the Council Records Protest by the

of Town Perth against William , Lord Ruthven , — so n z 2 th and his Edinburgh , 4 October 1493

Before the Lords of Council , Andrew Charteris and

Robert Mercer , appeared as Procurators o n behalf

Of the Magistrates and Town Council of Perth , and protested that because William , Lord Ruthven , and

William Ruthven , his son , were summoned at their instance for certain acts contained in the summons

2 6

THE RUT HVEN FAMI LY PAPERS

r the lade may suffer great damage thereby . Fo remedy thereof the said parties bind and oblige themselves that there be made fo r their mutual good f a Sluice , at the head o the lade , for receiving a sufficient water supply for all the mills that stand thereon , and belonging to them and to defend and

o f resist the over supply water that is liable to flow ,

o f o r and cause the destruction the lade aqueduct ,

Lo wswark and that the auld wick called be mended ,

o r built reformed , so as to keep the water to its original channel ; each party to be responsible for the expense according to his proportion of profit ff e eiring from the mills . The sluice and Lo wswark to be maintained by the contracting parties in this ” manner . In connection with this the magistrates caused William Ruthven and his son to take the oath o f

fidelity , by which parties are mutually bound to each other without fraud o r guile in respect o f these conditions , and bind and oblige themselves accord in l “ g y in the strongest form of obligation . The great oath sworn ; the Holy evangel touched , but ” without fraud or guile . This agreement was Signed and sealed by the contracting parties in presence o f

Sir John Tyrie , Provost of the Collegiate Church of th Methven , and others , 4 November 1494. The

Perth mills , whatever their origin , were gifted by

John Mercer to Malcolm I I I . in the eleventh ce n

2 8 J O HN MERCER A ND PERTH MI LLS

’ f r tury , in exchange o a vault i n St John s Church ; and from time immemorial have been driven by the water supply from the Almond .

f Balho usie In the matter o the lands of , which adjoin the Ruthven lands near Perth , the following appears o n the Record Stirling 2 4t h April 15 10 ;

King James I V . conceded to William , Lord

Ruthven for life , and to his son William Ruthven ,

of soldier , and his heirs , the superiority the lands

f Balho usie o the Feu i n the barony of , which John

E v i t Balho usie o of resigned , and which the

i King , for good services , j o ned to the barony ” of Ruthven .

’ In his family chart , John Lindsay s son is given

’ ames no t as J , Alexander , and James s son is

' ’ William s William , and son Alexander , who was

in Perth the day Gowrie , his third cousin , was Slain ; and this Alexander escaped to England and

changed his name to Trotter , the name of the lady

he married . Alexander had a son , James , who had

three sons , Alexander , John and James . Alexander

(unmarried) and John quarrelled , and Alexander

was killed by his brother . John had a son , Samuel ,

who so n had a , John , whose son was Edward . This

Edward had a son , Edward Southwell , who by

letters patent assumed the name of Ruthven . He

was 1 ‘ born 773 , and they have a clear descent up t o date .

2 9 THE RUTHVEN FA MILY PAPERS

r of Lord Ruthven ma ried , first , Isobel , daughter

f o f Livingston o Saltcoats , East Lothian , relict

f two Walter Lindsay o Beaufort , by whom he had sons , William and John , who received Letters of

Legitimation ; and secondly , Christian , daughter f o William , third Lord Forbes , by whom he had

William Ruthv en o Ballind ean o f f , ancestor

Gard ne D unlu is the families of y , Carse , g ,

' Redcastle and o f the Earl of Forth ; and

two . daughters , Margaret and Elizabeth Lord

Ruthven by his first wife had issue , as stated , f William , Master o Ruthven , and John Lindsay or

Ruthven , both having letters under the Great Seal ,

1 80 . 1 8 4 John was apparently alive in 54 , when he had a charter from his nephew , William , second

to Lord Ruthven , himself , Isobel Livingston , his

Spouse , and their son . The first Lord Ruthven had issue , Alexander , of whom nothing is known . f ’ Margaret , daughter o Lord Ruthven s first marriage , was betrothed to John Oliphant , grand

o f son and heir Laurence , first Lord Oliphant , but in June 1494 a notarial instrument was taken show ing that the marriage was not solemnised owing to ’

. rst the bride s reluctance She married , fi , Alex

se cond ander , Earl Of Buchan ; , John Erskine ,

o f 1 1 younger , Dun , who fell at Flodden , 5 3 ; third l 2 rd 1 1 y , before 3 December 5 8 , to James 30 RUTHVEN C HARTER

was Stewart of Ryland , who slain at Edinburgh ,

12 h 1 2 - 2 ourthl before t March 5 4 5 ; f y , to William

f Bo nn t o n Wood o y , which marriage was annulled ,

1 . 18 t h December 534 Elizabeth married , first ,

o f William , fifth Earl Errol ; second , Ninian , Lord

Ross .

A charter was granted by William , Lord

- Ruthven , and Christian , his wife , in life rent , and

o f William , their son and heir , of the lands Wester

Pit l ur t h 1 2 6 . f o in Fife , 4 August 5 John , Earl o

Buchan , granted a charter to his grandfather ,

o f William , Lord Ruthven , and William Ruthven

Ballindean of K ettins 2 6th , his son , in Forfarshire ,

1 2 8 . January 5 A charter was granted by William ,

o r Lord Ruthven , to John Ruthven Lindsay ,

o f so n brother William Ruthven , and heir

o f apparent William , Lord Ruthven , and the

o f m o f heirs his body , bearing the ar s Ruth

D rumbain ven , to the lands of in the barony A uchte r av e n I 1 0 . of g , st Aug ust 5 7 John , third

o f t o Earl Buchan , appears have been the son f o Margaret .

William Master o R uthv en , f , eldest son and heir of Sir William , first Lord Ruthven , received a legitimation with his brother giving them right o f

2 nd 1 80 o f mutual succession , July 4 , and a grant

of 12 th 1 80 the lands Ruthven , July 4 , resigned by

1 0 his father . In 5 7 he is styled son , and heir 3 1 THE RUTHVEN FAM ILY PAPERS

f . apparent , o William , Lord Ruthven He fell at

rst o f Flodden . He married , fi , Catherine Butter

econd l o f R icarto n gask ; s y , Jean Hepburn the family , and had issue , William , heir to his grand

I o f father ; sobel , who married James Murray

Tibbe rmo re .

William seco nd Lord R uthv en of , , son the

Master of Ruthven , succeeded his grandfather , the

AS of first Lord . Provost Perth he was made custodier o f the royal manors and hospitals within

l oth 1 2 8 the burgh , September 5 ; and his lands of

2 8t h . a Glenshee were erected into free forest ,

August 1536 . He was appointed an Extraordinary

o f 16 1 Lord Session , th February 539 ; and Keeper

o f 8 th 1 6 . the Privy Seal , August 54 He married , and by so doing greatly added to his estates , Janet ,

co - eldest daughter and heiress of Patrick , Lord

Halliburton of Dirleton , and had issue , Patrick

of who succeeded his father ; James Forteviot ,

Henry , William and Alexander .

There is a charter to William , Lord Ruthven , f Janet Halliburton , his wife , and James , their son , o

o f 2 th 1 half of the lands Forteviot , 4 January 536 ;

s n and another to James , Second o of William , Lord t h Ruthven , of the barony of Legge Kingston , 5

1 1. February 55 James died without issue , and

Patrick , Lord Ruthven , was served heir to his

th 1 brother , 9 January 553 . In addition to the above 3 2 E E “7 1l MARI RUTHV N , OF S I R ANTONY VAN DY C K

F rom the original in t he M unich Galle ry

THE RU TH VEN FAMILY PAPERS

Chaplain held them and one toft in Tibbe rmo re which he truly held of the Goldsmith , the Meadow also that is upon Lo chethin o n the South part from the place which in the East is contiguous to the land of the Country folks whensoever it Shall extend by breadth and length towards the west with common pasture and easement o f my woods to w hosoever shall have need in free and perpetual alms fo r th e souls o f Earl Henry and of all my ancestors and successors and for my soul . Wherefore I will that the foresaid canons shall hold and possess right to the forenamed land with all aforesaid perpetually o f me and my heirs succeeding to me in perpetuity as freely and quietly , fully and honourably as any religious house i n the whole Kingdom freely holds from any baron and quietly , fully and honourably .

These Witnesses ,

John , Bishop of Dunkeld ; Robert of Be rclay Hugh o f K ale de r;

r n Macbeth , j udge of G o u y ;

Galfrid , Chaplain o f Perth ; f William , Clerk o F o rfar ;

Henry the Chaplain ;

Philip Unieth James o f Perth ;

Andrew and William , brethren of the same ;

Galfrid f , son o Martin ;

34 C H ARTER BY ALE"ANDER I I

David and Henry , his sons ;

Walter o f Saint Edmund , and many others .

'

Lit er E ecleszae de S cone.

D ate between 1163 and 1199 .

OF CONFIRMATION O F K ING ALE"ANDER I I . A GRANT

TO WALTER S ON OF ALAN O F LAND WHICH

SWAINE S ON OF THOR MADE

Alexander by the grace of Go d King of Scots to all prudent men of his whole land Clerics and laics , Greeting , know ye present and future I have granted and by this my Charter to have co n firmed that Grant which Walter son of Alan made to G od and the Church o f the Holy Trinity and Saint Michael of Scone and the Canons serving o r

of that Shall serve God there , that whole land which

so n o f o f Swaine Thor , Grandfather the said Walter gave to the said canons in Tibbe rmuir by the divisions contained in the Confirmation of the same t o Walter and o f that toft belonging to the Gold

to smith with other tofts next adjacent the same , by the divisions contained in the same Confirmation and o f a certain land above the well which is called the King ’s Well by the divisions contained in the

o f fi shin s f said Confirmation and certain g o Carnies . Holding in pure and perpetual alms with common pasture and easement of wood of the same o f Walter and the rest of the common easements of Tibbe rmuir 3 5 THE RUTHVEN FAMI LY PAPE RS as freely and quietly fully and in peace as the confirmation made by the same Walter to the same

v . Canons testifies "saving] my ser ice Witnesses , William o f Bosebo ;

Chancellor William Comyn .

' ’

Lit er E celeszae ae S cone .

a 2 D ate hetween 12 14 nd 1 45 .

C B K F G . O CHUR H PATRONA E , R UTHVEN CHARTER OO

N OLM 12 I CHC , 39

The year of the Lord one thousand two hundred thirty - nine before a venerable father Otho by

God o f the grace of , Dean St Nicholas in Carcere T ulii Cardinal and Legate of the Apostolic See a Controversy having been moved between Sir Gal frid Bishop o f Dunkeld and the Chapter of the place thereof on the one part and Me rleswan so n

o f of Walden on the other part , upon the right patronage of the Church of Fitchill at length after many altercations his parts were subjected by the licence of the foresaid Legate t o the ordination o f discreet men Sir Clement B ishop of Dunblane

o f and Peter of Ramsay and Peter Castle , Theo

of f dore precentor Dunkeld , and William o Cun ingham , which four for the good of peace and disposed by God were ordained diligently to inquire into the truth according to the consciences of the parties , in this manner viz . : that the right of

36 I NCHCOLM C H ARTER patronage of the Kirk of Fitchill with the pertinents may remain to the said Merleswan and his heirs in

Me rleswan perpetuity , the said for himself and his heirs may grant the said Kirk of Fit chill to a pre bendar in the Kirk of Dunkeld after the cession o r decease o f Master John of Everley rector of the

Merleswan said Kirk . To which prebend the said and his heirs for the time Shall present a fit person o f the Canons to the Bishop of Dunkeld ; which Canon each year after the cession or decease of the foresaid John shall give to the Community of the Kirk of Dunkeld ten merks for the well being o f the Bishops . Moreover they ordained that Master John of Everley from his right of patronage o f the

Fitchill fo r Church of his whole time , Shall have f l his presentation o the said Me r eswan. To this all f fi Shall faithfully observe each part o the de media .

The Bishop for himself , the Dean for himself and

Me rleswan fo r the Chapter , himself and his heirs , under the pain of 1000 merks to be paid to the party serving the said ordinance by the party willing to withdraw ; be obliged himself nevertheless to co n t inue the rate and ferme of the foresaid ordinance .

In testimony o f which thing the foresaid o rdinat o rs appended their seals to the present writing and to another writing of the like tenor also causing the seals o f the parties t o be appended so that each party may have o ne writ fortified by the seals o f the 37 THE RU THVEN FAMILY PAPERS

' o rdinato rs and n t , and the other parties Shall o lightly transgress the foresaid ordinance , the parties subjected themselves fo r ever i n this part to the j urisdiction of the Bishop o f St Andrews S O that he shall be able by ecclesiastical censure to compel the said parties to faithfully Observe all f these things . Done in the year o the Lord one

- thousand two hundred thirty nine . At K e t ho n before these Witnesses f Malcolm , Earl o Fife ;

S e nescallus Walter , the Steward , , Justiciar o f Scotland ; A Hugh , bbot of Culross Laurence o f Abernethy ;

Malcolm of Le v e naho use ; Walter o f Ruthven ;

o f Nicholas Sules , and many others .

CONFIRMATION CHARTER OF S I R WALTER S ON OF

ALAN BY WILLIAM O F R OTHVEN OF LAND OF

TI BBE RMUI R AND FI SHING S OF CAI RNI E S

To all the faithful in Christ who Shall see o r hear this present writing William o f R ot hv e n Lord I W C HARTER BY S R M. RUTHVEN

Church o f the Holy Trinity and Saint Michael of Scone and the Canons serving o r that Shall serve

G o d ' there of which the tenor is thus To all the sons of Holy Mother Church Walter so n o f Alan greeting Wit ye me to have granted and by this my Charter to have Confirmed t o God and the Church of the Holy Trinity and Saint Michael o f Scone and the Canons serving or that Shall serve

so n f God there , that whole land which Swaine o Thor my Grandfather gave to them in T ube rmo re by these divisions to wit from the King ’s well which is upon the street which comes from Perth and lies i n the foresaid town , with the toft that belonged to the Goldsmith and the other tofts con t i uo us g and adjacent in the east part of the town , and as far as a certain dyke that is between the foresaid toft and the Church and so by the Dyke and so towards the north as far as the way which comes from the foresaid Church and tends towards the east as far as i n the ford of Lo che ly n "and so by Lo che ly n] towards the east and middle along t o the burn that descends from the foresaid King ’s well with a certain land above the foresaid well which lies o n the south part o f the street which comes from Perth as far as t o the Wood o f Aber d algie and so towards the west as far as to the land o f T the Kirk of ube rmo re . The Abbot and Canons truly quitclaim their whole claim that they may

39 THE RUTHVEN FAM ILY PAPERS have in the land which lies on the north part of the way which comes from the Church and tends to the foresaid ford of Loche ly n for the good o f peace to me and my heirs in perpetuity . I grant also to them and their men dwelling upon the foresaid land the common pasture and easement of my woods and the rest o f the common easements whenever they

Shall have necessity , with my men of T ube rmore in free pure and perpetual alms for my soul and o f all my ancestors and successors and all the fore saids I grant to God and the foresaid Canons as freely and quietly , fully and honourably as any baron in the whole Kingdom of Scotland is able to freely quietly and fully give o r grant to any other Religious (house)by way of Alms and likewise I grant to them the fi shings of Cairnes as testified in the Charter of my foresaid Grandfather . These

Witnesses Gilbert , Earl of Strathearn Lord Robert , his son Roger of Mortimer ; Galfrid of I nv e rtun

, f o f M r glas Sheri f of Perth ; Duncan , son o g rund ;

Reginald of Waren ; Malise , Steward o f the Earl

Olifard Gilbert of Strathearn ; Adam Brice , person o f

G ; Un neth ref Richard y ; Walter , son o f Swaine ;

, o f i Henry son of Alan , son Swa ne ; Isaac , son o f

Samuel , and many others . And because the seal o f the foresaid late Sir Walter my father appended to foresaid Charter by hostile malevolence was torn away broken and entirely slipped o ff and carried

40

THE RUT HVEN FAMILY PAPERS

so n of Symon , Adam ; Lening Mars ;

o f Ucht red . Maurice , son , and many others

2 0 D ate bef ore 1 4 .

R UTHV H RT R OO K OF I NCHCOLM 1 62 EN C A E , B , 3

To all to whom the present letter shall come William of Ruthven Lord thereof greeting in the

t o Lord everlasting . Be it known all that I have ratified confirmed and by this my present charter perpetually have approved that gift which Swaine son o f Thor my predecessor made and Walter son of Alan so n o f Swaine confirmed to God and the Monastery of the Isle o f Saint Columba and the Canons serving and who shall in future

of Tibbe rmo re . o f serve God there , that toft at viz the whole land between the boundary of the Bishop and the toft of Gilchrist Mac Mal in the south part o f f the foresaid town , and o the whole land which of my wood next to the said toft they shall be able to root out to the breadth o f the same along to the other division of the Bishop by the middle way which leads to the wood in the East and West Hold ing and having to the said Canons in pure and perpetual alms with common pasture o f the said town and with all liberties , commodities , easements ,

42 V C HARTE R BY SI R W M. RUTH EN

be rights , customs and other universal pertinents longing and that Shall in any manner of way be able to belong to the said land i n time coming as freely quietly fully and honourably from all service o f horsemanship and exercise and other exac tions whatsoever as any alms within the kingdom

f t o o Scotland shall be able hold freely , quietly fully and honorably , and also as is contained and reported in the said Charters o f Swaine and

of Walter , In testimony which thing my seal is appended to the present Charter and fo r the greater evidence of the thing I have procured the seal o f a reverend father in Christ , the Lord John by the grace of God Bishop Dunkeld , to be appended . Dated at Dunkeld the twenty- fi ft h day o f the month o f o f ne July , the year the Lord o thousand three

- hundred Sixty second . Witnesses , The Lord Bishop o f Dunkeld ;

Robert Kens , Dean ;

Um h r Andrew p y , precentor John Reid Canons o f the said

William D algarnock Kirk Of Dunkeld ;

o f Maurice Ruthven , my Cousin , and many

others .

43 C H APT E R I I I

L C FRI R S G R E L R R H E AND THE I G B A K A A D N , O D UT V N K N S E COND LORD RUTHVE N AND THE PROVOSTSHIP — E E ALE "ANDE R RUTHVE N OF FR LAND PATRICK , THIRD — WI I R E LORD RUTHVE N LL AM , FOURTH LO D RUTHV N , — SH E RIFF OF PE RTH COMMEND ATORS HI P OF SCONE — — ABBE Y QU E E N MARY AND LORD RUTHVE N E ARLDOM — — OF GOWRIE RAID OF RUTHVE N C OMMENDATORS HI P — O F S CONE IN FAVOU R OF THIRD E ARL CHARTE R BY — A E I OF THE BBE Y E O F JAM E S W. ND T NDS A AR L — ’ GOWRIE NAR RATIVE MR S RUTHVE N - STUART S G E NEA LOGICAL TR E E

WHAT was called the King ’s Garden at Perth was

V . o f in the reign of James , i n the possession the

Blackfriars , and by them kept in repair . In July

1 f 53 5 , i n the lifetime o William , second Lord

o f Ruthven , a number men broke down the fences , ~ and entering the Gilten Arbor hastily built at each

f r end O it a butt o bowmark . Next morning the friars made a great outcry and complai ned to the

King . A letter was thereupon addressed by the ff f King to William , Lord Ruthven , Sheri o the “ County , requesting him to d o j ustice to the Blackfriars in opposition to the Magistrates and

who Council , had taken illegal possession o f certain

44 PROVOS T S H I P OF PERTH crofts and pieces o f land near the Blackfriars Monastery ; and thrown down and destroyed part Of

bowmarks the enclosures , and erected butts and in the lands of the Gilten Arbor ; had taken possession

r thereof , no paid them the damage and Skaith they

so . had sustained , unless now compelled to do The prior and friars protested that they had been

’ refused a copy o f t he King s letter t o Lord

Ruthven . The King eventually reversed the order be had given to his lordship , and appointed

f I nchmart ine Patrick Ogilvy o and Edmond Hay ,

of Chamberlain Errol , to be j udges i n the dispute , and ordered them to exercise the office o f Sheriff . The King afterwards ordered the Corporation to pay the damage and to cease troubling the friars in all time coming .

“ 1 I n 544 the Regent , James Hamilton , Earl of

Arran , at the instigation of Cardinal Beton , turned

o ut of o f Lord Ruthven the Provostship Perth , and

o f put in his place John Charteris Kinfauns , a leading Catholic . The citizens resented this and a quarrel ensued . Charteris , assisted by Lord Gray , came with an armed force and attacked the town from the bridge ; while another division came by the river and attacked the south port . At the bridge port the drawbridge was up , and the iron

of bound gates the town were barred and bolted . Lord Ruthven had withdrawn his guards from the 45 THE RUTHVEN FAM I LY PAPERS bridge into the neighbouring houses and lanes . un Lord Gray fell into the snare , and marched

immedi molested into the town . Lord Ruthven ately sallied o ut , gave battle and defeated him ; his soldiers taking to flight ; while Sixty are said to

o n 2 2 nd have been slain . This Skirmish took place

1 re - July 544, and established Lord Ruthven and his party in power .

Alexand er o Free land so n f , youngest of the

’ R iccio s second Lord , was charged with murder and denounced a rebel . He had a charter from his

o f nephew , William , Earl Gowrie , of the half lands

f r ev iot th 1 8 . o Fo t , which was confirmed 4 August 5 5

h 1 He died 9t October 599 , having married Eliza f beth , daughter of Sir William Moncrie f , leaving issue , William Ruthven of Freeland , who died in

1608 . He married Isabella Fotheringham , and had issue , Sir Thomas , created by Charles I I . Lord

. f Ruthven Of Freeland Lilias , daughter o the second Lord Ruthven , who married David , Lord

S to bhall th 1 Drummond , died at , 7 July 5 79 , and was interred beside her husband in the kirk of Inner p e ffre y . Her testament was recorded z ud March

1580 . Catherine married Colin Campbell o f Glen

1 6 f orchy ; Cecilia married , in 5 5 , David Wemyss o t Wemyss , for which marriage a dispensation had o be obtained . He died 8 th July 1589 ; Barbara

1 6 r married , in 55 , Patrick , Lord Grey ; Janet o 46 RUTHVEN GENEAL O GY

1 o f S t rat hord Jean married , in 544, John Crichton ;

S he secondly , Lawrence Mercer of Meikleour ; died

1 1 593 Margaret married , in 549 , James Johnstone o f Elphinstone ; Christian married William Lundin o f Lundin .

P atrick third Lord R uthv en was , , born about

1 2 0 . was 5 , and educated at St Andrews He prin cip al actor at the murder o f Riccio . After the murder he abandoned Darnley and fled to Eng

1 t h 1 66 . land , dying at Newcastle , 3 June 5 He

n 8 1 6 married , first , o th August 54 , Janet Douglas , f natural daughter o Archibald , Earl Of Angus , by a

o f o f daughter Stewart Traquair , to whom Angus was betrothed before his marriage with Margaret Tudor ,

1 the Queen Dowager ; secondly , i n 55 7, he married

o f Janet Stewart , Lady Methuen , eldest daughter

o f . John Stewart , second Earl Atholl She married ,

o f first , Alexander , Master Sutherland ; second ,

o f Sir Hugh Kennedy Girvan Mains ; thirdly , fi Henry Stewart , rst Lord Methven , third husband o f Queen Margaret .

P atrick third Lord R uthv en , , had issue Patrick ,

o f Master Ruthven , a party to the contract of marriage with Patrick , Lord Grey , and his aunt ,

1 1 Barbara Ruthven , 4th January 557 . She died

1 6 some time afterwards , before 5 5 , when his f brother is Styled Master o Ruthven . He married

of w Maria , daughter Patrick , fourth Lord Grey , ho 47 THE RUT HVEN FAM ILY PAPERS

survived him , and married , secondly , Patrick

o f I nchmartine . Ogilvie William , fourth Lord

wh . Ruthven , o succeeded his father George , tutor to Lord Ruthven , precentor of Dunkeld ; killed th along with the Regent Lennox , at Stirling , 4

1 1. September 5 7 Archibald of Forteviot , styled

Master of Ruthven , General in the Swedish Service , recommended to King John of Sweden by the

1 2 Regent Mar , 5 7 ; because interested in a plot to

"I V . release the imprisoned King Eric , was arrested and imprisoned , but his life spared at the intercession of James V I . He had a natural daughter named Lilias . James , precentor of Dun

f . keld , succeeded his brother in that o fice He received a charter of an an nual rent out of the lands

f Hill land o y from his brother William , Earl of

1 8 2 . 1 Gowrie , 9th June 5 He is mentioned in 553 , so cannot have been a son of his father ’s second

1 . marriage . He lived till after 599 Alexander ,

1 86 pensioner of the Bishopric of R OSS , 5 ; left an

o f only daughter , Cecilia , married to Francis , son

Patrick Bruce of Fingask Jean , daughter

t o of the third Lord , married first Henry ,

s n second Lord Methven , o of the stepmother

rd 1 1 who died 3 March 57 ; second , to Andrew , fifth Earl o f Rothes ; she died September

159 1 testament recorded 2 6th October 1594.

z l st 1 0 Isabel , married August 57 to James , first

48

LORD RUTHV E N

’ F rom D r win h Bul nch in t he K in s Clar a a g y lfi , g L ORD RU TH VEN AND S C ONE

Lord Colville of Culross natural son , James , men t io ned in 1578 .

1 o f v In 560 William , Master Ruth en , acquired

f of from the Abbey o Scone and Patrick , Bishop

Moray , commendator thereof , certain lands , parks , woods and fi shings in the regality of Scone and

Sheriffdom of Perth . This agreement was signed o n 6t h September 1560 by William Ruthven and

his father , Patrick , Lord Ruthven , i n presence of

o f Tullibardine Patrick Murray , Henry Ruthven and others The Ruthven family had a resi

1 dence in Scone in 593 , i n the lifetime of John ,

third Earl of Gowrie , from which it may be pre

sumed that they had restored the ancient palace ,

which was burned down at the Reformation . At this date the Ruthven family were proprietors o f

Scone , and a charter , i n their favour , by the Abbey o f Scone is recorded in 1569 as follows Charter

of by the commendator and convent Scone , creat ff f ing William , Lord Ruthven , Sheri o Perth , and

his heirs , heritable bailies and j usticiaries ; all and sundry the teinds and possessions Of the Lordship

o f and regality Scone , with power o f levying

escheats , repledging etc . and giving £ 100 of bailie

o f 6th 1 fee , containing precept sasine , April 569 To all by whom this Charter may be seen or

o f heard Patrick Bishop Moray , perpetual com me ndator o f the Monastery of Scone ; for grateful D 49 THE RUTHVEN FAMILY PAPERS actions and help and counsel t o us ; by a noble and

f o f potent Lord , William , Lord Ruthven Sheri f

Perth , make , constitute etc . the said noble Lord

o ur . his heirs , male , true , lawful , undoubted etc ,

o f bailies and heritable j usticiaries , all and Singular f the lands possessions etc . o the Lordship and regality o f Scone ; giving him power to hold courts o f Bailiary and j usticiaries ; to levy escheats e tc .

Signed by Patrick , Bishop of Moray , and by the

- Prior and Sub Prior o f the Monastery of Scone .

I 1 6 On st July 5 5 , Queen Mary , who was residing at Perth had promised to pay a visit t o Lord

Livingstone , Callender House , in order to act as godmother at the baptism of his child . This e n

a e me nt g g became known , and Moray , Argyll , and

Rothes , who headed a rebellion , with the approval o f Queen Elizabeth , arranged to have followers ready to seize the Queen at the Pass o f D ron o n her way to Callender House . The Queen was f D whill advised of this by Lindsay o o , the night

S he n before , and immediately called o the Earl of f Atholl and Lord Ruthven , who was Provost o

Perth , to come to her assistance . These two nobles forthwith raised three hundred horsemen , fully armed , and with this escort the journey to Callender

House next morning was safely accomplished , the

A. M escort starting at five . Two hours later Moray and Argyll were o n the road to find that the Queen

5 0 CREATI ON O F EARL O F GOWRI E

fo r had been to o many them , and by her swift move ments their mischievous plot fell through .

ll ourth Lord R uthv en Wi iam, f , and first Earl of

. Gowrie , succeeded his father , the third Lord He was engaged in the conspiracy against Riccio , and after his murder fled to England . He made peace and returned to Scotland , when he supported James

ne f V I . He was o o those who waited on the Queen at Loch Leven and by threats got her Signature to her abdication o f the crown . He was present at

o f the coronation James , and was made Lord

o f fo r 2 th 1 1 Treasurer Scotland life , 4 June 5 7 , and

f 2 t h an Extraordinary Lord o Session , 5 November

1 8 . V . o f 5 7 He was , by James I , created Earl

z rd 1 8 1 Gowrie by patent , 3 August 5 , when the Earldom o f Gowrie was erected o ut o f the lands o f t he monks o f Scone and limited to heirs male o f his t body , whom failing o the heirs male bearing the name and arms o f Ruthven . This charter was

2 th 1 8 1. ratified by Parliament , 9 November 5

o f f William , Earl Gowrie , Lord Ruthven o Dirleton had a charter o f the lordship of Abernethy

1 1 in Perthshire , 4th December 5 8 1. He was the principal actor i n that notable conspiracy to seize

King James V I . and take him out o f the hands Of

o f the Duke Lennox and the Earl Of Arran . This

o f o f 2 r was the Raid Ruthven 3 d August 158 2 . The K ing being in the p o wer of the conspirators

5 1 THE RUTHVEN FAMILY PAPERS

they obliged him to grant them a remission , and

o f they procured from the Assembly the Church ,

1 8 2 3 rd October 5 , an Act declaring that they had

done good and acceptable service to God , to their

Sovereign , and to the nation , requiring all sincere Protestants to concur with them in carrying forward

such a laudable enterprise . A Convention of the Estates assembled on the 13 th o f that month and passed an Act to the same effect and granted full indemnity to the conspirators

fo r everything they had done .

o f Ruthven had a charter a house at Holyrood ,

3 rd November 158 2 . The following year the King t escaped o u of their hands , but , visiting the Earl of

Gowrie at Ruthven Castle , he granted Gowrie a full

pardon . A Convention o f the Estates being held declared

o f those concerned in this Raid Ruthven to, have

o f a been guilty high treason , ordered the Act p

o f e n proving this conduct to be cancelled , and gaged the support of the King in prosecuting them

o f . n twith with the utmost rigour law Gowrie , o

1 standing the pardon he had received , was in 5 84

commanded to leave Scotland and reside in France . While he waited at Dundee for an opportunity to embark he was informed that the Earls of Angus and Mar had concocted a scheme for surprising

Stirling Castle . Gowrie concurred with them , and

5 2 C OMMEN’DATOR OF S C ONE delayed his voyage S O as to take up arms o n the day fixed . This awakened suspicion and Arran arrested him after a heroic struggle . He was tried fo r high treason and executed at Stirling between eight and nine o n the evening o f the same day . On “ the scaffold he said ° If I had served God as faithfully as I served the King I would not have ” come to this end . He died patiently , with every

’ assurance of mercy in God s hands .

t h 1 8 0 On 7 May 5 , John , afterwards third Earl of

C o mme n Gowrie , was by Royal Charter created dator o f the Monastery and Abbey of Scone as follows

Charter under the Great Seal , creating John

o f Ruthven , lawful son William , Lord Ruthven , f treasurer , perpetual Commendator o the Monastery

o f and Abbey Scone , giving to him the be nefi ce o f the same , with all and sundry lands , lordships , baronies , teinds , and others , as well spiritualities as

o f h l temporalities , the same , w ich of O d belonged thereto , with right and privilege of , and free regality during all the days o f his lifetime ; fallen into His Majesty ’s hands by the decease and for fe it ure o f Patrick , Bishop of Moray , the Co mme n dator thereof

James by the grace of God e tc . To all men to whom these presents shall come etc . Be it known

5 3 THE RU THVEN FAM I LY PAPERS

. o ur that because we have made , constituted etc l v ite of o ur o John Ruthven , lawful son chosen and faithful cousin and Councillor , William , Lord

ur o f Ruthven , o Treasurer , perpetual Commendator f the Monastery and Abbey o Scone ; giving , grant

be nefi ce o f ing and providing to him , the the same ; with all and Singular the lands , lordships , baronies , castles , towers , fortalices , palaces , monasteries , manor places , etc . , as well Spiritual as temporal , f r o all the payments in use to be made to , and

fo r pertaining to , the said abbey , all the days and f term of his life , o the said John Ruthven , whether v acant and in o ur hands . by the decease o r fo r fe it ure o f Patrick Bishop of Moray , Commendator o f the Monastery ; holden and having the said

Abbey , with the lands , Lordships , places , teinds ,

o n teind sheaves , and others with power to let long

rant ed ' to and Short leases , and to reduce those g the

o f o r said Patrick Bishop Moray , his predecessors , against the laws and statutes ; with power also to the said Commendator o f giving and disposing o f

be nefi ce s all the , chapels , prebendaries , and altar f ages , which to the donation o the said abbey ” pertained etc .

There is also a charter o f 1sth October 158 1 by

V I . e tc . James , who , understanding that the teinds , , f lately belonging to the monastery o Scone , per

5 4

THE RUTH VEN FAMI LY PAPERS

of Earl of Gowrie ; John , third Earl Gowrie ; Alex

of 2 2 nd ander , Master Gowrie , born at Perth , January 158 1 ; killed along with his brother at

Gowrie House in 1600 ; William Ruthven , who ’ w at his brother s death fled to England , ith his

brother , Patrick , and was there sheltered by Queen

Elizabeth . On her death a proclamation was issued

2 th 160 V . against them , 7 April 3 , by James I

William became a chemist and philosopher , and is

of of who probably that brother the Earl Gowrie ,

according to Bishop B urnet , died beyond the sea ,

o f o ut and whom it was given , he had the philos

’ he r s . . . op stone Patrick Ruthven , M D , styled

’ Lord Ruthven , on the King s proclamation , was f arrested and conveyed to the Tower o London ,

160 . June 3 , and imprisoned there nineteen years

’ Patrick s son petitioned Oliver Cromwell fo r

o f o f the Restoration the Barony Ruthven , which he alleged had been restored to his father by the

16 1 o r Scottish Parliament of 4 ; , if this refused , t o grant him such subsistence as may not altogether

misbecome the quality of a gentleman . The peti tion was referred to the Council o f 3 rd November

16 6 . 5 His first wife was Sarah Head . He

’ I n the no - ea co e o f the c o o f St o n rth st rn r h ir J h s Church , P e was the bur - ace o f th G o e e s. W m fi rth , ying pl wri illia , rst E a was e d e e and a o e d rl, int rre th r , ls his thr e so ns , the s eco n and d E a s and A e a d er Ru thir rl , l x n thve n, last t wo of wh o m u us suffe ed o en d a nj tly r vi l t e ths . 56 RUTHVEN GENEAL OGY

married , secondly , Jean Macdonnell , of the county

th 166 o f Ross , Scotland , 9 September 7, a widow

- aged forty two . Robert , his brother , was in a very poor and lamentable condition , as mentioned in the petition .

f o f The daughters o Patrick , fifth son the fourth

: o ne o f o f Lord , were Elizabeth ; Mary , the Maids

Honour t o Queen Henrietta Maria , married first V Sir Antony andyck , who painted two portraits o f o ne her , of which is in the Munich

t h 16 1 Gallery . He died 9 December 4 , and

S he o f married , secondly , Si r Richard Pryse

16 1. County Cardigan , who died 5 By her first

o ne ustinia husband she had child , J , born , and ’ th baptised at St Anne s , Blackfriars , 9 October

1641. This child married Sir John Stepney of

168 1 re re Prendergast , who died , and left issue , p

186 G ulst o ne sented in 7 by Alexander James , and

- co . Colonel Stepney Cowell , as heirs

o f f Mary , daughter William , first Earl o

1 80 Gowrie , was married at Perth , 5 , to John ,

of 1 6 fifth Earl Atholl ; secondly , in 59 , to

John Stewart , sixth Earl of Atholl , Lord In ner

1 1 meath ; thirdly , before 3 oth December 6 3 , to John

of Stewart , son James Stewart , Master of Buchan ;

12 th 1 Margaret , married , December 593 , the Earl of

fi udo v ic o f Montrose ; Sophia , married , Duke

1 2 1 8 8 Lennox , and died before 59 Jean , married , 5 , S7 THE RUTHVEN FAMILY PAPERS

o f S he 6th James , Lord Ogilvy Airlie ; died January

16 11 o r Elizabeth Isabel , married , first , Sir Robert Gordon o f Lochinver ; the marriage was not a happy one , and is referred to in the Privy Council

160 S he Records . In 7 was ordained to reside in b Edin urgh , free from the keeping of her husband ,

1 S he and i n 608 they were divorced ; married , secondly , George , first Lord Loudoun . Beatrix , f with her Sister Lilias , were O fered as brides to

Alexande r sixt h who t Lord Home , by their father ,

o f was his curator , but he did not marry either them . She was , with her Sister , a Lady of the Bed chamber to Queen Anne (o f Denmark) and was married in 1608 to Sir John Hume o f Cowden

S he and knowes , whom survived , was known as

Lady C o usland . Lilias died apparently before her father , who at his death left thirteen Children .

m 1 f Dorothea arried , in 609 , John Wemyss o Pitten

f . o f c crie f Barbara , at the time the conspira y , was f ’ f o ne o Queen An ne s Maids o Honour . A warrant fo r 2 th 1 her apprehension was issued , 7 April 603 ; but i n September o f that year she received a pension

2 00 of £ per annum , as She had Shown no malicious

' disposition . About 16 19 she petitioned fo r five

’ r years pension to pay her debts , o prefer her in

S h . marriage , upon which e would go to Scotland

162 nd She died i n 5 , E was interred at Greenwich , 2 th 9 December of that year . James , second Earl of

58 T HREE RUTHVEN BRANC HE S

n Gowrie , the eldest son , was baptised o 25th September 15 75 ; was restored to his estates and

1 86 manors , 5 , his mother being tutrix , and obtained

1 8 1 88 ratification of the Earldom , 5 7 ; he died in 5 in

was his fourteenth year , and succeeded by his brother John . There are now three distinct branches of this once great family claiming descent from the main

. n o f o f branch Lord Ruthve Freeland , a creation

I I . 16 1 Charles , 5 , is descended from Alexander ,

fifth so n o f the second Lord Ruthven (o ld creation).

o ut The male line has twice died , and the title been taken , in the first instance , by the youngest sister o f o f David , the second Lord Freeland ; then by his

o f niece ; and , in the second instance , by a Sister

18 — James , Lord Ruthven , who died i n 53 namely , the Baroness Mary Elizabeth Thornton Ruthven .

Har e rst own This lady married Walter Hore of p ,

C o . Wexford , Ireland ; and the present holder of

- the title , Walter James Hore Ruthven , succeeded the Baroness , his grandmother . The patent is un recorded , and its precise terms are unknown , as it

1 1 0 was lost by fire , 4th March 75 , when Freeland

House was burned . Burke , an eminent authority , says that “ collateral proofs exist that heirs female ” were not excluded . A branch o f the Ruthv en family descended from

so n o f John , second the first Lord Ruthven (o ld 59

EARL O F GOWRIE ’S SUCCES S I ON

re re creation), is found in Ireland . Its present p se ntativ e resides in Australia . Alexander Ruthven ,

- f of a great grandson o John , and third cousin John ,

f of third Earl o Gowrie , fled at the time the down fall o f the family in 1600 . His lands were given by the King to Sir Thomas Erskine , afterwards created

f 1 2 Earl o Kelso . In 60 he escaped into England , and having married one o f the Trotter family (in the Merse) he took that name and settled i n Durham , where he purchased lands . His grandson , John , went over to Ireland , where his descendants have been ever Since . His descendant ,

1 a Edward Southwell Ruthven , born 773 , received Royal Licence o n 16th June 180 1 to the effect that he and his issue might assume and take the sur

of . name Ruthven only , as borne by their ancestors There is another branch of the Ruthvens claim ing descent from John , third Earl of Gowrie . The following narrative is from a document in the p os session Of a member of the family

o f A. D t h At the death the Earl of Gowrie , . 5

1600 August , the nurse disappeared in the co n

so n o f fusion with the infant the Earl , and after some time , ventured to proceed to a captain of the army , telling him the tragical circumstances , and f o fered her services , if he would undertake to protect the child . This the captain at once agreed to do .

6 1 THE RUT HVEN FAMI LY PAPE RS

o wn He brought the youth up in his family , he educated him , and the youth eventually married a

’ relation of the captain s . It is not known what the

’ o f captain s name was , nor are any the circum stances distinctly known otherwise than by tradi

o ld of tion , but there is an lady the name of Dick — — in Kilmarnock at this time 1843 who is a deseen

’ o f dant the captai n s , and well versed in the cir

‘ cumstance s and e ne alo o f g gy young Ruthven , The ” He ir who was , now obliged to reside in comparative obscurity , his name being prohibited and estates f confiscated . He is represented as being o an exceedingly amiable temperament , and an excellent

. o ne musician (He left issue , son , John Ruthven , who it is supposed was a professor of music and a composer o f some talent . )

- n f Then follows John Ruthven , great gra dson o f o . John , third Earl Gowrie He was married to

Pae die 1 1 Marion at Eastwood Parish Church in 7 7,

1 2 - fi v e and died in 73 , aged forty , and was interred in

o f the crypt Glasgow Cathedral . His two elder sons ,

e . both named John , have no d scendants The first

y n son , John , died i n infanc , the second so , John , married Mary Henderson , and had several children , all of them dying young , save o ne daughter ,

who Margaret , died unmarried in 18 17 ; but his

1 2 tw third son , James , born in 7 5 , had o sons ,

62

THE RUTHVEN FAM ILY PAPER S

” and thought upon the work , says , in a concluding paragraph , that the lady whom it was proposed the Earl Should eventually marry was in reality the

a of o f L dy Margaret Douglas , daughter the Earl

Angus , but that there were rumours current , both

’ o f before and after the Earl s death , another more powerful but secret attachment , which might prob f ably have frustrated the views o friends , under the ” influence of a stranger power . b This ranch of the Ruthven family , claiming

o f direct descent from John , third Earl Gowrie , has always used the Gowrie crest . (An o ld seal belong ing to them is reproduced here . )

The issue raised by this narrative from the

o f ne archives o . of the members o f the Ruthven

family , and the direct reference to it practically

confirming it , by that eminent novelist , G . P . R .

’ James , seems to take away one s breath for the

moment . The bona fid e manner in which the sub ject is presented to us fully entitles it to respectful

consideration . 64 G E NE RAL PATRI C K RUTHV E N (AFTE RWARD S E ARL OF FORTH AND BR E NTFORD )

F rom the P ortr it in the I m eri l Ill usenm S t ockholm a p a ,

O H O F GO ’S SON J N , EARL WRIE

We d o not think anyone will call it in question o r challenge it for the very good reason that there

' is nothing to l can upon save the baseless fabric ” of a vision . The general consensus of public Opinion will undoubtedly take the other view and accept the narrative , a narrative which should have

in retentis been made public long ago , but kept by the family , whose attention we may presume was t oo much involved in the downright robbery and confiscation of their estates t o warrant their putting this matter before the public .

In short , the Ruthven Papers , with all their important details , civic as well as historical , have n w never till o been published , although the sub ject matter is three centuries old . There is nothing in the least unlikely i n a son being born to John , in third Earl o f Gowrie . It is the most likely thing f the world . The di ficulty is to prove the marriage , and to define whether the so n so born to the Earl

o r . It was , was not , legitimate is a fact that the main branch o f the family of which the Earl of Gowrie was head has gone o n through all these centuries multiplying and branching o ut . What a noble history , and what an ancient national history

o f is that the Ruthven family , from its inception in the twelfth century , to the beginning of the seven t ee nt h o f , when the downfall the family was heralded by a weak , but cunning and tyrannical , E 65 THE RUTH VEN FAM I LY PAPERS f monarch . The assassination o the Gowries was the most indefensible act that has ever appeared o n the

o f e pages Scottish history , and its fraudul nt and treacherous and false record , carefully and deliber ately recorded i n the Privy Council Register , the Acts of the Scottish Parliament and other Official

f o f publications o the Crown , seem as a chapter fraud and perj ury to deliberate upon , a chapter from which we cannot exclude the Scottish Parliament o f f that period o the guilt attaching to its members , and as more o r less actors and abettors in a cunning conspiracy that has disgraced the historical record for more than three hundred years .

NOTE — i D L Sir Col n Campbell , third son of uncan , first ord

Campbell , obtained Glenorchy and other possessions in the barony of L 1 2 1 . 8 . ochow in 43 Sir Colin died before June 47 His son , Sir n M E A Coli , married arjory Stewart , daughter of John , arl of tholl ,

1 2 s : 1 D 1 6 2 and died in 5 3 , leaving three ons ( ) uncan , died 53 ; ( )John , 1 0 died 55 ; (3) Colin, who married , as a second wife , Katherine ,

L 1 . daughter of William , second ord Ruthven , and died in 583 John b succeeded his elder rother, and Colin succeeded John . C H A PT E R IV

—“ L R R E S E RLS O F F R H P RIC KA E NDA , UTHV N A O T AT K

—“ R E E R L OF F R C MM E R O F T HE UTHV N , A O TH O AND

C C L — B E S O F E E I NE W FOR E S TO HARLE S ATTL DG H LL ,

— - B RY A D B E F PP I E I E . G E E U , N R NT OR D A O NT D L UT N RAL — O F SCOTLAND KALE NDAR O F THE RUTHVE NS O F FRE E — — —r E B E E I BE B E S S LAND J AN , ARON S S RUTHV N SO L , ARON E — M E S I F A D FIF H RUTHV N JA , TH RD , OU RTH N T LOR DS RUTHVE N BARONE S S MARY E LI Z ABE TH WALTE R

E S E S I" E JAM HOR , TH LORD RUTHV N

K ALE N DAR O F T HE RU T HVEN S

E A R LS OF FO R T H AN D EAR LS OF BR E N TFOR D

152 1- 1664

NAM E PE RIOD DI E D

Ballindean William Ruthven of , son of the first Lord R uthven R Sir William uthven , his son R m William uthven , son of Sir Willia i Patrick , second son of Sir Will am , Earl of Forth and Earl of Brent

- . E 1 ford Created arl of Forth , 634 165 1 16 2 E 4 , and arl of Brentford , 1 644. R Gard ne William uthven of y , grand son Of Sir William

Sir Francis Ruthven of Red Castle , brother of William of Gardyne R n Colonel John uthven of Du glass , son of William of G ardyne

67 THE RUTHVEN FA MILY PAPERS

R UTHV E RL OF FORTH AND E RL OF EN , A A BRENTFORD

f Ballindean so n o f William Ruthven o , William ,

first Lord , by his second marriage , with Chris

of tian Forbes , had a charter in favour himself f f o f part o the lands o Kinnaird , from

t o William , Lord Ruthven , William Ruth

of of ven , his grandson , and holder the Fee

2 1st 1 2 1. Ruthven , August 5 Charters were also granted to William , Lord Ruthven , and Christian ,

- f his spouse , in life rent , and William Ruthven o

Ballindean o f Pit lo ur , their son and heir , Wester

Auchnahar f and y , in the Barony o Strathmiglo in

h 1 2 6 Fife , 4t August 5 , William , Lord Ruthven ,

o f o f - grandfather John , Earl Buchan , in life rent ,

“ Ballindean so n and William Ruthven of , his , i n fee , f and the heirs o his body , whom failing to the said

f o f K ettins Earl of Buchan , o the town in Forfar

2 6th 1 2 8 shire , January 5 ; to William , Lord

f Ballin a Ruthven , and William Ruthven o de n, his so n o f Le e rtlaw 2 6th , the lands g in Perthshire ,

1 2 8 8 March 5 ; Blackball in the same county , th

1 2 8 o f f 1 July 5 , and part the Barony o Lunan , 6th

July 15 2 8 . William Ruthven o f Ballindean re signed all his lands and had a charter t o himself t and heirs male , with remainder o James , Henry , 68

THE RUT H VEN FAMILY PAPERS

Gard ne . 16 1 issue , William Ruthven of y In 4 , in

Ac o f his lifetime , the t against the surname

Ballindean Ruthven was abolished , as far as the family were concerned William Ruthven of

Gard ne 166 y died i n 4, leaving two sons , Patrick ,

fi ar f ard ne . o G y , and Captain John Ruthven Sir

o f Francis Ruthven Carse , knight , entered the

of ] . Swedish service , and was Governor Meme He

16 o f . afterwards , i n 39 , entered the service Charles I

Gard ne His brother , William Ruthven of y , was

f 16 . retoured to him as heir o conquest , 5 5 Colonel John Ruthven of Dunglass entered the Swedish service and was commander of a cavalry

16 6 - regiment , 3 , and Major General same year . He

o f I . then entered the service Charles , and died in

16 . 49 He married , first , Jean Ramsay , by whom he had issue , John and Ellen ; secondly , Barbara

o f f Leslie , eldest daughter Alexander , first Earl o

Leven , and had issue , Sir William Ruthven o f Dunglass ; Alexander ; Sir Francis Ruthven o f Red

Castle , who married Elizabeth Ruthven , second

o f f daughter Thomas , first Lord Ruthven o Free land , and had issue .

o f Patrick Ruthven , Earl Forth , was second son o f the first Sir William Ruthven o f Ballindean and

1 Freeland , and was born 5 73 . He served in the

German wars under Gustavus Adolphus , in which he deported himself with such courage that he

70 CAREER OF GENERAL RUTHVEN

o f - attained the rank Lieutenant General , and gained no small honour . When Ulm surrendered to

16 2 Gustavus i n 3 , General Patrick Ruthven was appointed Governor of that important place , and by uncommon vigilance suppressed two co nsp ir acies i n their i nfancy . He was high in favour with Gustavus for two different reasons . He always behaved gallantly in the field ; and when the King

to f wanted regale the Ministers o the adverse party , in order to extract secrets from them i n their cheer

le ld - f ful hours , he made Ruthven F Marshal o the

immeasur Bottles and Glasses , as he could drink ably and preserve his understanding to the last . U lm was chosen for the royal magazine , as well as

o f o f a place retreat in case accident , and was

c n gallantly defended by General Ruthven , in o

o f sideration whose merit and long services , Gustavus gave him a grant o f the Earldom of

1800 . 16 Richberg , worth about £ per annum In 3 7 he was Major- General Ruthven and Governor of

Edinburgh Castle , on his return from Sweden . In

16 o f 3 9 he was created Lord Ruthven Ettrick . He refused to surrender Edinburgh Castle to the Covenanters in 1640 and was fo r this contumacy

o f 16 0 forfeited by Act Parliament i n June 4 , but

1 th stood a Siege till 3 September , and eventually h 1 t 16 . surrendered , 9 September 40 His forfeiture was cancelled by the influence o f General Le slie in

7 1 THE RUTH VEN FAM ILY PAPERS

1 November 641 . The name of Ruthven , forfeited

1600 Ballindean 1 in , was restored to the family , 7th

of November 1641. He was created Earl Forth by

2 th 16 2 letters patent , dated at York , 7 March 4 , with limitation to the heirs male of his body . His lordship joined King Charles I . at Shrewsbury in

16 2 ield - of 4 , and was appointed F Marshal the

f z rd o . forces , and fought at the battle Edgehill , 3

16 2 October 4 , when the Earl of Lindsay , General

’ o f t co m his Majes y s army , being killed , the chief

o n o f mand was conferred the Earl Forth , who was one o f those in whom the King principally con

fi ded . Lord Clarendon draws his character thus Though he had been without doubt a very good Officer and was still a man of unquestionable courage and integrity , yet he was now much de cay ed ; and with the long continued custom o f immoderate drinking , dazed in his understanding , which had been quick and vigorous , he having been always illiterate to the greatest degree . He was now become very deaf yet often pretended to have heard what he did not then contradict , and thought fit afterwards to disclaim . He was a man o f few words and great compliance , and usually delivered that as his Opinion which he foresaw would be grateful to the King . He could j udge better by his eye than his ears and in the Field well

t o knew what was be done . This character is

72 GENERAL RU THVEN W OUN D ED couched in no very favourable terms and the ver

acit . y of it may be doubtful According to Harte , in the Ashmole Collection is a gallant letter from

who Patrick Ruthven , was nineteen years in the

f of Tower o London , to the Earl Northumber

of land , who had traduced the reputation a young gentlewoman whom Ruthven esteemed . It is certain that under the command of the Earl o f

Forth , the military skill displayed by the royal army was never more conspicuous and successful .

He defeated the Parliamentary forces at Brentford ,

1 16 2 5 th November 4 , and was in honour of that victory created a peer o f England by the title o f

o f 2 6t h 16 . Earl Brentford , May 44 The Scottish Parliament passed a decree o f for fe it ure 2 6t h against Patrick , Earl Of Forth , July

16 . o f 2 t h 44 At the second battle Newbury , 7

16 November 44, his lordship was wounded in the d hea , and carried to Donnington Castle , to which the

Parliament sent a traitor called Harry , to persuade him to give it up , which the Earl rejected with the indignation that became him . He continued in the ’ King s service until the end of this war in England ; was one o f those excepted from pardon by the

11t h 16 6 Articles of Westminster , July 4 , which the

King refused to ratify . He was succeeded by

2 6th 16 Prince Rupert , March 45 , and was P made Chamberlain to the rince Of Wales , 73 THE RUTH VEN FAM ILY PAPERS and accompanied King Charles to Scotland in

165 0 . The Scottish Parliament passed an Act restoring

2 0th 16 him against his forfeiture , March 47 ; and his forfeiture was again rescinded after his death by the Parliament o f 166 1 . His lordship died at

rd 16 1 an advanced age , at Dundee , 3 January 5 , when his titles became extinct , and was interred i n

Mo nifi eth Church . The Earl of Forth and Brent

who ford married Clara Barnard , and by her , died

16 — in August 79 , had three daughters Lady

. v Patricia , married to the Hon Sir Thomas Ogil ie ,

I nv e rlo ch 16 slain at the battle of y in 45 , second so n o f of James , first Earl Airlie , without issue ;

Lady Jean , married James , second Lord Forrester , and had issue ; Lady Elspeth , married Major

o f W h tbank George Pringle , brother y , and had issue . According to the new P e erag e he was three times married , and left issue , Alexander , Lord Ettrick , by his second wife ; Patrick , by his third wife ; and three daughters .

f - Shortly after the accession o Charles I I . we have the following charter recorded i n appreciation o f his military services and his distinguished and un

o n o f I wearied exertions behalf the Crown . t was a graceful act on the part o f the King to confer o n the Earl of Forth and Brentford the high honour o f

74 RUTHVEN L IEU TENANT - GENERAL

- Lieutenant General o f Scotland . The charter was i n the foll owing terms

COM MI S SION CONSTITUTING THE EARL OF BRENT

FORD LI UT T— R L OF SCOTL D 16 E ENAN GENE A AN , 49

Charles I I . etc . Whereas divers traitors and seditious persons in our kingdom o f Scotland have fo r some years past and do still continue i n their rebellion against us S O that we must be empowered by armies to reduce them to their due obedience . Wherefore o ut o f o ur special trust and confidence we have and do repose in your acknowledged wis ff dom , fidelity and great ability i n martial a airs ; u do name , constitute and ordain y o and appoint f you , Patrick Earl of Brentford and Earl o Forth , to be Lieutenant- General of our Kingdom o f Scot land under ourselves and under the command o f such adviser as we Shall hereafter constitute and ordain our Lieut . Governor and Captain General thereof : over all such forces both horse and foo t which are already raised and levied within o ur kingdom . Therefore to give y o u power and

o f authority i n case invasion , insurrection o r re bellion and fo r the suppressing and preventing the

o f same , i n the absence the Lieut . Governor and

Captain General of the kingdom , to raise and levy forces during the war : and t o enjoin all and f ffi singular Sheri fs and others , o cials of the various 7S THE RUTHVEN FAM ILY PAPERS counties according to our directions o r those o f the Captain General : or in his absence according as in your discretion you shall think fit , to send such numbers of o ur subjects armed fo r the wars t o such places as by your wisdom and discretion you Shall d require . And we o further give you power and authority to put in readiness the persons so raised and being armed and weaponed to take the musters of them and to conduct and lead by yourself and

o flice rs other against enemies , rebels and traitors , and their adherents attempting anything against us such as o ur Crown and dignity . In case of opposi tion to fight , chase , pursue , kill , slay and put to

' we death according to your discretion , and do further give y o u full power and authority to make laws martial , ordinances and proclamations , for the

o f better government the said forces , to punish all misdemeanours committed under your command and to appoint and assign commanders and officers necessary for the government of the forces to be raised and to divide and disperse them as you shall think fit . Yo u will use all diligence to exercise the powers hereby given y o u. And we command the ff nobility , Sheri s and others o ur subjects and soldiers under your command to be obedient and u submissive to yo r commands at their peril . And y o u yourself to execute and obey such further commands as from time to time you Shall

76

THE RUT HYEN FAM I LY PAPERS

i hie l and at Leo t t in Cornwall , the renowned excel

e o f lenc the Earl blazed forth , in order therefore that i n the case o f a man who has performed such o ut standing services to our double crown o f England

o f o ur and Scotland , some special mark goodwill may be handed down to posterity ; Know ye that from the royal arms o f both our crowns o f England

o f l f t o and Scot and , we have plucked and a fixed the Shield of the ancestral arms o f Earl Patrick this augmentation viz —On a gold canton the white rose o f England upon red within the double tressure o f

is . Scotland , as more Clearly depicted in the margin

n f o ur Wishing and granting o behalf o ourselves ,

ur heirs and o successors , that the same Earl Patrick and his heirs may freely bear the aforesaid augme n a i t t o n of arms upon their Shields fo r ever . I n witness whereof we have caused this present

Diploma to be ratified by the Great Seal of England .

Given at o ur Court at Oxford o n the twenty - Sixt h day o f March in the year o f human salvation one thousand six hundred and forty- fi v e and o f o ur

e . . 16 . reign the twentieth , g 45

CHARLES R .

Endorsement . A Patent of Augmentation o f Arms granted to

o f Patrick , Earl Brentford , Giving him the White Rose o f England within

the Double tressure o f Scotland . 78 RUTHVEN EARL OF BRENTFO RD

OF EN . CHARTER BY CHARLES I . IN FAVOUR G R UTHVEN

C G M OF B F D 16 REATIN H I EARL RENT OR , 45

of Go d Charles by the grace , of England , Scot land , France , and Ireland , King , to the Arch

V . bishops , Dukes , Marquises , Earls , iscounts , etc , greeting ; it is right that those who have Shown their valour by mighty deeds performed in our

e so service should i n turn rec ive favour from us , that others may have a more potent stimulus to follow in their footsteps . We therefore have co n side red o ur o f that beloved cousin , Patrick , Earl

Forth , while possessing the bounteous gifts o f Character and fortune with which the offspring o f

o f an ancient line noble ancestors is duly endowed , has added further lustre by his own valour and diligence and especially by the renown and glory which he gained after much toil and the flight o f long years . For from his youth he has studied the art o f war among peoples o f the most bellicose

Spirit , Swedes , Danes , Russians , Prussians and

Germans . There he ever received high praise even from the enemy . He rose through all the ranks o f promotion and was finally raised to the highest

of dignity Marshal , arriving thus at the pinnacle of martial ambition in foreign countries he was then of an age to retire from active service , but was seized by a longing for his native land where he

79 THE RUTHVEN FAMILY PAPERS

n thought a haven o f rest lay provided fo r him . Co t rary to his expectation he landed i n the furnace of Civil Strife i n which many were drawn over t o the other Side . Yet , although the men who stirred up rebellion left no means untried by which to gain

f r f own him o their party , even o fering him of their

o f free will the, supreme command the war, he did not stoop to that depth of infamy to which others

” fell who eagerly grasped the Offer which he in his uprightness treated with contempt . Thereafter he continued to keep pure and unsullied the trust reposed i n him , and proved it by many successful achievements in many places . First at the siege o f Edinburgh Castle he e n dured on o ur behalf seven months o f famine and want to the detriment o f his health . Thereafter when the same mad fury made its way to England , we summoned him that we might get his advice for the overthrow and crushing of rebellion . He was j oyful and eager to play his part thinking no t of

o f . the certain peril his fortunes Here , to mention

e n only the more noteworthy among many , the

a e me nt s g g at Edgehill , B rentford and Newbury , will afford no uncertain evidence o f his zeal and energy . In all o f these he carried out the duties and

f o f O fices a brave soldier , no less than of a skilful leader . Since Earl Patrick has hitherto shown himself a right valiant defender of our crown and

80

I O U V OF E E L E L ~ J AM E S, F FTH RD R TH N FR AND EARL OF BRENTF ORD royal state , and already wears the insignia of General Officer Commanding o ur forces against the rebels , we have thought it fitting , for the better

ur he attestation of o royal favour towards him , that Should be singled o ut fo r accession to the same rank in England , the sphere of his present exploits , as he holds in Scotland , and should be raised to that

: state , title , rank, honour and dignity Know Ye f therefore that we , o our special grace and mere

o f o ur t good pleasure , and by reason cer ain know

Of t o ledge , create the said Patrick Earl Forth , be f Earl o Brentford in M iddlesex . And by the sword

o f belt , cloak honour , and golden coronet we pro claim , invest , and truly ennoble by these presents ,

to raising him the name , style , title , dignity and

of honour Earl of the afore mentioned Brentford , to

Have and to Hold the rank , style , title , dignity of

o f be Earl Brentford , with all sundry privileges f longing to the rank , style , dignity and honour o

Earl , by him and his heirs male , forever . "Then o n account of the increased expenditure necessary fo r the maintenance of the earldom in a

o f becoming fashion , ] We our further grace , give and grant , and by these presents give and grant on

of behalf ourselves , our heirs and successors to the

k of said Patric Earl Brentford , and to his heirs

fo r male , aforesaid , ever , an annual sum of twenty

of o f pounds the legal currency England , from our

F 8 1 THE RUTHVEN FAM I LY PAPERS

o f o ur to treasury , and that heirs and successors ,

o n of o ur be paid annually the order Treasurer , and o f o f o ur the Treasurers heirs and successors , i n equal portions at the feast of Saint Michael the

of f Archangel , and the feast the Annunciation o the Blessed Virgin Mary ; I n testimony whereof we have caused these o ur letters patent to be executed , Myself being witness

n - at Oxford , o the Twenty seventh day of May i n

o f 16 . the Twentieth year our reign , 45

CHARLES R .

KALE N DAR OF THE RUTHV E N S O F F RE E LAN D

N AM E PE RIOD DI E D

R a Alexander uthven of Freel nd , fifth son of the second Lord Ruthven R William uthven of Freeland , son of Alexander L R Sir Thomas , first ord uthven of

Freeland , eldest son of William L David , second ord Ruthven L R Baroness Jean , ady uthven , sister to David and Baroness Isobel , niece to David R daughter of Sir Francis uthven .

James , third Lord Ruthven L R James , fourth ord uthven , son of James L R James, fifth ord uthven , son of

fourth Lord . M E z b h Baroness ary li a et , sister of fi fth Lord h L Walter James , sixt ord , grand son o f the Baroness

8 2

THE RUTHVEN FAMI LY PAPERS

f 1 th 1600 was served heir o his father , 3 February , and 2 5th April 160 1. He had a charter of the lands o f Kirktown Mailer , and a fishing in the Earn ,

160 2 0th 1608 . 7, and died of the plague , October

o f He married Elizabeth , eldest daughter Sir f f f William Moncrie f o Moncrief , by whom he had a so n : , Sir Thomas ; and two daughters Mary , mar ried George Hay of Naughton , and had issue ;

‘ M Gill R anke illo r Elizabeth , married Sir James of , and had issue .

o f Sir Thomas Ruthven Freeland , the eldest son ,

16 was served heir to his grandfather , th December

1 0 o n 10th 6 9 , and of his father the same day , March f 16 10 . He had a charter of the lands o Kirktown

Z I S t 1 Mailer , December 609 , and was a commis si ne r o f 16 1 f o for the Treaty Ripon , 4 ; Colonel o o ne o f the regiments sent against the Marquis of

16 o f o f Huntly , 44 ; one the Committee Estates , 1646- 47 ; o ne o f the Colonels fo r Perthshire for

o f putting the nation into a state defence , after the I death o f Charles . ; and was Convener o f Ex

16 . t o chequer , 49 A charter was granted Sir

v r ev i t in Thomas Ruth en , for the lands of F o t o , se rted o f h into a Barony Kirktown Mailer , 7t

16 0 . February 5 He was by Charles I I . created a

o f o f peer by the title Lord Ruthven Freeland ,

165 1. The patent was burned with the House of

1 1 0 Freeland , 5th March 75 , and the limitations are

8 4 FREE LAND RU T HVENS not o n record ; but it is understood that the honours ’ o f were to the heirs general the patentee s body , as the title was kept on the U nion Roll and it is no t mentioned among the dubious peerages of the

Report o f the Lords of Session to the House o f

1 0 . Peers , 74

o f Sir Thomas , Lord Ruthven , had a charter the

f f rd third part o the lands o Forgandenny , 3 August

166 6th 16 . 3 , and died May 73 He married Isobel ,

f . o f third daughter o Margaret , Baroness Balfour

Burleigh , by whom he had a son , David , second — Lord Ruthven , and three daughters the Honour able Anne Ruthven , married first to Sir William

C un n hame of C un n hamhead y g y g ; second , to

o f C rai e nd s William Cunningham , younger , g , but o f her there is no succession . By her first h usband

S he C un n hame f had a son , Sir William y g o

C un n hamhead o f y g , who was served heir Lady

Cun n hame Anne Ruthven , wife of Sir William y g ,

2 15 t 168 his mother , March 9 ; Honourable Eliza beth Ruthven ; Hon . Jean Ruthven . Sir Thomas

o f married , secondly , Mary , daughter Alexander ,

o f first Earl Leven , by whom he had issue , o ne daughter , Elizabeth .

I I . In the reign of Charles , among the sufferers for Nonconformity (Presbyterians , in fact) were r Lo d Ruthven , fined £4000 Scots ; Oliphant

6000 o f of Gask , £ ; Blair Kinfauns , £4600 ; 8 5 THE RUTHVEN FAMILY PAPERS because they attended a Conventicle at Bridge o f

Earn .

v o f Dav id , second Lord Ruthv en , was ser ed heir

1 16 o ne o f t he o f his father , 6th May 73 ; was Lords the Treasury i n the reign of William and Mary ,

1 and died without issue in April 170 .

Jean , Baroness Ruthven , youngest Sister and heir, immediately assumed the title , being styled

o f Jean , Lady Ruthven , in notarial instruments

l oth 1 02 . 1 0 Sasine and Bond , December 7 In 7 3

she le . was sty d Jean , Lady Ruthven It is stated that she was summoned as a baroness t o the

o f I . 1 1 . th Coronation George , 7 4 On 4 November 172 1 S he presented a petition to the Court o f

Session as Mrs Jean Ruthven , and her testa ment dative was given up under the same

1 2 2 un designation at her death in April 7 , married ; her niece and eventual successor giving up an additional inventory .

o f Isobel , Baroness Ruthven , niece and heir Jean , f Lady Ruthven , and cousin and heir o Sir William

C un n hame f y g o Ruthven . She took up her inherit

o f 16 ance under the entail 74, as well as by being

-o f- o f the heir line David , second Lord Ruthven . f She was summoned to the Coronation o George I I .

1 2 in September 7 7, and her summons is said to hav e been carefully preserved by her . She was married

o f G rait ne l to James Johnston y , Dumfries , Co o nel 86

THE RUTH VEN FAM ILY PAPERS

‘ t M D o u all Ruthven , married Cap ain John g ,

‘ M D u all who 2 th younger , of o g , died at Bombay , 7 th April 1775 . She died there also on 4 September following . un Hon . Wortley Montague Ruthven , who died

b th 1 68 . . married at Edin urgh , 4 March 7 The Hon

18th Elizabeth Ruthven , married at Edinburgh ,

1 6 of July 7 3 , to Sir Robert Lawrie Maxwelltown ,

Dumfries , representative in Parliament for that

1 180 county in 774 till his death in 4, and had issue , n n o e so , the gallant Sir Robert Lawrie of Maxwell

2 th 1 6 a town , born 5 April 7 4, who was a c ptain in

1z the Royal Navy ; a daughter , Anne , born ib

1 6 2 2 nd 1 June 7 9 , married , February 794, James

Pect o r Ho n. Menit , banker in Dover ; Jean

Ruthven , died young ; Hon . Grace Ruthven , ‘ died young ; Honourable Janet Ruthven , married , in

1 6 Caulfi e ld August 7 5 , Wade Toby , captain in the

rd 3 Regiment of Dragoons .

S n James , fourth Lord Ruthven , the eldest O , was

I st 1 ensign in the 3 Regiment of Foot , 755 ; lieu

in rd 1 tenant the 33 Foot , 75 7 ; in the 12 th Regiment o f 1 62 1 8 Foot , 7 ; succeeded his father , 7 3 , and died

2 t h 1 at Melville House , 7 December 789 . His lord

12 th b 1 6 ship married at Edinburgh , Novem er 77 ,

Lady Mary Elizabeth Leslie , second daughter of

o f David , Sixth Earl Leven and Melville , and had — issue James , fifth Lord Ruthven ; Honourable 88 FRE E LAND RUTHVENS

1l th 1 8 1 David Ruthven , born December 7 , died

2 2 nd young ; Honourable David Ruthven , born

1 8 August 7 7, who was placed i n the Bengal civil

180 establishment , 5 , and died at Madras , September

1808 - , in his thirty second year , unmarried ; the

18t h Honourable Wilhelmina Ruthven , born

1 8 November 77 Honourable Janet Anne Ruthven ,

1 1 80 born 5th April 7 ; died at Bristol Hot Wells ,

2 1s 18 0 t October 5 ; Honourable Jane Ruthven , died

180 at Freeland House , I st March 4 ; Honourable

1 Isobel Ruthven , died at Melville House , 3 th November 178 7 ; Honourable Mary Elizabeth r . Tho nton Ruthven . Hon Charlotte Rebecca Ruth

who l h t 1 . ven , died at Freeland House , g March 804

James , fifth Lord Ruthven , born at Melville

1 1 House , 7th October 777 ; succeeded his father ,

1789 . Was an officer in the army ; advanced to the

of o th 1 rank major in the g Regiment of Foot , 802 ,

an 180 . d quitted the service , 7 He married Mary , daughter o f Walter Campbell of S hawfi eld ; died

2 t h 18 7 July 53 , without issue .

Baroness Mary Elizabeth Thornton Ruthven o f

Freeland succeeded her brother James , fifth Baron ,

2 th 18 . 1 7 July 53 She was born in 784. She

18 married , at Freeland , in October 06 , Walter Hore o f Har e rstown — p , and had issue William , married , 18 6 in 3 , Henrietta, daughter of Major Lowen , died

8 9 THE RUTH VEN FAM ILY PAPERS

18 in 47, leaving issue ; James Ruthven , in Holy

1 Orders , died 839 ; Alexander Leslie Melville ;

S t f rd 18 2 James op o , died 7 ; Cavendish Bradstreet ,

18 lieutenant , Royal Navy ; killed in the Crimea , 54 ; Mary Elizabeth ; An na ; Jane Stewart ; Eleanor

Catherine ; Wilhelmina Ruthven Georgina Jocelyn . l “ alter f 18 2 8 Hore was High Sheri f of the County , , and assumed the additional name o f Ruthven o n his

’ 1 wife s accession to the title . He died 6th April

18 8 - 7 , aged ninety three years ; and the Baroness

1 186 . died at Freeland , 3 th February 4 Walter James Hore Ruthven succeeded his

1 grandmother , and was born at Plymouth , 4th

18 8 of 18 . June 3 , and took the name his uncle in 53

18 was 18 Entered Rifle Brigade , 54 ; captain in 59 , and serving in the Crimea , India and Abyssinia ; received the Crimean medal and Clasps , as well as the Medj idieh and Indian Mutiny medal . He

2 1st 186 married , August 9 , Caroline Annesley

of Gore , eldest daughter Philip York , fourth Earl f o Arran , by Elizabeth Marianne , daughter of

General Sir William Francis Patrick Napier , — K . C . B . His Lordship has issue Walter Patrick , f o P . D . L . Master Ruthven , also J and , major in the Scots Guards ; Alexander Gore Ark

V . C . 1st right , , captain , Dragoon Guards ; Philip

James Leslie , lieutenant , Highland Light Infantry ,

1 06 died without issue 9 ; Christian Malise ,

9°

C H APT E R V

— ’ STE VE NSON PE DIG R E E THE KING S VE R S ION OF THE — CONSPIRACY THE RUTHV E N VE R S ION O F THE CON — S PI RACY LE ADE R OF T HE PROTE STANT LORDS ’ ARCH BISHOP S POTTI S W OOD S ACCOUNT

ILLI M o f W A , second Lord Ruthven , grandson the

o f first lord , married the daughter and heiress Lord

. o f . Halliburton Dirleton They had three sons ,

Patrick , James and Alexander . Patrick inherited the dignities of Ruthven and Halliburton , and his descendants afterwards enjoyed them as Earls of

1 8 1 f Gowrie , till their forfeiture in 5 for the Raid o

Ruthven (capture of the King), and again during a brief period o f Restoration till their final attainder ” 1 0 in 6 0 on account of the Gowrie Conspiracy . In the meantime Alexander Ruthven , third son of the second Lord Ruthven , was succeeded by his son ,

William Ruthven of Freeland , and William of

Freeland i n his turn was succeeded by his son , Sir f Thomas Ruthven , in whom we meet the grantee o f the peerage o Ruthven o f Freeland . Sir Thomas sat in the Scottish Parliament of

1 16 1 I 3 th March 5 at Perth as laird of Freeland . n — NOTE Since the issue of this pedigree it has been discovered L A that the second ord had five sons , of whom lexander was the youngest . 9 2 S TE VENS ON PE D I GREE the Parliament held at Stirling o n 2 4th May o f the same year he appears under the title of Lord

Ruthven . He had been created a Lord of Parlia

to ment between these dates , and the place given the peerage on the roll o f the Scottish Parliament

1 06 ffi of of 1 0 of 7 , the o cial roll peers 7 7, and that of 1740 agrees that he died i n 1671 and left three daughters , and one son , David , by whom he was suc ee ed c d his daughters were Anne , Elizabeth and Jean

NO . The Honourable Jean Ruthven , 3 of the

t o pedigree , was the first assume the title after her

’ 10 h 1 02 brother David s death . On t December 7

f o f she received sasine o an heritable Bond , an annual rent , granted i n her favour by David

. 12 th 1 0 Oliphant On November 7 9 , in a renuncia

f' S he tion and discharge o the annual rent , styled f herself Jean , Lady Ruthven . In an Instrument o

of o rtev iot 1 12 Sasine subjects in F she , in January 7 ,

. h styled herself Jean , Lady Ruthven On 9t

1 2 1 d September 7 she cause herself , as Jean ,

t o Lady Ruthven , be served heir to David in the Ruthven estates . She made her will as Mrs Jean Ruthven of Freeland , and died

1 i n April 72 2 . William C uny nghame of Ruth ven was the executor dative as nearest o f kin to his aunt , Lady Jean . Sir William succeeded , in

1 2 2 April 7 , to the entailed estates , and died i n f October o the same year before he was infeft .

93 THE RUT HVEN FAM ILY PAPERS

am f un n hamhead Sir William C uny ngh e o C y g , f only so n and heir o Dame Anne Ruthven , succeeded

1 2 2 his Aunt Jean , Lady Ruthven , in 7 , and as sumed the surname of Ruthven . He did not assume

1 2 2 . the title , and died in October 7 , without issue

He was succeeded by his niece , Lady Isobel .

o f Isobel , Lady Ruthven , was the daughter Eliza beth and Sir Francis Ruthven . She assumed the

o f title , and was summoned to the Coronation

1 George I I . i n 72 7. Her son James assumed the

o f title James , third Lord Ruthven , and he lived till

1 783 . The general inquiry and report on the peer age by the Lords o f Session in 1740 took place in his time . He left a son , James , who succeeded him , and was the ancestor Of the p resent Lord Ruthven .

o f Isobel Ruthven , daughter Elizabeth , and her husband , Sir Francis Ruthven , succeeded Sir

William under the entail . Isobel assumed the title

’ within a year after her Aunt Jean s death . She is

’ called Mrs Isobel Ruthven in her aunt s deed . Then there is the testament dative o f I sobel

Ruthven , spouse of Colonel James Ruthven of i G ra t ney .

James , third Lord Ruthven , succeeded his mother , who is designated Isobel , Lady

Ruthven . The Ruthven peerage came up

o f for trial in the Court Session , December

1 2 . f 73 There was a j ury o fifteen . It was

94

THE RUTH VEN FAM ILY PAPERS ation o f this atrocious deed have been a profound State secret ; kept absolutely in the dark ; relegated to obscurity ; and posterity has been left to unravel a great mystery involving the honour , the integrity , the truthfulness of the King . Our recent i nspection o f the Ruthven Family Papers throws daylight on

o ld . the event , though it be fully three centuries

f . of The Court o James V I , like that his mother , ffi was essentially corrupt , and he had no di culty in finding men there who would second his efforts in the commission of crime , even if the crime were

- murder . James was double minded , jealous , cruel and cunning ; at times facile almost to imbecility . He had evidently made up his mind that

o f John , Earl Gowrie , was a step nearer the English throne than himself . There are

’ wri ters who say that Gowrie s mother was a daughter o f Lady Janet Stuart of the Atholl family , by her husband , Lord Methven . The point is debatable , and has never been finally determined . The balance of evidence seems rather in favour o f f f Lady Janet Stuart , daughter o John , Earl o

Atholl .

’ s o f Jame , because Gowrie s supposed precedence , as a competitor for the English throne , evidently

c n resolved in his own mind that , whatever the o sequences , Gowrie must be removed , as Elizabeth , in his opinion , would undoubtedly prefer Gowrie ,

96 I E OF ES I O U VE OF E E MARY , W F J AM , F FTH L RD R TH N FR LAND , AND DAUGHTE R OF WALTE R CAM PBE LL OF I SLAY AND SHAWFI E LD

THE RU THVEN FAMI LY PAPERS reasons which are believed to have induced the way

was f ward King to do what he did . It part o the King ’s scheme that every man who favoured

Gowrie was to be promptly executed , and this order

exec was carried o ut to the letter . Though many u

no t tions took place , the number is conveniently recorded . The King ’s version may now be put aside as unworthy of the place it has S O long occupied in

Scottish history . Historians , such as Macaulay ,

now have thrown it aside long ago , but we have n sure ground to go upon . What led up t o the co

irac seems sp y now as clear as noonday , but we must remember that the King had some experience of

f r conspiracies , o he put to death in the same

o f f manner the young Earl Moray , by the hands o

of fo r the Earl Huntly , no other known reason except that Moray was the handsomest man o f his

o f time , and representative the Regent Moray ,

’ murderer of the King s mother . It is proper t o state that no attempt was ever made by any member o f the Gowrie family to aspire to the f throne o England .

o ut In carrying his diabolical plot , James would appear to have taken into his confidence certain nobles , who were constantly about his person , and o n whom he was satisfied he could depend— the

of Earls Mar and Lennox , Sir Thomas Erskine , Sir

98 THE GOWRI E PLO T

H ugh Herries , Sir John Ramsay and Captain

’ David Murray . Lennox had once been Gowrie s

- in- brother law , but his wife , Lady Sophia Ruthven , was dead eight years before the conspiracy , and Lennox had married twice since her death ; Herries

o f was a so n o f Lord Herries , the devoted friend Queen Mary ; Captain Murray does not appear t o have been i nside Gowrie House o n the fatal

o ff t o day . Evidently he was told superintend

no matters outside , for he took part in the assas

sinat io n. f Henderson , the steward o Scone , was , from a

t o perfectly reliable source , seen walking and fro o n the Perth bridge till all was over , clearly indi cating the existence o f a preconcerted plot t o murder

Gowrie , otherwise Henderson would have rushed

’ to Gowrie s assistance , seeing at that moment he

’ was Gowrie s steward . The conspirators had evi l d e nt y bought him over . These men had their

o ut f work cut for them , and a critical reading o the

’ King s version proves how systematically and deliberately the plot was conceived and carried o ut .

At a particular moment , doubtless understood by his six nobles as the moment for Gowrie ’s assassina tion , the King cried from the window of the turret ” : chamber Treason , help , I am murdered . This was the signal for Mar and Lennox rushing up the great staircase leading to the turret chambe r and

99 THE RUTH VEN FAM I LY PAPERS

e not . ndeavouring to burst open the door , but could

This was probably prearranged . Ramsay , Erskine and Herries went up a back stair with . drawn swords and got immediate access to the chamber where the King and Alexander Ruthven were , when Ruthven was instantly slain by Ramsay and the Earl immediately after met his fate . We shall now proceed to put before the reader f the Ruthven version o the plot , extracted by us from the R uthven Family Papers . The original document forms part of the private papers o f Lord v f Ruth en o Freeland , evidently written by a mem

o r ber intimate friend of the family , and though undated has all the appearance of an ancient document .

of o f The tragic exit John , Earl Gowrie , and the

o f ne f ruin the great Ruthven family , is o o the most f perplexing events o Scottish history . It is still the belief o f lovers o f religion and liberty in Scotland that the Gowrie family fell a sacrifice to the enemies of the Reformation , because of their zeal for the

o f f support it , and that the innocent blood o the Earl o f Gowrie and his brother is a crying Sin hanging over the nation . The Reformation in

Scotland , from Popery to Presbytery , was popular n a d Parliamentary . The Protestants were sup l ported by Queen E izabeth , the Catholics by the

100

THE RU T HVE N FAMI LY PAPERS

of pended solely o n William , Earl Gowrie , and his ” family fo r protection .

I n 158 2 the King and his Court came to dine at — Ruthven Castle ; the Court lords went a hunting

n o n in the adjoini g forests , and their return were refused access t o the King , who , a boy at the time , remained for some weeks at Ruthven Castle under the tutelage of Ruthven and Glamis . This was the Raid of Ruthven . B ut soon thereafter the King put himself under the direction o f Arran and the

Catholic lords . Gowrie and his friends were banished , and commanded to leave the kingdom

o f be within twenty days , under pain death , cause of the Raid of Ruthven and seizure o f the a K ing . Gowrie went to Dundee , hired ship , was hindered by contrary winds three o r four days longer than the time appointed . He was ap p re hended there by order of Stewart , after a heroic defence , and thereafter executed at Stirling , anno

1 8 . 5 4 John , Earl of Gowrie , and his brother , Alex ander , remained at home till they had gone through their studies at the University ; then went abroad t o

to Padua finish their education . On their return

1600 t home in March or April they came o England , visited Queen Elizabeth , and remained some weeks at her Court . She ordered guards to attend them , and all the honours due to a Prince o f Wales to be

10 2 THE G OWRIE PL O T

paid to Gowrie , her full cousin , and to be enter taine d at the public expense during his visit at

Court . It cost Gowrie and his brother their lives

of soon after . John , Earl Gowrie , and his brother were youths whom nature had adorned with many accomplishments , to which education had added elegant improvements . They were more learned than is usual among persons of their rank , more religious than is common at their time of life ;

be generous , brave , popular , sincere and gentle ;

o f re loved by the Protestants both nations , and garded by the Scots as their head and protector . The young Earl came to Scotland from the English

1600 Court i n May , but his cold reception at King

’ James Court made him soon retire to his estates .

The Catholic party determined his ruin . The K ’ ing s suspicious temper , above all , his jealousy , that the Protestants o f England would prevail o n

Queen Elizabeth to name Gowrie as her successor , made him heartily fall in with the scheme o f de stroying Gowrie . The question was , how it could be done , so as not to raise suspicion and incur the

of blame Shedding innocent blood .

Archbishop Spottiswoode mentions this matter , ’ according to the King s account of it , and the Earl o f Cromarty seems to have followed him . The latter had a family interest in the plot , for his mother was daughter t o Ramsay the page who

10 3 THE RUTHVEN FAMI LY PAPERS murdered Gowrie and his brother . These authors call Gowrie and his brother conspirators . Their narratives have passed so long uncontradicted , that what then could be said for Gowrie , is now almost forgotten . D uring the reign o f the Stuarts none durst openly

fo r contradict what was said the King , without the

’ I t said o the danger of sharing Gowrie s fate . is f r

Kin th 1600 ut g , that on s August , as he was going o a- hunting in the woods of Falkland , he was accosted

n o f by Alexa der Ruthven , who with an air import ance told him that the evening before he had met

o f with an unknown man suspicious appearance , walking alone in a bypath at Perth , and on search I ng him had found under his cloak a pot full o f foreign gold ; that he immediately seized both him and his treasure , and without mentioning the matter to any person , had kept him confined and bound i n hi a solitary house , and that he thought it s duty to

o f make known such a singular event , first all , to his Majesty .

The King , in his narrative , says that he immedi ately suspected this unknown person to be a traffick ing priest , supplied with foreign gold coin in order to excite new commotions in the kingdom , and resolved to empower the Magistrates o f Perth to call the prisoner before them ; but that Ruthven urged the King to ride directly to Perth and ex

10 4

TH E RUTHVEN FAMILY PAPERS

o r o r to my disposal without resistance outcry , this ” dagger Shall instantly avenge his blood . The

King expostulated with Ruthven , and entreated and

flattered him . The man whom he found in the study stood all the while trembling and dismayed , without courage either to aid the King o r murder the aggressor . Ruthven protested that if the King raised no outcry , his life should be safe , and moved by some unknown reason retired in order to call his

t o o f brother , leaving the man in armour the care W the King , hom he bound by oath not to make any noise i n his absence . While the King was in this im imaginary situation , his attendants growing

to ne f patient know whither he had retired , o o Gowrie ’s attendants entered the room and told them the King had j ust ridden away towards Falkland .

o u All of them rushed t , and the Earl i n the utmost hurry called fo r their horses ; but by this time Alex ander Ruthven had returned to the King , exclaim ing that now there was no remedy , he behoved to f die , and o fered to bind his hands with a garter . K t U narmed as the ing was , he scorned to submit o that indignity , and closing with Ruthven a fierce struggle ensued .

The man in armour stood as formerly , amazed and motionless , the King dragging Ruthven to — wards a window while during his absence the King had prevailed with the man with whom be

106 K IN G ’S BOGUS NARRATI VE — was left t o Open it and cried with a wild and f af righted voice Treason , help , I am murdered .

v His attendants heard and knew the oice , and saw at the window a hand which grasped the King ’s neck with violence . Lennox and Mar with the e greater number ran up the principal staircase , wher they found the doors shut , which they battered with great fury , endeavouring to burst them open , but Sir John Ramsay entered by a back stair which led t o the apartment where the King was , found the door open , and rushing upon Ruthven , who was still struggling with the King , struck him twice with his dagger and thrust him towards the staircase , where Erskine and Herries met him and killed him , he exclaiming with his last breath Alas "I had not the weight ” f o f it . During this scu fle the man who had been concealed i n the study escaped unobserved .

o ne Erskine , Ramsay , Herries , and Wilson , a foot man , who were with the King , thrust his Majesty i nto the little study , shutting the door upon him , and went to defend the entry by the back door until the fore door was opened , but as they came to the

of head the staircase , Gowrie , accompanied by three o r four servants , met them , having a drawn sword in each hand . (This he usually carried , being skil ful o f that weapon . ) One of the four called o ut

Yo u have killed the King , our master , and will

10 7 THE RUTHVEN FAMI LY PAPERS

r ? you also take o u lives upon which Gowrie ,

of t o astonished , put the points his two swords the ground , when Ramsay immediately ran him through the body with a small sword , and Gowrie fell dead .

To kill Gowrie without cause , or orders , proves that t he conspiracy was premeditated ; though none durst publicly write in defence of Gowrie , as it was n well known when his destruction was resolved o . f The King sent Captain David Murray , Controller o his Household , with a message to his cousin , the

o f Tullibardine Earl , ordering him at a certain hour to come o n that st h day of August to the South

Gate of Perth with 3 00 horsemen in arms . Doug

’ las s history o f the families o f Tullibardine and Stormont makes a merit of this service done t o his

Majesty ; and it is also said for the King , that the accidental coming o f Tullibard ine to the South Gate o f Perth at that critical moment saved the King from imminent danger o f being destroyed by the mob of the people o f Perth ; but Tullibardine did not come to Perth , with so numerous a retinue , without a cause . The King durst not attempt the murder of Gowrie in Perth without being sure of such aid . Tulli

’ bardine s coming could be no accident , and is a lli proof of premeditated design . When T u bardine knew what was said he wished the King had ex

cused . w him that service The t o Earls were cousins .

10 8

C H APT E R V I

— ’ THE KING AT THE SOUTH INCH KING S DE LIVE R ANCE — A MOCKE RY RUTHV E NS CONC E ALE D AT BE RWICK DE AD BODIE S AT BAR O F S COTTI SH PARLIAME NT ’ — ’ S PROT S FABLE s LE NNo x S FALS E S TATE MENTs

' ’ RAMSAY AND E R SKINE S Ho NOURs " VHEN Alexander Ruthven came to the King , his Majesty told him he meant to dine that day with his brother at Perth . It is said Alexander Ruthven earnestly begged leave to go and acquaint his

fo r brother , that some provision might be made din ner . The King ordered him expressly no t t o wn go , and kept him close by him , under his o f eye , till within a mile o Perth , to prevent Gowrie getting earlier notice . Is it possible that the King , uninvited , would go t o dine with Gowrie without some other reason than t o see the man with the pot full of gold Gowrie was ignorant and un prepared , so that he had no other provision but a

fo r dinner made that day a wedding , which he caused to be carried to Gowrie House , and with which he was glad to entertain his guests . Though there were but twenty horsemen said to hav e been

110 K ING ’S FOLLOWE RS with the King when he came to Perth , yet thrice

n o r that number of men o foot came with , soon followed , him , in threes and fours , so that special f notice o f them might not be taken . Some o the

’ King s attendants , shocked at what happened , plainly told thereafter that it was the King who requested Alexander Ruthven to go upstairs and not Alexander Ruthven . There was scarcely an hour between the King ’s arrival at Perth and the death of the two brothers ; what was said o f Gowrie o r some o f his people calling out that the King had gone to Falkland was false ; it had been concerted before hand that when the King went upstairs the co m pany were to go o ut to the lane o r passage which the window in the study overlooked . Ramsay and

Herries went not to the courtyard , but remained below stairs , till they heard the King call from the window . Then was the time they hurried upstairs and killed both brothers . Lennox , who was married

’ to Gowrie s Sister , but she was dead , knew both the stairs well , was in the secret , and directed Ramsay to the private staircase ; while himself , Mar, and others went up the great staircase and battered at the door till all was over , because they did not want to be present at the bloody scene .

The story of Alexander Ruthven attempting to ’ tie the King s hands with a garter ; his snatching a dagger from the man i n armour ; his saying to the

111 THE RUTHVEN FAM ILY PAPE RS

King that he must be his prisoner ; his swearing that if he made any noise o r outcry he would kill him ; his obliging the King to promise on oath that he would make no noise till his return ; his going to

c min back consult his brother , and o g and swearing again that there was no help for it , he must die ; his struggling with the King to prevent his calling o ut of the window ; the man i n armour snatching the dagger from him and Opening the window— all this is mere fiction . The swearing is so unlike

Ruthven , the man in armour changing sides to be fo r the King against Ruthven , and the King sub mitting at first so tamely , and swearing that he

’ would make no noise till Ruthven s return , and again struggling with Ruthven , is altogether a mere f fable , in proof o which it was told some time

o f o r after , by some those i n the close courtyard , that it was impossible all this could happen ; there

’ was no time for it . The King s timid disposition would admit Of no delay . The moment he went

’ upstairs he called out of the window , Treason , whereupon Ramsay and his accomplices ran up f stairs and killed Ruthven . The story o Gowrie rushing into the chamber is also without fo unda tion ; for the moment Ramsay killed Ruthven , he

who went in quest of the Earl , met him on the top of

' the stair and asked what was the matter ; Ramsay

’ replied , The King is dead . The Earl , astonished ,

112

R E BR NC H E R J E AN RUTHVE N (GOW I A ), DAUGHT O U HV E N AN D BO N 1 8 1 F J AM ES R T , R 7 KING ’S NARRATI VE was heard to say . Waes me , poor man , the King

’ dead in my house . The story which the King tells

’ of the Earl s body not bleeding till a girdle o r book in which he kept some spells was taken o ff him is

F r also false . o more than a hundred years after the

’ Earl s death his bloo d was seen t o remain o n the

highest step of the stair where he was killed . The corner of Gowrie House , where the staircase

was stood , pulled down and rebuilt by the Magis

o f trates Perth , where there are many persons still alive who have seen it . I t is said in the King ’s narrative that Ramsay

Erskine , Herries and Wilson , after they had killed

t o Alexander Ruthven , went defend the entry of the back stair until the fore door was opened ; but as

r they came to it , Gowrie , accompanied by three o

so four servants , met them , that it is clear he was

killed o n the t o p o f the stair . Though it had been

true that Gowrie entered the chamber in arms ,

’ where he must have seen his brother s dead b ody ,

it was not treason to attempt to avenge his death , and it is acknowledged that Gowrie did not see the

King , because he was in the study and the door

shut . The Earl of Tullibard ine came in time to f rescue the King, for the people o Perth were batter

ing at the great gate , and threatened to blow them all up with powder if the King would no t send

o ut them Gowrie , their Provost , alive . The King 11 113 THE RUTH VEN FAM I LY PA PERS and his company durst not open the gate , but went secretly down through the garden to the summer house , which had a door that went down by steps to the river . There the King and his company slipped i nto some small boats , were carried to the

Tullibardine South Inch of Perth , where and his party received them , and escorted them to Falk land . If there had been any truth in the matter o f the man in armour i n the closet , and if he had been apprehended and examined directly , it would have done much to j ustify the King ; o r even if they had killed him when they killed the Gowries ; but their telling that he made his escape (which it was im possible he could do unseen)throws the scales the A other way . S the King had it in his power to kill Gowrie and his brother , it was also in his power to apprehend and give them a fair trial .

Putting them to death in their own house , and i n such a hurry , and instead of punishing , awarding and promoting the murderers , shows that these men were instructed what to do before they came to Perth . The narrative the King gives of what passed i n the closet shows that Alexander Ruthven did no hurt to the King ; and it is no wonder he died declaring with his last words that he was innocent .

his Gowrie and brother , being killed , could not

114

THE RUT HVEN FAMILY PAPERS from the pulpit what neither they nor their people f ” believed a word o . ’ In the matter o f the escape o f Gowrie s two younger brothers , William and Patrick , two lads of eighteen and sixteen respectively , we learn from the Gowrie and Ruthven papers , edited by John

B ruce , that their tutor from Edinburgh aecom p anied them . They procured disguised apparel and travelled o n foot across the most unfrequented

o n o f districts . They left Dirleton the evening

6th . 10th Wednesday , August On Sunday the they reached Berwick and presented themselves to

n . Sir John Carey , the E glish Governor The Governor was overwhelmed with commiseration for

the young men , and especially for their mother , the

Countess . He gave the young men shelter till he

who could hear from the Queen , at once permitted

them to remain in England . For more than three

weeks they lay concealed at Berwick , never leaving

their chamber . The country was so thickly set

with spies , and the Countess so closely surrounded by persons whose business it was to find cause o f

S he accusation against her , that dared not send her

sons help of any kind . From Berwick they tra

v e lled o n th south , 4 September ; and with Eliza beth ’s consent are said to have resided with their

tutor two years at Cambridge . They were in

England , penniless and homeless , when the death

116 LAS T ACT OF THE TRAGE DY o f Elizabeth placed their royal persecutor o n the N E nglish throne . o greater calamity could have happened to the unfortunate young men .

No w t o o f we come the last act this tragedy , when the dead bodies of the two brothers were brought to the Bar o f the Scottish Parliament in

November 1600 . It is surprising that the superior court o f the nation should so easily forfeit the heirs f o the family , on so Slight and contradictory evi

o n dence , which depended chiefly what Henderson , factor to Captain Murray at Scone , deposed . The great lords who had been leaders and protectors of

r the Protestant cause were either dead o cut o ff .

The King got the better of the Clergy , and got a

o f number them to have votes in Parliament . By these , the Court interest and the Catholic lords , he had a majority . The death of the two elder brothers did not invalidate the pretensions o f their brothers who were in life , which made it necessary to destroy them . By this act of forfeiture there was

o f no proof John , Earl of Gowrie, having co m mitted any act of treason he was killed o n the stairs

o wn of his house , when his last words showed his regard and loyalty to the King . The King could not find among his followers any to own Henderson

o r was the man in the closet , that they saw him at all , because they would not go through that horrid

o f scene perj ury which Henderson afterwards did .

1 17 THE RUTH VEN FAM ILY PAPERS

Their making use of him was truly a farce , for it is well known and could be proved by a hundred witnesses , that at the very time when Gowrie was killed , Henderson was seen walking on the Tay

S O not Bridge at Perth , he could possibly be the man said to be i n the closet , and consequently knew nothing o f the matter .

f no t The Earl o Cromarty , at all a reliable “ authority , says that all this while none knew who was the man that was armed and alone in the study when the King entered it , and who had secretly withdrawn himself when the King and Ruthven were struggling ; when Sir Thomas Erskine and Ramsay entered by the back stair ; and that a great reward was promised to anyone who would discover him . Thereupon Andrew Henderson , Chamberlain to Gowrie , discovered himself to the Controller and ,

o f f upon promise life , o fered to communicate all that ”

ff . he knew relating to that a air David Murray ,

o ne of the Controller , was the persons entrusted by the King with the superintendence o f this whole transaction , and came with him that morning from f Falkland . Murray go t a gift o the Estate and

’ o f Abbacy Scone , part of Gowrie s forfeiture , there

it o n by having in his power to practise Henderson ,

’ who was Gowrie s steward at Scone , and was con t inue d ffi in that o ce by the Controller . By which and other rewards and promises Murray prevailed

118

THE RUTHVEN FAM ILY PAPERS

burgh , before the Scottish Parliament ; but these depositions are so contradictory in themselves , and so plainly contradict the narrative published by the

King , that they only serve to confirm the opinion that the nation had of the inj ustice done to Gowrie ; and that Henderson was not well chosen nor fitted for the business he took in hand . His deposition

’ f v and the King s account di fer in se eral particulars ,

’ first , according to the King s account , while

’ Ruthven was holding the dagger to the King s breast the man in the Study stood quaking and i ” trembl ng . But Henderson says that he wrested

’ ” the dagger o ut o f Ruthven s hand . Henderson deposed that he boasted to his wife that he had that day twice saved the King from being stabbed . The King asserts that Henderson Opened the

’ ” window during Ruthven s absence . Henderson deposed that he was only attempting to open it when Ruthven returned , and that during the ” struggle between the King and him he Opened it .

If we may believe the King , the man in the study

’ stood during the struggle behind the King s back , inactive and trembling , all the time but Hender son affirms that he snatched away the garter with which Ruthven attempted to bind the King ’s

’ hands ; that he pulled back Ruthven s hand when

’ he was endeavouring to stop the King s mouth , and that he op ened the window . QUEEN MARGARE T C O MPLI CATI ON By the King ’s account Ruthven left him in the study , and went away in order to meet his brother ; and the Earl came up the stair for that same purpose . Henderson depones that when Ruthven left the King he believed he did not pass ” f from t he door . It appears from the Situation o the house and from other circumstances that there could no t possibly have been any interview between the brothers at that time . Cromarty seems not to have read the King ’s f narrative or declaration , while he dif ers from , or contradicts , it in almost every sentence . It appears from the history of the family of

fi rSt Atholl , that Lady Janet Stewart was married

o f to Alexander , Master Sutherland ; secondly , to Hugh Kennedy o f Girvan Mains ; thirdly to Henry , Lord Methven ; fourthly , to William

Lord Ruthven , Earl of Gowrie . She had no children to her last two husbands .

Cromarty acknowledges that William , Earl of

tw0 ' so ns Gowrie , and his were in the interest of the hot party (which he calls the anti - Christian schis mat ical spirit in a small party of the Clergy)who did propagate that Queen Margaret had other

Children besides Lady Gowrie , that their object was to I nsmuat e that Lady Gowrie was a daughter of

Queen Margaret , and consequently that her son

o f John , Earl Gowrie , was moved to murder King

12 1 THE RUTHVEN FAMI LY PAPERS

James because , as grandchild to Queen Margaret , he was nearest heir to the Crown o f England . Very o dd doctrine to be propagated by his friends

v ice v ersa . against him , but the case was It does not appear that Gowrie ever thought of it ; King

James had surely the preferable title , and Queen Elizabeth would no t name her successor ; She and her Privy Council were to o wise not to design it

r fo him , and thereby annex Scotland to the Crown of England .

o f R estal The story of Sprot , concerning Logan rig , is given as evidence against Gowrie , but

’ S p ott iswoo de s words concerning Sprot Show the

in e story to be an unmitigated fable , and a mere v n

’ tion o f the man s o wn brain in hope o f a high reward . Gowrie was t oo shrewd to trust such a worthless man as Logan was known to be , and

Gowrie and Ruthven could easily keep a secret , which never did exist . It appears from Lennox ’s deposition that Gowrie said to the deponent his Majesty was gone up ” quietly some quiet errand , and undoubtedly Gowrie

so thought so , and did his brother when the King called him to go upstairs with him . His intention

t o to destroy the brothers was only known a few , who kept it with profound secrecy as well as wickedness . No wonder they were well paid with f ’ ’ grants o Gowrie s forfeiture . Gowrie s going to

12 2

THE RUTHVEN FAM ILY PAPERS

t o Scots gave little credit that story , and the wisest o f that Nation spoke slightingly and despitefully ” “ : o f it . Sir Edward Peyton writes The King suspecting the Queen of too great intimacy with the

o f Earl Gowrie , a Lord of comely visage and good stature , turned his love and friendship for the Earl to the passion of hatred , and caused Ramsay and others to murder the Earl in his own house , giving it o ut for a tale , that the Earl with others would have killed him ; and to make this falsehood appear th odious , the 5 August was appointed a solemn

o f day thanksgiving for his supposed delivery , and in this he mocked the Go d o f Heav en . He blas

heme d p God for his pretended deliverance , once a year all his life .

Mr Osborne , who frequented his Court , says Among a number o f other novelties he brought a new holiday into the Church of England wherein God had public thanks offered up to Him for His

’ Majesty s deliverance o ut o f the hands o f Gowrie ;

t h o n and that fell out on the , 5 August , which many lies were told either at home or abroad , in the

’ o f o r Choir St Paul s Church the Long Walk , for no Scotsman you could meet with beyond sea but laughed at it , and it was said the printed narrative ” of it destroyed all possibility of credit . Dr Well wood , who was a Scotsman , and discreet author and

’ well informed of the facts , writes Gowrie s

12 4 SPURI O US DEPO S I TI ONS

l so Conspiracy was in itse f improbable , and attended with. so many inconsistent circumstances that it was disbelieved at the time - it was said to have been attempted ; he then condemns the holi day which S andcroft and his brethren celebrated so devoutly , and for which they held solemn prayers ; says posterity has swallowed for truth what their ” A ancestors took for a mere fiction . nother his

o n torian , speaking of the printed narrative which

‘ : the holiday was founded , says I will not descant upon the many absurdities and inconsistent circumstances touched under this narrative , but

o u only tell y , most authors who have mentioned it turn the tables and lay the assassination at the

’ ’ King s door .

12 5 C H A PT E R V I I

— TULLIBARD I NE AND 3 00 ME N D R H E R RI E S INCIDE NT — R E SIGNATION OF THE LADY BE ATR I" MARRIAGE OF — THE LADY BE ATRI" THE FRAUDULE NT INDICTM E NT — S E NTE NCE O F THE SCOTTISH PARLIAM ENT RE VIE W — O F THE CON S PIRACY BARONY O F RUTHVE N AND E ARL

—“ D OM O F GOWRI E CHARTE R O F SU R R E NDE R

TH E f Palace o Falkland , which was then i n ex ce lle nt repair , was often resorted to by the King , especially at that season of the year , when he was to begin his amusement of hunting . A MS . written many years ago represents , that in July

1600 , he was there with the Queen and her ladies , and a great number o f the nobility . He and his nobles hunted in the forenoon , and spent the rest o f the day with the ladies in the amusements which

’ were customary at that period . In the King s train was Alexander Ruthven , a comely youth , whom the

Queen highly favoured , and whose age was nine

- teen years and seven months . Ruthven obtained

t o f permission attend his brother John , Earl o

2 0th Gowrie , who about the July , had returned to Perth from his hunting in Atholl ; and Ruthven

not t did again come o the King at Falkland , till

12 6

THE RUTHVEN FAMILY PAPERS

- of the King had spoken , of his hope killing a buck ere the evening . She often afterwards was heard to say with tears , that she dreaded the Divine

fo r vengeance on her family , shedding the innocent blood o f the Gowries .

o f Lady Beatrix , after the death her two brothers ,

ffi S he resigned the o ce which held at Court , but f being naturally o a firm temper , was not so entirely overcome with grief as some of her sisters were . Lennox was thought to be a principal actor I n the

o f bloody scene , because the knowledge which he

o f of had the stairs , passages and apartments

of Gowrie House , Perth ; and because his acquaint

r o r ance and influence with the factors o porters , other servants , whom he might have appointed during the Earl ’s long absence at the University at

’ to Padua . The D uke , after the King s Accession f the Throne o England , was created Duke of Rich f mond . After the death o the Lady Sophia , he married first an English lady , then another , but none o f his wives bore any children to him .

she Though Lady Beatrix had left the Court , still carried on a confidential correspondence with the

o f Queen , and sought also to be use to her two surviving brothers , William and Patrick . They

t 1600 had fled for safety o England in August , but

1602 in September , they came privately to Scotland , having been encouraged to hope that by the

12 8 M ES R U VE BO 1 OW I J A TH N , RN 75 2 (G R E BRANCH ) E L E S SON OF M E S RU V E BOR D T J A TH N , N C LAI M E D To BE H E AD OF TH E C LAN

THE RUT H VEN FAMI LY PAPERS

them any high provocation , they would divulge to the world the circumstances which had come t o their knowledge . About this time the Lady Beatrix was married

o f C owde nkno w e s to Sir John Hume , parish

' f a ri i f o Earlston . He was a p t o t c gentleman o great respectability , and was not a young man , but had been married before , though without children .

to He did not live long , and Lady Beatrix bore him n before his death a so , who succeeded him in his

and 16 estate , whose son in 3 5 succeeded to the

Earldom o f Hume . Lady Beatrix was commonly

w nkn we . called Lady C o d e o s I n her widowhood , eminently pious , she had no partiality for the

o f V . Court measures James I , and perhaps loved to Oppose him as the enemy of her family . She expressed her abhorrence of the violent methods by which he was introducing innovations into the Pres

e rian by t Church , and distinguished herself by the encouragement and protection which S he afforded to the conscientious Presbyterian ministers who were suffering persecution . The following lines Show the opinion the nation had of the matter

ame o e u bo e h King J s slew G wri , j stly r t e bl ame , am s a d G o e o o r m King J e fe re wri , with ut wit sha e , b o ca a d k e the To His r thers ptives c use e p in we r, ’ And d e e s e a e o while they live n r l pt q ui t h ur,

130 FRAUD ULENT IND I CTMEN T

’ a dso e a d e Que e n Marg are t s gr n n nigh r egr e , ’ ’ n n am e a W as G o wri e s ruin a d Ki g J es s pl , ’ d made him be a e t o all His co war s h eart f ls , ” Be justly hate d and his h ous e to fall .

It will be necessary now to give a recital o f the circumstances surrounding the event , extracted from the Privy Council Register

FRAUDULENT INDICTMENT AGAINST THE FREBLAND R UTHVENS

(I ssued by the S co ttish P arliament)

o f James by the Grace God , King of Scots , to

r of . . o u o u beloved Lyon King Arms , etc , etc To y we command and ordain that ye lawfully and per e m t o ril p y summon before witnesses , Alexander

o f Ruthven and Hen ry Ruthven , lawful sons the deceased Alexander Ruthven of Freeland , Hugh

f o f ff o f Moncrie f , brother Sir William Moncrie that

E v iot o f E v io t f Ilk , Patrick , brother Colin o Bal housie , conspirators , perpetrators , and concealers

o f o f afte rme nt io ne d . Y the crime treason , o u will apprehend them personally at the places o f their habitation , and by public proclamation at the

o f market crosses Edinburgh , Perth , Haddington , and other necessary places . If they cannot be found

o ur r personally , as being outwith kingdom , o having no certain dwelling place there , upon pre

of a monition Sixty days , so that this summons c n

13 1 THE RU THVEN FAMI LY PAPERS

to truly come their notice , to compear before us , or o ur o n of j ustice court , the fourth day November

o n next , in our parliament to be held at Edinburgh

o f the first day of the said month , in the hour cause

o f t o o r o ur with continuation days , answer to us j ustice court in the foresaid parliament , upon the

f afte rme nt io ned crime o treason , to wit , the said f persons , and each o them , for his being treason ably art , part , counsel , and assisting , in that nefarious and execrable conspiracy , plot , and abominable perpetration o f that most savage trea

Our son , against noble and sacred person and life ,

o f by the said persons and the deceased John , Earl

Gowrie , and the deceased Alexander Ruthven , his

C ransto un brother , the deceased Thomas and

r in lt George C ag ge , his servants ; and their other f accomplices , o their causing and commanding assistance in the treason committed and perpetrated by them o n the 5t h o f August in manneras follows .

Fo r of when the said John , Earl Gowrie , and

Alexander Ruthven , his brother , notwithstanding the innumerable testimonies o f o ur extreme kindness heaped upon them ; with unheard o f and incredible ingratitude they conspired fo r o ur destruction ; and the said Earl had sent his said brother to us at

o n o f Falkland the fifth August , in the hope that he might draw uS to Perth for some advantage ; there being with him Andrew Henderson and Andrew

13 2

THE RUT HVEN FAM ILY PAPERS ment o f that period ; and this spurious indictment is o ne o f the effects of it .

SENTENCE OF PARLIAMENT

th The Scottish Parliament met on 4 November , and evidence having been led as to the due serving o f the summonses , the advocate asked instruments , having presented the King ’s Letter of Relaxation

rd dated 3 October bearing that William Ruthven ,

A E v iot lexander and Harry Ruthven , Patrick , Hew Moncrieff and Andrew Henderson be relaxed from all hornings executed against them at the Mercat '

o f Cross Edinburgh , Perth and Haddington , the said Letter of Relaxation to be registered i n the

Sheriff Court Books o f these Sheri ffdoms . The Commissioners ordain Andrew Henderson to be confined in the Tolbooth o f Edinburgh .

' The so - called Gowrie Conspiracy so long em bedded in the mists of obscurity is by the repro duction o f the Ruthven version bereft o f its mystery , and is now before us , in the fierce light

ffi has o f the twentieth century . The o cial version

o f hist o rv long puzzled historians , and no writer would have been readier t o publish and discuss the

Ruthven version than o ur great historians , Mr

Fraser Tytler o r Lord Hailes . This version , now

fo r f fo r published the first time , a fords material

I 3 4 TRAGE D Y I N FIVE ACTS serious deliberation . Among the statements which

’ arrest attention is the King s request to the Earl o f Tullibardine to be at Gowrie House o n 5 t h August

00 at midday , the fatal day , with 3 horsemen to escort him to Falkland . This request is unchal le ngeable and proves to a demonstration that the conspiracy was all prearranged . Again , when the royal suite was assembled in front of Gowrie House to escort the King to Falkland when all was over , the King was to give the alarm , according to arrangement , that his life was in danger . When the alarm was given that Gowrie was slain , the Magistrates and people o f Perth rushed to Gowrie

House and a furious mob assembled . The King n had to take refuge for his own safety , and did o t t attempt to return o Falkland until night , when darkness set i n and he would be safe from f personal v iolence . The Magistrates o P erth were f entirely ignorant o the conspiracy . It appears to have been formed to carry o ut a tragedy in five acts . The first was the murder o f Gowrie and his companions ; the second was the annihilation of the Ruthvens by Royal Proclamation ; the third was the confiscation and seizure o f the Gowrie estates and their division among the conspirators ; the fourth was the sham depositions in favour of the King by bribed witnesses taken by the Scottish

Parliament and taken also at Falkland ; and the last

13 5 THE RUTHVEN FAM I LY PAPERS

o f act the exhibition . the dead bodies in Court and the infamous sentence delivered by the j udge , who should have been utterly ashamed o f himself . A highly suspicious element was the King ’s escort from Falkland to Perth . Usually when Perth was honoured with a royal visit the King ’s escort would be a dozen horsemen . On this occasion there was double that number , and

o n upwards of Sixty people foot , walking in gro rj p s o f three o r four at considerable intervals , to avoid suspicion . This exception ally large escort calls for explanation , and the explanation appears to be that though the King does not make the slightest reference to it in the ffi o cial narrative , we must take it in conjunction with his request to Tullibardine fo r. 3 00 horsemen fo r the return journey ; and a calm survey o f both

can o n leaves no doubt , and leave no doubt , any unprej udiced mind , that those who formed the escort would be summoned some days beforehand , and that a conspiracy in these circumstances was a deliberate and illegal plot , carried out by six nobles whose names are given , while the summoning of the escort in advance proves to a demonstration that

John , Earl of Gowrie , and his brother were perfectly innocent Of any intention to molest o r assassinate the King ; the King himself being the n aggressor . Then there is the question of the co

136

THE RUTHVEN FAMI LY PAPERS

o f Acts the Scottish Parliament , on I st November 1600 the posthumous trial of the Earl o f Gowrie and his brother took place in Edinburgh . On 15th November sentence was pronounced by the pre siding j udge that the name , memory and dignity of Gowrie and his brother be extinguished , their arms cancelled , their possessions confiscated to the King for ever ; their bodies to be carried to the

o f Mercat Cross Edinburgh ; and there hanged ,

afli xed drawn and quartered , and thereafter to the

o f most public places Edinburgh , Perth , Dundee and Stirling . Three months after the assassination , the bodies having been ordered by the King no t to be interred were conveyed from Perth t o Edinburgh to await their trial before the Scottish Parliament sitting in the Tolbooth there . The spectacle was repulsive and appalling and the Scottish Parlia ment must be held responsible fo r the o utrageous and brutal and unlawful proceedings that followed proceedings that in no circumstances could be

r defended o j ustified . Every conceivable insult to the dead bodies of the two i nnocent young men was perpetrated by the

’ King s order and by the sanction o f the Scottish

o f Parliament , which he was for the moment Lord

Paramount . Why was all this permitted ? The

o r dead bodies were hanged , drawn , disembowelled , and quartered : the heads hung on the Tolbooth

13 8 THE R UTHVEN VERS I ON o f Edinburgh and the legs and arms sent to

Perth . From the earliest period of Scottish history we shall search i n vain for a similar case o f downright cruelty and butchery ; and the remarkable thing is that no reason is given save the frivolous one o f treason . It seems an extraordinary thing that a Scottish Parliament of that period should have been so much under the thumb o f the King as to be allowed to perpetrate this inhuman outrage .

CHARTER OF SURRENDER BY WILLIAM , EARL OF

GOWRIE 2 8th . 1 8 , Feb 5 3

W etc . illiam , Earl of Gowrie Surrenders the

o f lands and barony Ruthven , with the Tower ,

Fortalice , Manor , Mills , Multures , Mill Lands ,

Salmon and other fisheries , with the advowson and donation o f the chapels o f Ruthven and Tibber

o f Ballinbre ich Pitcairne more ; the lands , y , Craig e n all Arde ndachie Hardbauch g , , a third part of the lands of Airley wight ; the village and lands o f

C ult ran o f D e n ree n f y , the lands g , the Mill o Auch t e r av e n f g , with a moiety o the multures and mill lands ; the lands of Mo ney d ie and Balmblair ' a third part o f the lands and barony o f Baled garno , with the Castle and Fortalice ; a third part o f the lands and barony o f Abe rny t e ; a third part o f the lands and barony o f

I 39 T HE RUTH VE N FAMILY PAPERS

Forgandenny , with the advowson and donation

f o f o the Chapel Forgandenny , lying within the Sheriffdom of Perth ; a third of the lands and barony o f Seggie in the Sheriffdom of Kinross ; all the lands o f Balerno and Newton ; the village and lands of Co usland lying within the Sheriffdom o f Edinburgh ; a third part of the lands and barony o f Dirleton with the Tower , Fortalice , Manor and the village and lands of Dirleton a third part o f the

o f Bowto n . lands , with the Mills , fisheries etc in f salt and fresh water , and right of appointment o f f ff f Baili f o Dirleton , all in the Sheri dom o Edin burgh ; and Constabulary of Haddington ; a third

of Hassint owe r part the lands of and Halliburton ,

o f f with the Chapel Halliburton , and the tenants o f the said baronies , lying within the Sheri fdom o f Berwick ; all to be assumed and incorporated in one

t be whole , free , barony now and in future o called

the barony o f Ruthven . And that one sasine only be taken at the principal

Fo rtalice of f Ruthven , su ficient for all and singular the lands and baronies above specified ; which lands and baronies incorporated into o ne whole and free

barony as aforesaid the said William , Earl of

o f Gowrie , Lord Ruthven and Dirleton , did purely

and simply resign , with all the rights and claims ,

and o r property positions , which he had might

o f have , in favour James Ruthven his eldest son

140

CHAPTER V I I I

— P RI VY COUNCIL NARRATI VE SCONE ABBE Y S AC KE D AND — — BURNE D E ARL OF GOW RIE COMME NDATO R FOR — FRITUR E O F T HE GOW RrE s ARRAN DICTATO RSHI P — LENNo x- AR RAN DUUMVIRATE RETURN OF THE HAMIL

To N — E B IE NOT To BE I E RR E D —O s D AD OD S NT J HN , THIRD E AR L O F GOW RI E BIOG RAPHICAL NAR RATIVE — MARRIAG E OF LADY LILIA S RUTH VE N KNO" AND QUEE N MARY

W E come now to the political narrative as recorded in the Privy Council Register . The oldest erected lordship mentioned is the Earldom of Gowrie comprehending these lands of the Abbacy o f Scone which had been bestowed in

I 8 1 o n n 5 William , Lord Ruthven , o his promotion to the Earldom . Although the chief o f the Ruthven

Raid administration , he had forfeited his honours and his life in 15 84 ; after the subversion o f the brief administration by the dictatorship of the pseudo Arran there had remained sufficient respect fo r his accuracy among the members of the ministry o f the Ruthven lords to enable him to procure the repeal o f his forfeiture by the restoration i n I 586 o f the estates o f

v the Ruth en family , and James , the eldest surviving

142 PRIVY C OU NC IL RE C ORD so n o f was now the family , a mere youth as yet , f second Earl o Gowrie , with four younger brothers

— o f about him , and seven sisters some them married f t o great personages . Hence the fitness o specify i ng that the Gowrie Earldom was almost the chief among the erected lordships that was to be left un touched by the Act o f Annexation . After the final forfeiture o f the Gowrie family in 1600 it was again V erected for David Murray , Lord Scone , and is

f 1 count Stormont , i n the Parliament o 606 and by charter o f 1608 which includes the priory o f Loch

Tay . The famous Abbey o f Scone had been sacked and burned in June 1559 by the Reforming

o f “ f populace Perth and Dundee , by way o special

o f of demonstration their hatred Patrick Hepburn ,

o f its B ishop Moray , who was then Commendator .

ffi 1 He had held both o ces since 538 , and continued his un' popularity notwithstanding he held both ffi o ces nominally , after the Reformation till his death in I 5 73 . The abbey and lands then came into the

o f possession William , Lord Ruthven , Counsellor and Lord Treasurer of the King , through the

o f Regency Mar, and subsequently through that o f

Morton ; and the Len nox- Arran administration o f — — December 1s8o August 158 2 created Ruthven

o f Earl Gowrie , October I 58 1. He held the Abbacy o f Scone from that date . No t a new Commendator

143 THE RUTHVEN FAMILY PAPERS

ship , but as incorporated with the Earldom , and he continued so to hold it through his premiership of the Ruthven Raid Government , which superseded

- the Lennox Arran rule , and lasted from August

1 8 2 5 to July 1583 .

After this fall , and the forfeiture of the Gowrie

1 8 title and estates , by Act of Parliament , in May 5 4, b the a bey lands were granted to David Lindsay , tenth Earl of Crawford , from whom , however , they

1 8 were recovered for the Ruthven family before 5 7, in wh ich year the Commendator of Scone was John f Ruthven , third and last Earl o Gowrie , then but a child .

1 8 1 8 From July 5 3 to November 5 5 , came the tremendous anti - Presbyterian Dictatorship o f

' Captain James Stewart , the pseudo Arran , by him

1 8 1 8 self ; and finally , from November 5 5 to July 5 7 there was what may be called the coalition ministry f of the Restored Lords , consisting o a tolerably harmonious combination o f politicians o f different

o f antecedents and principles , chiefly survivors the

Ruthven Raiders .

' The Lennox - Arran duumvirate gave way in August 158 2 before the assault of the Ruthven

Raiders , and Len nox had to retire to France . The

Ruthven Raid administration , which superseded the duumvirate , was too short even if it had been possible to bring about the return of the Hamil

I 44

o HN RUTHV E N BO 1 G OW RI E BR C j , RN 753 ( AN H) SEC O SON O E S U V E BOR 1 2 ND F J AM R TH N , N 7 5 PRIVY C O UNC IL RE CORD tons ; and when Captain James Stewart broke up

v the Ruthven Raid Go ernment , and sent its Chiefs to keep company with the Hamiltons i n their banish

so le ment , he planted himself in that Dictatorship which he continued to hold from 15 th July 1583 til l f November I 5 85 . A fairs seemed at their gloomiest

- f r . for the Hamiltons , as o all their fellow exiles In November 1585 there did come the final turn f o the wheel ; which threw Arran to the ground ,

and brought back the Hamiltons with their exiles ,

t o form the Coalition Government , which restored

to lands , and gave something like peace Scotland

at last . This was substantially a revival o f the

Ruthven Raid administration . (Privy Counci l

I st v l . . Register , Series , o i )

That famous but mysterious incident , known as th the Gowrie Conspiracy , occurred at Perth , s

August 1600 . In a letter from the King to the

Council , received in Edinburgh from Falkland be

’ an i fore ten o clock the following morning , subst t

' it e fl ect ally was to the that the King , while hunting

near Falkland , was i nduced by Alexander Ruthven

to go to Perth . A narrative was put forward in print by his Majesty ’s command a month after the

event .

of hi At a convention estates at Holyrood , s

’ Majesty s letter was read to the clergy containing

a curious proclamation and thanksgiving , and Sir

K 145 THE RUTHVEN FAMILY PAPERS David Lindsay arriving from Falkland at the moment related his movements and reported the facts . The clergy remained firm in their

’ refusal to comply with the King s letter . If the Earl and his brother had been guilty o f the alleged treasonable raid , men would be readier thereby to doom their name to eternal infamy ; meanwhile they must forbear . The council accordingly had to

’ commute the King s order fo r a general thanks giving o f all the clergy in the City into an order for publication o f the same at the Mercat Cross of

Edinburgh , with ringing of bells and bonfires , the people with uncovered heads to praise G o d ; cannons to be fired from the castle between three

P . M. ut and four , and bonfires set o before all the houses that night .

6th 1600 t On August , Parliament is said o have

r thought fit , by proclamation at the Mercat C Oss of

Edinburgh , to notify the happy deliverance of their sovereign lord from great danger ; with the death o f traitors ; this Parliament requiring them to give thanks to God for his deliverance , and to cause the bells in the burgh to be rung ; and at night bonfires , wit hin the burgh ; in the C ano ngate and in Leith ; also orders David Lindsay to praise God within the K irk and ordains the people to accompany him . th A decree was issued from Falkland , s August

146

THE RU THVE N FAM ILY PAPE RS the Charge under pain o f death . (Pri v y Council

2 nd v l . . Register , Series , o i )

HN EARL OF GOWRIE : SHORT BIOGRAPH Y JO ,

o f John , third Earl Gowrie , was born about the

1 8 was n t n year 57 , and o quite eleven years of age o his accession t o t he Earldom . Care was taken in his education that he should be well acquainted with f the principles o religion , and that his mind Should be pi ously disposed towards the Presbyterian

Church , then established in Scotland . The super intendence of his education was c ommitted to f Robert Rollock o the College , Edinburgh , an eminent and pious divine , and author of various b ooks . The Earl , says a modern writer , was

cl brought up under Rollock , who early loved him

o f because his good behaviour , and the virtue which a appeared in him . His ordinary te cher was

who William Rhynd , a cleric of some learning , ,

' while the Earl lived , continued his attendance , always anxiously concerned about the morals o f his pupil . The Church Records o f Perth inform us o f n a William Rhynd , the so of Sir Robert Rhynd , a priest ; which Sir Robert had , i n the Popish times , be en chaplain to three several altars i n the Parish

f o f Church of Perth . But the preceptor o the Earl Gowrie seems rather t o have been a so n of that

148 BIO GRAPHY OF EA RL J O HN William Rhynd who was the first Protestant

o f K innoull minister of the adjoining parish , and who along with his parochial charge had the rector

f f . ship o the Grammar School o Perth The Earl , after having gone through the ordinary course o f grammar , probably at the Perth school , went to

1 8 . Edinburgh College , about the year 5 9 His master there was Charles Ferme , who had been

o ne who newly elected of the Regents , and then began to teach a class . It was the custom at the

o n College , that the same master carried the pupils who had entered his class three years for the study of logic , mathematics , and moral philosophy ; at the end o f which time they received a literary

. f degree I n the published history o the College , it is said the Sixth Class , educated under Charles

— o f Ferme , was Laureate that is , capped Master

- Arts 12 t h August 1593 .

The schools were nineteen in number . The Earl o f Gowrie seems to have attended the Class in which the Municipal and Roman Laws were taught , from

1 1 October 593 to August 594, and it is remarkable that notwithstanding his nonage , and his being f only a pupil at the College , the Town Council o

1 2 Perth began in 59 to elect him as their Provost .

1 In 593 the Earl of Gowrie , young as he was , was

- in- brought into public notice by his brother law , the f Earl o Atholl . I n the contest then subsisting

I 49 THE R UTH VE N FAMILY PAPERS

between the Protestant and Catholic lords , the Earls o f Atholl and Montrose , who were attached to the

Protestant i nterest , levied troops , and came to Doune Castle with the intention of compelling the

’ King t o follow their counsels . The King s troops f opposed them , and Atholl was in danger o being

Slain . But Atholl and Montrose , who had the

young Earl of Gowrie in their company , afterwards

made their peace with the King . Gowrie was not

blamed , because he was only a minor .

6th 1 On August 594, the Earl acquainted the Town Council o f Perth that he was now to go

abroad for his further education and they , to Show

their respect for the Ruthven family , and the hope which they entertained for his promising q ualifi ca

tions , bound themselves by a written instrument ,

that same day , attested by witnesses , that they would choose him annually as their Provost till he

should return to his native country . It was long a practice in Scotland that noblemen and other per sons who wished to acquire a Character for eminent

learning , after having graduated at College , went for some time to one o r other o f the foreign Univer

o f Sities , where greater variety i nstruction was expected ; and often afterwards they made what is called a tour o f Europe The University most popular at that time was Padua i n Venetian terri

tory . It was famous fo r its ten Colleges and fo r

r50

THE RUTHVE N FAMILY PAPERS not only favoured with the benefit of Your Majesty ’s good countenance at all times but also that it hath pleased Your Majesty so well t o accept of me as to honour me with your most loving

wide o f letter , which is a certain Sign and testimony Your Majesty ’s good favour and graciousness to wards me ; and I esteem it so much that , I would think myself very happy , if it should please Your n Majesty to command me in a ything , whereby Your Majesty might have proof o f my prompt and

’ faithful obedience ; for Your Majesty s worth and valour (power , virtue)besides the particular parti ality shown to me , merits whatsoever I am able t o

do , and a hundred thousand times more . In the

v end I pray Your Majesty to ha e me excused , seeing I have had the audacity to write again

fo r f to Your Majesty , not having the comfort o

’ ‘ Your Majesty s presence , I could not declare my x willing mind better than by using the ne t remede . In the meantime I repose myself still in Your

’ Go d o f Majesty s constant favour till , His mercy ,

grant , that I shall see Your Majesty in so good f contentment o all . So craving earnestly the

estate as I wish , which will give me the greatest Creator of all things to bless Your Majesty with all

felicity and satisfaction i n health , with an increase

of many prosperous days , I kiss devoutly Your

’ Majesty s hands .

15 2 RUTHVENS I N FAVOUR

’ Your Majesty s most humble subject , and ” RIE . obedient serv ant , in all devotion , GOW

ADUA z ik S e tember 1 . P , 4 p 595

This letter is in the laboured style of a young man of good sense and promising talents , and who had passed the seventee nth year o f his age . There is no j ust reason to suspect the sincerity o f the

o f professions it contains . The King at the time the Earl ’s father ’s death had not arrived at his ” perfect age , and , though nominally governing in the kingdom , was acting under the fascinating

fl ue nce of James Stewart , Earl of Arran , and there fore could not be greatly blamed . To obliterate if possible in the minds o f the

o f re children of William , Earl Gowrie , every

’ se ntful remembrance of their father s death , the estates and honours which had been forfeited

were returned to them . The King was continually

giving them tokens o f his favour . The daughters

were i n great credit with the Queen , and obtaining

honourable marriages , and the younger son , Alex

bo ander Ruthven , when almost a mere y , was ffi ’ raised to an o ce at Court near the King s person .

o six of Ab ut five years and months of John , Earl

’ Gowrie s Short life was spent in foreign parts ,

before he returned to Scotland . It would have been

15 3 THE RUTHVE N FA MILY PAPERS satisfactory to have had a detailed account o f his conduct and behaviour while abroad , and of the persons with whom he was chiefly conversant .

o f o f After his death , it was the policy the Court Scotland to encourage every vague report which Tw could be reckoned prej udicial to his character . o of these reports have been propagated , and pro

e sse dl o n f y relied , by some writers , and it is therefore proper that they should be examined .

William Sanderson , a writer of no great reputa

16 tion , whose historical work was printed in 56,

: . says I have a MS which relates that in Padua , in a fencing school , the Earl of Gowrie caused to be painted for his device , a hand and sword aiming at a crown Mr Sanderson does not in any degree authenticate this MS .

o n George Crawford in his book the peerage , after giving an account of the Gowrie family , says I have in my hand an authentic copy of the Earl

’ 1 of Gowrie s arms , richly illuminated , anno 597, with the name and titles viz . Joannes Ruthven ,

Comes de Gowrie , Dominus de Ruthven .

The charge brought against John , Earl of Gowrie , relating to his education and conduct when abroad , was that he had acquired the knowledge o f necro

o r mancy , had used charms amulets , and held to

v e he astrological productions . This charge was

154

THE RUTH VEN FAMILY PAPERS

” o 16 2 . gy , anno 4 , by Dr Thomas Swadling It is ,

t o however , be remarked that astronomers , who were laudably employed i n observing distances , and mak

o f wh i ng the heavenly bodies , together with those o professed to assist the planetary influences , and the

o f actions and destinies man , were comprehended under the general name o f astrologers ; also chemists who from the experiments which they exhibited were usually reckoned the same as magicians . In the library of the Literary and Antiquarian Society of

Perth there is a manuscript book , in small Saxon

o r o f letter , written before when the art printing scarcely was practised in Scotland . It was pre sented to the Society in 1785 by the late John

Gillies , stationer , in Perth , who was an industrious collector of curious articles . Besides a great number o f medical receipts in a treatise called The ” T r a ur e so of pure men , it contains a treatise under the following title This is the mirror o rglass o f Hell ” necessary and needful for every person to n look o , that will keep their body from the sickness f o the pest ; and it shows when the planets rise , every hour o f the day and night ; and Shows remedies fo r divers infi rmit ies and diseases that hurt the body o f man . The author styles himself

o f o f Thomas Moulton , Doctor Divinity , the

’ Friars Preachers (Dominicans). The book anciently belonged to persons o f a

156 D AME LILIAS RUTHVEN

- respectable station who bore a religious character . On the title-page is written This book did some time belong to Lady Dame Lilias Ruthven , Lady

so n Drummond , which her second James , Lord

o f Madderty , gave to John Fairbairn , Minister

Madderty , and which he bequeathed to Dame Anne

Gordon , Lady Drummond , 4 April

Dame Lilias Ruthven was a daughter of William , second Lord Ruthven , sister to Patrick , third Lord , and aunt t o the first Earl o f Gowrie . She was

a 1 6 married about the ye r 54 to David , second Lord

f . Drummond , ancestor to the Earls o Perth Calder wood says she had a great pearl i n her eye and a pe arl of godliness in her heart and was a zealous ” promoter o f the true religion . This pious lady probably v alued the book because it assisted her in prescribing some safe methods of cure to sick and poor people . After it came into the possession of her second son , Lord Madderty , attention was paid to the succession and reign of the planets therein described . On a blank page was written the dates o f birth of his eight children . Almost every person o f note had i n former times

o f a horoscope , or a calculation in draft , the posi tion in which the planets were at the hour of their birth . The Earl of Gowrie , like other great men , it f may be presumed had a copy o his horoscope , which he may have be en tempted to show when he 157 THE RUTHVE N FA MILY PAPERS was abroad . But it may also be presumed that his religion and good sense prevented him from paying serious attention to any prognostications which an astrologer might found upon . It was long cus t o mary with some malevolent persons to c ulum n iate good men as having consulted wizards and

’ used magical charms . The Earl s father was so

who calumniated , as Spottiswoode i nforms us , , when Speaking of his execution at Stirling , says he t was a wise man , but was reported o have been too curious , and to have consulted wizards concerning f the state o things in future times .

Yet , adds Spottiswoode , he was not Charged therewith in his indictment , nor seemed to be touched therewith at his death , which i n the j udg ment o f the spectators was very peaceable and ” quiet . Even John Knox was represented by the Catholic party as a necromancer o r a practiser o f what is called the Black Art , which some of their writings if t est v . In the first interview which he had with

1 6 1 Queen Mary , after her arrival from France in 5 , which was carried on with a great deal o f good

o n temper both sides , the Queen frankly said Mr

v John , I ha e been told that all that you have done ” was by the power of necromancy . Knox replied

Madam , whereas they slander me of magic , necro G d mancy , and other such arts , as o has forbidden ,

15 8

CHAPTER I"

I I C I I C E O OW G A DE PO S T ON S ONF RMAT ON HART R F C S K, ’ V E C S R I E THE 12 2 3 RE . JAM S S OTT NAR AT V — ATHOLL E ARLDOM SI R JOHN RAMSAY AND THE HAWK — — KING P RAIS E S G OD FOR HI S V ICTO RY W ILLIAM AND — PATRICK RUTHVE N CLE RGY SUMMONE D BE FORE PRIVY

C CI — E BO W E LL IC C W Y OUN L AR L OF TH , PATR K ALLO A ,

W E AND M. COOP R

I T is certain , however , that papers , i n which were

written Latin and Hebrew characters , were once in

his possession . His tutor , Rhynd , was examined at

th 1600 Falkland , 9 August , concerning these

papers . This honest and good man , whose

o n Simple oath might have been depended , was put into that engine o f torture called “ ” e the Boots , and was so cruelly handl d that his

legs never afterwards were well . The torment did not force from him any declaration which could B j ustly tend to convict the Earl o f Gowrie . ut he

fo r deponed that , having gone from the Earl a

o n V short time a visit to enice , he found when he

returned to Padua , that the Earl had got some

papers marked with Latin and Hebrew characters ,

which he was carrying in his pocket . He asked

how him , as it behoved him to do , where and he

160 E S RU HVE N BO 1 8 G W RI E B J AM T , RN 7 3 ( O RANCH) SON O O H R VE BO N 1 F J N UTH N , R 753

THE RUTHVEN FAMILY PAPERS

William Sanderson , in his Scottish History ,

16 2 written in 5 , seems to have received the truest information . He says a parchment bag was taken

’ o ut of the Earl s bosom , with characters , and these

m a te tra mm ton . letters , put together , made g

te tra mmmaton The word g is Greek , and means four letters . It is applied to indicate the sacred

o f Name , Jehovah , which consists four letters in

Hebrew . It was supposed , when pronounced with f faith , to be accompanied with a powerful e ficacy , and was used as an amulet . Probably each letter o f the word was written o n small and Separate

o f pieces paper in the Latin , Hebrew and Greek alphabets . The pieces would thereby be numerous , and would appear mysterious to those persons who had not previously learned how to arrange them . We are called upon to trust in the Name o f the

Lord , but the precept means that we are to trust in

o f no t in the perfection His Nature , and the letters o f His Name . To use the letters as an amulet would be superstitious and unwarrantable , and co nfi ding in a meth o d o f o ur own devising . The understanding o f the Earl o f Gowrie must have been far below that o f the rest o f man

if t o kind , trusting a spell in his pocket , he had ventured to attack the life or the liberty o f a King i n the midst of his nobles , and when he must have known that almost every person in the kingdom

162 J A ME S W EMYSS OF BO GIE would have loudly called for punishment t o be in

fl ict ed upon him . The religion in which he had

e b en educated , and which he seemed always seri o usl re sum y to confess , taught him that it was p p t uo us to look for the Divine protection in enterprises which were rash and inconsiderate ; and impious to seek for it in such as were unlawful . The supposi

o f tion , therefore , of his having been guilty the

i re rashness and gross mpiety , which his enemies presented , is to be reckoned untenable and should be rejected .

’ o f James Wemyss Bogie (Fife), the Earl s cousin , who had gone with him to the deer- stalking at

S t rat hb raan 1600 , in Atholl , in , a few weeks before

’ n the Earl s death , deposed that he neither heard , o r

o f saw in the Earl Gowrie , any appearance o f a treasonable intention . If he had conversed with ” him about things curious , he said that some o f the company found an adder and killed it , which being reported to the Earl , he said Bogie , if the adder had not been slain I should have Showed y o u good sport , for I would have made her to stand so that she Should not have passed away Wemyss asked him how he could have done that . He replied “ by pronouncing a Hebrew word which i n the

Scottish language means holiness . He did not remember the Hebrew word , but the Earl said he f had put it in practice often be ore . Wemyss asked

163 THE RUTH VEN FAMILY PAPERS him where he go t the Hebrew word ; the Earl said t he go it from a cabalist of the Jews , and that the Cabala contained words which the Jews had by tradition ; which words were spoken by God to

Adam in Paradise , and therefore were of greater effi cacy and force than any words which were ex ” cogitate Since by Prophets and Apostles . Wemyss inquired if nothing more than the word was re q uisite ; the Earl replied that a firm faith in God was necessary and that all these things were natural

no and marvel among scholars also , the Earl said that he had spoken with a man in Italy of whom he had first heard by report that he was a necromancer ; but afterwards he was informed that he was a very learned man , and a deep theologian , and that he entered into dealing with him anent the ” curiosities o f nature . The Earl further said that being o ne time at music he fell into company with f another man who , staring him i n the ace , spoke things o f him to the rest of the company which he ” never could attain unto or be worthy of . The Earl reprimanded him and desired him to forbear these speeches . But afterwards having met him again in the like company he began to make such speeches as he had done before . Whereupon the Earl said to

: him My friend , if you will not hold your peace f from speaking lies o me , I will make you hold your ” peace by speaking truth of you . He then told him

164

THE RUTHVEN FA MILY PAPERS

accurate , when he said that the Earl had told him he had often tried the experiment o f charming an adder ; in such a case a cabalistic word could have had no effect . But it appears from this de position that the Earl o f Gowrie was now rather

o f vain of his learning , was a cheerful temper with out guile , and communicated i n his conversation what he would not have done , if he had been har bo uring in his mind any treasonable design .

John Colville , who had acted as secretary to a f very turbulent nobleman , Francis Stewart , Earl o

’ Bothwell , but who , after that Earl s exile , had obtained a pardon from the King , got by some means into his hands a written prediction relating to the Earl of Gowrie . He transmitted it to the

King , and Nicholson , the English Ambassador , wrote concerning it in a letter to Sir Robert Cecil , 2 2 nd November 1600 : One Colville has sent t o the King the collection (calculation)o f the fortunes to befall the Earl of Gowrie upon his Nativity ,

’ o wn written in French , in the Earl s hand and found at Orleans ; it states that he Should return to his own country , should be in great credit , seek a ” wife , and die with his sword in his hand . Sander so n mentions the same prognostication , and says it was found by the Earl of Argyll at Orleans , in the house in which Gowrie had lodged , and that it further stated that though much loved he Should

166 CLE RICAL D EPOS IT I ONS fall into melancholy . It probably contained the substance of what had been uttered by the danger o us t physiognomist , whom the Earl mentioned o Wemyss as a person whom he had repulsed at the

. not concert of music This man , however , did ’ wh calculate the Earl s nativity , o perhaps had never shown his horoscope to any person when abroad , but read his fortune by staring in the face . Though

as the Earl afterwards committed it to writing , a

o f matter curiosity , it could give him no encourage n me t to engage in any ambitious project , as it told him he had to die with a sword in his hand ; and he

o f evidently thought it no importance , otherwise he would not have left it carelessly in the house in which he lodged .

These are all the grounds on which , after his f death , Gowrie was charged with the crime o necro

. o ne o f mancy Patrick Galloway , the Court Chap

t o lains , endeavoured persuade the people in his

o f sermon at the Cross Edinburgh , and afterwards at Glasgow that the Earl o f Gowrie was plainly

to proved have been a student of magic , a conj uror ” o f of devils , and had many them at his command .

o n f Even the pious William Co per , then o e o the

o f ministers Perth , and afterwards Bishop Of Gal n loway , but who happened o t to be in Perth o n the day when the Earl and his brother were slain , was staggered in his Opinion by the supposition that

167 THE RUTHVE N FAMILY PAPERS the Earl had been a practiser o f unlawful arts . In his sermon at Perth , and afterwards at Edinburgh , he lamented that he whom they all had loved and of whom they entertained a high opinion , had gone beyond the compass of godliness . A Latin book also was “ 160 1 R av enorum printed at Edinburgh i n , entitled ” ons iratio C p , in which the sin of combining with infernal spirits was fully displayed , and the Earl in the grossest language accused o f having been a magician . Notwithstanding all the clamour which was ex

’ o f cited by the bag papers said , by the King s

’ account , to have been found in the Earl s pocket ; by Sanderson , to have been found in his bosom , and by Spottiswoode to have been hanging at his ff girdle , and supposed to have had such an e ect that the body did not bleed till the girdle was loosed and taken away . Notwithstanding the harsh Opinion which his enemies expressed o f what was written on the papers contained in the bag it is not improbable that these inscriptions were nothing more than chemical marks and characters , which are indeed so very uncouth in their appearance that they might be easily mistaken for magical signs by those persons who were not well acquainted with t the chemical science . The Earl might choose o have them always i n his pocket for the purpose of assistin g his memory in his favourite study , which

168

THE RU TH VEN FAMILY PAPERS

KALE N DAR OF S UC C E S S I O N

OH N rd E A R L OR O RI E J , 3 G W — l 6o o 19 o o

N AME BORN DI E D

R E John uthven , only child of the arl of Gowrie R John uthven , his son N 2 John Ruthven , son of o .

R N . James uthven , son of o 3 N R . James uthven , son of o 4

R N . James uthven , son of o 5

R No . 6 James uthven , son of

R N . James uthven of Hull , son of o 7 Representative of the Earls of Gowrie

— R . N OTE James uthven , No 5 of the Kalendar , had a daughter R R Jean , who married her cousin , James uthven (son of John uthven ,

The R brother of James ). issue of this marriage was James uthven , M R - who was father of rs uthven Stuart ; this lady is an only child , and is in the direct line of succession .

CHARTER OF CONFIRMATION 12 2 REIGN OF LE" , 3 , A

D O G Y E L F AN ER I . F A RANT B B RT AR O I , RO , E

TRATH EARN O F THE LAN D S OF C OW G AS K To S ,

’ ALTER S ON OF ALAN AND E ILIA R o BE RT s W , , C C ,

Li e I s SI STER AND WIFE OF WALTER . ( b r n ule

Miss r a am i . . n , p . xxvi f Bannaty e Club , Edin

burgh , ER ROB T , Earl of Strathearn , to all who shall see o r hear o f the present writing Greeting Know v e that I have granted and by this my

170 C HA RTER O F C OW G AS K

so n Charter have confirmed to Walter , of Alan , and

o f to Cecilia my sister , and to the heirs born the foresaid Cecilia , that grant which Earl Gilbert of

o f K ul asc Strathearn , my father , made of the land g (C o wgask)to the foresaid Walter along with my sister aforesaid

To o f be held by him and his heirs , me and my

heirs , in fee and heritage , in all its right marches and all its lawful pertinents , and in all liberty , fully and honourably as the Charter o f my father testifies .

Further , I and my heirs will guarantee to the said

Walter and Cecilia and their heirs , the foresaid

o f land , i n all respects according to the tenor my

’ father s charter , against all men . R e ddend o annually to me and my heirs certain

o r fo r gilt spurs , six pennies , at Pentecost all service

and aid , and exaction , and secular use . By these witnesses f Sir Hugo , bishop o Dunkeld ;

o f Robert , abbot Scone ;

I o f I nchaff ra nnocent , abbot y ;

o f Fergus , brother the Earl ; Laurence o f Abernethy ;

o f Malise and Gilbert , brothers the Earl ;

Malise , seneschal ;

Gilbert , archdeacon ; Duncan Mac Malise ;

o f Brice , thane Dun "keld

17 1 THE RUTHVEN FAMILY PAPERS

HARTER O F MORTIFICATION BY ILLIAM FIR ST C W ,

RD UTH VEN 1 0 R EIGN OF AMES V LO R , 5 9 , J I

1 2 In the Register of the Great Seal (vol . xv . , 4 4 15 73)are given summaries o f the contents o f two deeds of mo rtifi cat io n executed at Ruthven o n the 14th and 15th June 1509 and confirmed by King

James I V . at Stirling o n the I st day of July follow ing . The first of these is a deed in the name of

Sir William Ruthven knight of that ilk , feudal lord

o f of the Barony Ruthven , and Lord William

o f Ruthven , lord the same freeholding , by which they assign for pure alms an annual revenue Of

10 Ballinbre ich £ from the lands of , Pitcairn , and C raige ngall in the Barony of Ruthven and County of Perth for the maintenance o f o ne chaplain in the Chapel of St Peter in the manor house o f Ruthven (ap ud manoriem d e R uthv en) who shall celebrate the Divine mysteries for all time coming : which failing from the lands of the whole Barony afore said . On the following day ( 15 th June 1509)the same donors had a similar deed executed providing an

f I O annual revenue o from the same lands , for

fo r pure alms , a chaplain in the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary situated in the cemetery o f

’ Tibbe rmo re the Parish Church of , who Shall cele brate the Divine mysteries in all time coming .

172

THE RUTHVEN FAMILY PAPERS vices Wallace made him Sheriff o f Perth - an offi ce which continued to be hereditary in the family .

o f Ruthven married Marj ory , daughter Sir John

o f 1 2 0 . Ramsay Auchterhouse , and died i n 3 The second Lord Ruthven , who married Jane Halli

o f f r burton , daughter Patrick , Lord o Di leton , had

o ne o f five sons and seven daughters ; them , Lilias , married David , Lord Drummond . Her beauty and her accomplishments are referred to by Lord Strath allan , and her singular piety and her pure religion , by Calderwood , the historian . Gowrie House ,

Perth , was acquired by the Ruthvens by purchase

1 2 . 1 in 5 7 William , fourth Lord , in 5 79 made

- large additions to it . At the south west corner

o f he built the turret , the uppermost Chamber which was a library . I n that apartment his

o n two sons , John and Alexander , were slain

nce iv e d sth August 1600 . It cannot easily be c o that two men so young i n years were capable o f forming a deep and traitorous plot such as

o f has been ascribed to them . The in nocence

o f un re u John , Earl Gowrie , was believed by all p j diced persons ; and Sir Robert Douglas seems to have had this chiefly i n his view , when he says their gentle and peaceable disposition made them to be idolized by all who knew them . Nature and

hem ~ e eciall education had joined in adorning t , sp y the elder, with the most noble accomplishments ;

174 THE PL OT more learning than is usual with persons o f their rank ; more religion than is common i n p ersons at

o f their time life ; generous , brave , popular ; their countrymen far from thinking them capable o f any atrocious crime , conceived the most sanguine hopes ” f 2 8 th 1 o their early virtues . On June 600 took place the execution o f David Drummond for the ’ n slaughter of George Ramsay s man . He was co d e mned i n the first Justice Court that ever John ,

o f Earl Gowrie , held after his return from

Padua . The plot for the assassination o f t he two young

co n men , Gowrie and his brother , appears to have — sisted o f the following parts The catastrophe in view was , that the Earl and his brother should be f put to death in a sudden scu fle ; in which , however , they were to be made to appear as traitors . The f present safety o the King , and of the persons

e c r immediately employed , was to be s cured by o

’ rup t ing some Of the Earl s servants ; and by bring ing a sufficient number o f armed men from the country . A specious pretence was to be contrived

’ for the King s coming to Perth . The King , after dinner in Gowrie House , was to pretend a necessity fo r retiri ng to a private apartment . A report was to be raised that he had gone away t o Falkland . When the courtiers were assembled in the street

was under the windows where the King , the King 175 T HE RUTHVEN FAMILY PAPERS was to cry to them from the window that his life was in danger . His confidential servants were then

o ne to ascend a private stair , and kill first brother , and afterwards the other .

o f Sir John Ramsay , a page or gentleman the bedchamber , was sitting after dinner in Gowrie

House , holding on his arm a hawk ; on the alarm being given that the King was missing , Ramsay , still holding the hawk , which was a present to the t King , went up the broad stair o the Long Gallery , and stood a little while admiring it . When he came down to the courtyard he declared that the King f was no t t o be found . At the opposite door o the gallery chamber , were Lennox and Mar , and other courtiers , knocking for admission . They dispatched f Robert Brown , a servant o the King , to inform him that they who were his friends were waiting to be admitted . Brown , when he returned , saw the dead body o f the Earl o f Gowrie lying on the floor . Having delivered his message the door Was opened to the nobles , and after their entrance , was again

. f locked The a fair having succeeded to his wish , the King , being in perfect safety , came forth from the closet . He knelt upon the floor and all the

. who nobles followed his example The King , was

fo r the speaker , praised God the victory he had obtained , and for his miraculous deliverance .

’ Another party , who were anxious for the Earl s

176

THE RUTHVE N F AMILY PAPERS Sir Thomas Erskine says he heard the Earl

no t at his entry speak some words , but he did understand them . Tradition and MSS . say the words were Where is the King I am come to defend him . The company (Sir Thomas Erskine ,

Sir John Ramsay , Dr Herries and George Wilson)

o n pointed to the dead body the floor , which was

’ to covered with the King s cloak , and , according

’ C ro mart s : Lord y account , said You have killed

o ur o u the King , master , and will y now take our lives The Earl stood astonished . He no longer

ff o f o ered any resistance , but putting the points his t wo swords to the floor cried : Ah "woe is me " Has the King been killed in my house ? ” Sir John Ramsay immediately pierced him to the heart with a sword o r dagger . Even in the time Of the tumult , on the day of his death he was expressing his devout temper o f mind . O my Go d "said he , what can all this mean He did not enter t he the chamber as a conspirator against King , but was professing the contrary . I t appeared to be his wish to know the real nature o f the riot which had taken place in his house , and who they were that were most to be blamed . It was a cowardly action to wound him mortally , when he was making no resistance , especially if it be true , what often has been alleged , that he was wounded through the back . The King , in consequence of the whole

178 THE CLERGY

ff o f a air , and of some other deeds a similar kind ,

o f which were parts what he called kingcraft , lost the confidence and good opinion of a vast number o f his subjects .

6th 1600 Wednesday , August , the Magistrates of Edinburgh intimated to the Clergy the King ’s orders sent from Falkland to offer public thanks to ’ N God for the King s deliverance . O particulars were given o f the alleged treason ; and there were already reports in the town unfavourable to the

’ King s conduct . The Clergy hesitated till they should be instructed as to the truth of the matter .

They were thankful the King was safe , but they could no t intimate their belief Of his being free from blame . Indeed , they strongly suspected he had been exceedingly guilty . They were immediately summoned to the Privy Council , accompanied by the Magistrates . The Clergy wished further light before they could with a safe conscience declare to the people that the late Earl o f Gowrie and his brother had been traitors . The Clergy o f Edin

o f burgh were unanimously this Opinion , Peter

Hewat dissenting . They were therefore com manded by the King and Council no t to preach in any part of his Majesty ’s dominions under the

o f penalty death ; and further , commanded to leave

Edinburgh within forty- eight hours and not to come

o f within ten miles it under penalty o f death .

1 They accordingly left Edinburgh , 4th August , and

179 THE RUTHVE N FAMILY PAPERS the town thereby was destitute o f all its ministers except Hewat . After the infamous sentences against Gowrie and his brother (the dead bodies)were delivered , Alex

o f M n ander and Henry Ruthven Freeland , Hew o ff f ff crie , brother o Sir William Moncrie , and Patrick

E v io t o f E v io t o f Balho usie , brother Colin were also declared traitors and their lands confiscated .

l t h 1600 On Monday , g November , the dead bodies of Gowrie and his brother were hanged and dismembered at the Cross o f Edinburgh . The

o n o f t o heads were fixed the gable the Tolbooth , remain there till the wind should blow them o ff ; their legs and arms were sent to Perth to be fixed above the ports o f the town . Such was the melan ch l o f o f o y end these two young men , whom great hopes had been entertained .

1 2 I n September 60 , William and Patrick Ruth ven came privately to Scotland to solicit a reversal

. o f the attainder . Lady Beatrix Ruthven with some Court ladies visited the Queen at Holyrood and desired her to use her influence with her husband ,

t . the King , to agree o this ; but he refused to do so On his accession to the English Crown in 1603 he issued a proclamation for the arrest of these young men . William escaped and went to the Continent , but Patrick was arrested and imprisoned in the

’

. f Tower of London (SCOTT S History o John , Earl o f Gowrie .)

180

THE RUTHVEN FAMILY PAPERS

o f witnesses (Godfather) James Earl Morton , f Regent , and the Earl of Angus ; nomen , (name o ” f ' Child)James Ruthven . The Earl o Angus was

o f . Archibald Douglas , nephew to the Earl Morton He was afterwards known as the Good Earl o f

Angus . He j oined i n all the schemes of William ,

o f o f Earl Gowrie , and was a firm supporter the

Protestant interest . He was some time i n exile in

1 88 . England , and died in 5 His body was buried

o w n at Abernethy , and his heart , by his request , in

o f . the Church Douglas , Lanarkshire James

o f Ruthven , the child , succeeded as second Earl ’ th Gowrie , after his father s execution at Stirling , 4

o f May 15 84. The Town Council Perth elected him their Provost for 158 7 and 1588 ; but he died

1 88 in the end of July 5 , when he was scarcely f fourteen years of age . He was a youth o great

o f . hopes , and a sweet disposition There is an entry in the Session Records o f 163 7 showing how

. Balv aird this young nobleman was beloved Lady , wh o since the death of her husband , Sir Andrew

o f Balv aird M urray Arngask and , had continued a

- widow about thirty four years , died in February

163 7. In her early days she had been an intimate f companion o the Gowrie family . Before her death S he expressed her earnest desire that her body should be buried at the east end o f the Parish

to o f Church of Perth , close the body James , Earl

-18 2 FAMILY H I STORY

o f Gowrie . John Robertson was at that time

o f minister Perth , and Lady Stormont applied to him desiring that the request of her late mother ,

Balv aird so Lady , should be granted , and if she would give a donation to the poor of £ 100 Scots

o n co n money . The Session granted the request dition that the donation be paid before the ground was opened . The money was accordingly paid , and

Lady Balv aird interred as desired . Another part o f the Session Record certifies that the grave of

- James , Earl of Gowrie , was in the north east nook of — - the Parish Church that is , in the north east corner of the East Church of Perth . The large blue marble stone “ that once covered the tomb is now set in the east wall , having been removed when the organ was placed over the Gowrie vault and , as

two appears by the compartments engraven upon it , was plainly intended to cover two bodies . The two

’ Crowns with which it is decorated are not earls coronets , but real crowns , which is evident from

fl e r- - their having the u de lis . It is probable that it

o f . had covered the bodies James I and his Queen ,

Joan , who were both interred i n the Carthusian Monastery at Perth ; and that after the Reformation it had been brought from the ruins o f that monas t e ry and cared for as a mark of respect t o the memory of that King . As a mark of respect which the town o f Perth bore to the Gowrie family it had

18 3 THE RUTHVE N FAM ILY PAPERS been la id o n the grave o f the young earl in

15 88 .

2 . o f . John , third Earl Gowrie His baptism is not mentioned in the Perth Register . Perhaps he

o r was born at Ruthven Castle , at Edinburgh ,

r while his father was attending Parliament , o at the family seat at Dirleton , East Lothian . As he was no t fully twenty - two years of age at the time o f

1600 his death in , it is probable he was born in

1 8 . his 1 88 5 7 He succeeded brother , James , in 5 , as third Earl of Gowrie , when ten years of age .

3 . Alexander Ruthven was born at Perth , and his baptism is thus recorded : Perth 2 2 January

- 1 80 8 1 . 5 Pater , William , Lord Ruthven witnesses

(Godfather) Earl of Atholl and Alexander , Lord ”

. . l Hume Nomen , Alexander Ruthven Athol was

John Stewart , fifth Earl of Atholl , who about twelve months before had been married to the Queen ’s

- o f name daughter , Mary , eldest daughter William ,

. e Lord Ruthven Alexander , Lord Hum , was the f sixth Lord Hume . He was created Earl o Hume

160 16 1 . in 4, and died in 9 Alexander Ruthven , the

was child now baptised , well educated along with

o f his elder brother , John , under the care Robert

o f . Rollock , Principal the College , Edinburgh

o ne When very young he attended Court , and was o f the gentlemen o f the bedchamber to James V I .

He was very handsome , and a great favourite of

18 4

THE RUTHVE N FAMILY PAPERS

’ evident , however , from the King s having written such a letter that he had meditated a visit to Perth , and did not come merely o n a sudden invitation he had received on the morning of 5t h August . The young man , William Ruthven , was then at the

o f house Dirleton , with the Countess , his mother , and with his younger brother , Patrick , and if he had come t o meet the King at Perth he inevitably would have shared the same fate with his two elder

’ n brothers . The historian further says that o the

. 6th 1600 evening of August , the Master and Sir James Sandilands and some horsemen rode t o Dirle ton to arrest the two young brothers o f the Earl o f

Gowrie , William and Patrick . But they had escaped

- an- o ne half hour before , having been informed , by o f Of the name Kennedy , of the danger they were in . The Countess , their mother , behaved herself soberly till it was said no evil should betide them ,

o f only , they should be committed to the keeping

i

f the K in do m . the Earl O Montrose , Chancellor of g She then burst forth with these words Ah I Ah false traitor , thief , shall my bairns come i nto his ” f hands . The so n and heir o f this Earl o Mon

o r trose , had been either before very soon after , n w married to o ne o f her daughters . B ut the Earl o

o n o f appeared so much the side the King , against her family , that she was provoked to use these words .

186 FA MILY H I STORY

The Countess never afterwards saw her two sons ; they had fled into England . The Scottish Parlia ment in 1600 disinherited them , and banished them from Scotland . William did not remain long in

t o England , but went foreign parts , and nothing further can be added concerning him except Bishop

’ B urnet s remark that William lived beyond seas , became a great chemist and being addicted to

' alchemy it W as given o ut that he had found the

’ ” Philosopher s Stone .

5 . Patrick Ruthven . There is no mention made

o f . him in the Parish Register at Perth Patrick , if he was not a posthumous child , may have been

1 8 1600 born in 5 3 , and therefore in may have been about seventeen years o f age .

After he and his brother fled to England , Theo

o f in dore Beza , the successor Calvi n at Geneva , v ited f them to come to him , and o fered to befriend them to the utmost o f his power . William probably availed himself o f this invitation when he went abroad , but Patrick remained in England and showed an inclination to study physic . On James

V . o f I succeeding to the Crown England , Patrick

o f was committed a prisoner to the Tower London , and continued there until liberated by the King

162 2 00 in , who granted Patrick a pension of £5 per annum . In the Tower , however , he prose c ute d his studies , and improved himself in vari

18 7 THE RUTHVEN FAMILY PAPERS o us branches o f learning . William Sandeman says he now in 165 2 walks the streets as a poor gentleman , but with experience in chemical physic , ” : and other parts of learning , and Crawford adds wh D r Patrick Ruthven left a daughter , o was married to Sir Antony Vandyck the famous

Painter .

f The daughters of William , Earl o Gowrie , were great ladies and honourably married . No prej udice seems to have been entertained against them , not withstanding the forfeiture o f the male issue . The births of only three o f them are recorded in the

Perth Register .

1 . Mary Ruthven . Her parents were married

1 1 6 1 . 7th August 5 In that same month , Queen Mary arrived in Scotland from France ; and about

1 62 the month of August 5 , if not earlier , Mary

Ruthven was born . Her marriage is recorded at

: 2 1 -80 Perth in these words Perth 4 January 5 79 , were married John , Earl of Atholl and Mary ” Ruthven . This was the fifth Earl of the Stewart

who line . By this marriage there were two sons ,

. o f died young , and four daughters The eldest the

be daughters , Lady Dorothea Stewart , afterwards came heiress of Atholl . The Earl and Countess had a house in Perth o n the west side o f the Spey

o h gate . The Earl died in that house , 3 t August

18 8

THE RUTH VEN FAMILY PAPERS him to the Elders of Session at Perth . The Session

: 16 160 Record has the following Perth July 4, the Elders present ; which day anent the complaint

o f given i n by Lady Mary Ruthven , Countess

o f Atholl , upon William Cooper , Minister Perth , touching the contracting by him Of Dorothea

Stewart her eldest daughter , with William Murray ,

o f Tullibard ine Master , without the consent of the said noble Lady , and her friends , as the complaint bears . The complaint was read and William

Cooper having given answer thereto , was removed from the Bar . The Session unanimously find

’ o Cooper s pr ceeding to have been orderly , and

9 , approve and allow the same . It was in co nse q ue nce Of this marriage that the ancient surname Of Stewart in the Atholl family was changed to that of Murray .

2 . . Isabella Ruthven She has been said , but t f without authority , o have been the first child o the

Of Earl and Countess Gowrie , and her name has even been altered from Isabella to Elizabeth . Such inaccuracies often occur in the genealogical table .

Her marriage probably took place in 15 80 . Her f husband was Sir Robert Gordon o Lochinver , ancestor Of the Viscounts o f K e nmure . In his younger days he was celebrated for his great bodily strength , and for his bravery and courage . But his acts of valour against the inhabitants of Annan

19° PERTH RE GI STE R

w ho dale , had provoked his resentment , were tinc t ure d with cruelty and lawless v iolence . He received

160 1 a full pardon from the King about the year ,

o ld after which he lived peaceably , and died an man

alias 1 2 . n in 6 8 His so by the Lady Isabella , Eliza

o r beth , perhaps Catherine , Ruthven , was created

Viscount K e nmure in 163 3 .

3 . Jean Ruthven . It was probably about the year

1 8 5 3 that this lady was married to James , seventh

f . Lord Ogilvie o Airlie Their son , James , was created Earl of Airlie in 163 9 .

. 1 1 4 Sophia Ruthven . It was in 59 that Lady Sophia Ruthven was married to Ludovic

f . Stuart , second Duke o Lennox This nobleman was with the King at Perth , when John , Earl f o . Gowrie , and his brother were Slain After the

o f King succeeded to the Crown England , the

Of Duke Lennox was created , in that country , Duke f o Richmond . The Duchess Sophia having died a year after she was married , the Duke was twice afterwards married in England , but had no issue f o . by any his wives He died in 162 4. (By the ’ King s order Lady Sophia was secluded , before her marriage , at Easter Wemyss , to be o ut o f ’ Lennox s reach , but Lennox found his way there

o ff and carried her , travelling o n horseback all

1 th night , and was married next day , 9 April 159 1

5 . Margaret Ruthven . Some time before 1600

19 1 THE RUTHVE N FA MILY PAPE RS

' wh Lady Margaret was married to John Graham , o

1608 in succeeded his father , the Chancellor , as fourth Earl of Montrose . By this marriage there was issue one son and four daughters . Their son ,

o f . in the time Charles I I , was the famous Marquis o f Montrose . The Register certifies that their youngest daughter , Lady Beatrix , was born and baptised in

Perth . The entry is as follows Perth 7 March

16 1 . f . 5 Pater , Earl o Montrose Witnesses (God father)David Murray , Lord Scone , Adam Bellen

o f . den Bishop Dunblane Nomen , Beatrix ” Graham . She afterwards married David Drum mond , third Lord Madderty . About three years

’ after this , the Countess died , as per Mercer s

1 th 16 18 Chronicle , 5 April , and was buried at

Abe ruthv e n. Whether the Douglas Peerage , which

o r calls her Margaret , the Diurnal , which calls her

Elizabeth , is right , the Montrose family records

1 2 . alone can determine . The Earl died in 6 6

6 . Lilias Ruthven . Entered o n the Register at

2 1 68—6 Perth 7 January 5 9 ; Pater William , Lord f Ruthven , witnesses John Campbell o Glenorchy ,

o f Patrick , Master Drummond ; nomen , Lilias

. f Ruthven Sir John Campbell o Glenorchy , ancestor of the Earls of Breadalbane , built Tay mouth Castle . He joined the Protestant lords in

o f opposing the restoration Queen Mary , after her

19 2

THE RUTHVE N FAMILY PAPERS

o f Methven , was slain by a gun out Edi nburgh t Castle , and was brought o Perth in a boat from

Leith , and was taken to Methven to be buried there ,

“ ’ 2 1s 1 2 . t March 5 7 . ( Mercer s Chronicle Sir William Kirkcaldy of Grange was at that time

Governor o f Edinburgh Castle . He was defending

o n o f i it behalf the Queen , aga nst Morton and the

o f . faction the infant King Lord Methven , not yet

o ne who thirty years of age , was of those were besieging the Castle . His death was regretted by all parties .

9 . Beatrix Ruthven . Her name is not in the

Perth Register , but she seems to have been the

o f . youngest daughter William , Earl of Gowrie In her early years she possessed a good deal of spirit

o ne o f and vivacity , and was the Court ladies who

attended o n the Queen (Anne o f Denmark). It is believed that in 160 1 she was married to Sir John

H ume o f Coldingham . Sir John at this time was

not a young man , and did not live with her many

years . His first wife had no children , but Lady

so n Beatrix bore a , who lived to be married , but

16 died young , leaving a son , who in 3 5 succeeded

to the Earldom of Hume . Lady Coldingham , in f her widowhood and in the latter part o her life ,

t e was uncommonly pious . She expressed her

li io us g zeal , and openly disapproved of the violent n methods by which King James V I . was introduci g

19 4 FAMILY H I STORY innovations into the Presbyterian Church . She e n

ra e d co u g and protected , as much as she was able , the persecuted and conscientious ministers who were living at that period . One Of these ministers was Andrew o r Alexander Simpson Of D ryburgh and

Merton , places on the Tweed , and i n her neighbour hood . He had spoken freely against the Five A f rticles o Perth , in a sermon which he preached

z and 162 1 in Greyfriars Church , Edinburgh , July ;

o f and thereupon , by order the Privy Council , was

o f committed a prisoner to the Castle D umbarton , and was not released until October following . Simpson o n o ne occasion said t o his wife he was going to pay a visit to Lady Coldingham at Cold

S h t ingham Castle , when e requested him o ask the lady for some straw for their cows . Simpson and

o ut fo r his man set the Castle , and made a comfort able visit . When going away Lady Coldingham accompanied him to the gate . Turning to the lady

’ he told her his wife s message . The lady said I have really no w no straw but I have hay and some ” ” of it shall be sent . Oh no , Madam , said Simp so n , that will not answer the purpose ; it is straw ” that the cows eat . The lady then laughed at his

o u simplicity , and said Mr Simpson , y are indeed very ignorant Of worldly matters ; do y o u not know that these your cows will love better to eat hay than

’ straw . He owned his ignorance , and the lady ordered the hay to be sent .

195 THE RUTHVEN FAMILY PAPERS

o f Of Barbara , daughter William , first Earl ‘ ’ o ne Gowrie , and of the Queen s maids of honour , was probably unmarried . a Alexander , her third brother , was early p f ’ pointed o ne o the King s pages , and Lady Beatrix in her attendance at Court was distinguished as

’ being the Queen s chief confidante . The Queen loved pomp and intrigue and masked balls . She is reckoned to have been chaste , but she was a great admirer of fine young men , and took pleasure in

’ their company . The King s jealousy was some times thereby excited , but she possessed such an influence over him , that she retained his favour , although he could not help indulging a hatred against those persons whom she most admired .

of 1 2 The tragic death of the Earl Moray in 59 , wh o was reputed the handsomest man of his time ,

“ ’ ” celebrated in song as the Queen s love , was generally ascribed by the people to the King ’s

1 jealousy ; and afterwards , in 600 , the no less tragic

o f death Alexander Ruthven , was by many at the time ascribed t o the same cause .

f . It would appear , from a grant o Malcolm I V ,

’ that the Earldom of Gowrie was then o f the King s

. fo r proper inheritance The Ruthven family , which a short time enjoyed it after the dissolution o f the religious houses , proves its early pedigree mainly f from the Chartulary o Scone .

196

THE RUTHVE N FAMILY PAPERS

hearts against him , disguising themselves in secret places where he is informed that they not only uttered cankered speeches against him , but are practising and contriving dangerous plots , and

fo r desperate attempts , against his Royal Person ; effecting whereof either by themselves o r by such as

subb rn they can persuade and o thereunto , they leave no means untried . Be it therefore known to all men by these Presents that for the speedy apprehension o f these malicious and dangerous persons William Ruthven and

’ Patrick Ruthven aforesaid , the King s Most Excel lent Majesty doth straitly command and charge all

f o f and singular Sheri fs , Justices the Peace ff Mayors , Baili s , Constables , and all and every other His Highness ’ Officers withi n this His realm o f England that they and every o ne Of them make

fo r all possible , diligent , search and enquiry the said malicious persons William and Patrick Ruth

3 0 Tartans belonging to the low C o unt ry e p airtes and Bordour Glannes B r r 9 Tartans of the o do u Glannes .

The R a l uthven ppears under the third heading , which sim p y means tartans belonging to the south of Scotland and Border

Clans , and it has been proved beyond doubt that there were Border

Clans as well as Highland Clans .

The description given is as follows The R uthven has one mixed sett and one scarlet , whereof the first has to the outside one wide blue stripe and white on the green ” sett , and in the middle of the scarlet two stripes of green . 198 K I NG ’S PRO CLAMATI ON

ven , and t o use all their best endeavours for the discovery , apprehension , and arresting , the bodies f o the said William and Patrick Ruthven , and being apprehended and arrested forthwith speedily ,

t o r and without any delay o bring them , cause them to be brought under sure and safe custody before

’ some o f His Majesty s Most Honourable Privy

e t Council , th re o be proceeded with and ordered according as j ustice shall require , and herein not to fail as the King and every o ne o f them tender their duty unto His Highness and will answer t o the

’ contrary at their uttermost peril . And the King s Most Excellent Majesty doth moreover straitly charge and command all and every searcher cus

fi o f tomer , or other of cer any port within this realm ,

’ and all others His Highness subjects of what

r nature , quality , and condition soever he o they

o r may be , to whose homes company the said f William and Patrick Ruthven , or either o them ,

o r shall resort to whose knowledge , notice , and understanding it may come where o r in what places they the said William and Patrick Ruthven

shall be , or into whose hands they shall come , to

stay , apprehend , and arrest them , and to bring

’ them before some of His Majesty s Privy Council

as aforesaid . Wherein if any shall go about to conceal them o r shall not reveal their abode if it be in their power to do so His Majesty doth hereby

I 99 THE R UTHVEN FAMILY PAPERS pronounce that he will for ever after hold them as partakers and abbett o rs o f these malicious i mten tions for which they shall feel the weight o f his heaviest indignation . And if at any time any subjects o f his o ut o f their duty shall discover the S persons aforesaid , or their residence and yet hall not find themselves able to pursue them His Majesty doth command them to call fo r the aid and assist

’ ance o f His Highness Officers o r any others his subjects whom His Majesty also hereby straitly chargeth and commandeth to be aiding and assist ing herein as they will answer to the contrary at

2 their uttermost peril . JAMES R . ( 7t h April

RATIFICATION OF THE SCOTTIS H PARLIAMENT To THE

L E TH E C E 2 EAR OF GOWRI OF E ABB Y OF S ON . 159

The King with the advice Of Parliament ratifies and approves and perpetually confirms the gift and donation made to John Ruthven so n of William Ruthven Earl o f Gowrie of the gift of the Abbey o f Scone ; its whole profits and emoluments for his lifetime which is the date at Stirling 7 May 15 80 . The King gives grants and disposes to the said John Ruthven now Earl of Gowrie for all the days of his lifetime the Abbacy , profits , and emoluments

now f r thereof , as it stands to be enjoyed by him o the space aforesaid . The King confirms the Act o f

2 00

THE RUTHVE N FA MILY PAPERS

’ his Grace s Comptroller , dissolves from the crown and Patrimony thereof and from the Abbey o f Scone and Patrimony o f the same the whole lands f and temporalities o the Abbey of Scone , and kirks , Chaplaincies and altarages of the said Abbey with all teinds and rents belonging to t he Abbey

and Monastery Of Scone . The King gives , grants ,

and dispones the same to David , Lord Scone and f his heirs , whom failing Andrew Murray o Bal

v air f d and his heirs . And for the erection o the

same into a temporal Lordship and Barony , to be called i n all time coming the Lordship and Barony

o f o f Scone , for the yearly payment to the King

1000 . £ usual money of Scotland , at Whitsunday The ministers o f the parish kirks o f the said Abbey being provided for i n yearly stipend to be paid to

o f o f them furth the teinds , rents and duties the same kirks respectively ; and to have the manses and glebes pertaining thereto conform to Acts o f Parliament ; together with the small teinds o f the

vicarages of the said kirks fo r their sustentation .

To f that e fect the King and estates dissolve ,

suppress , and abolish , the abbey and monastery of

Scone , memory , and name thereof with the whole

orders , institutions , and foundations of the same , t simp lici er and for ever . Reserving and excepting always furth of the present act and erection all Royalties and privileges possessed by the Abbots

2 02 RESTORATI ON GRANT — and titulars of Scone to remain with the King and his successors and be inseparable from the crown in all time coming . JAMES R .

ACTS OF THE SC OTTIS H PARLIAMENT

RATIFICATION BY TH E SC OTTISH PARLIAMENT O F THE RESTORATI ON GRANT To PATRIC K R UTH VEN

BROTHER OF JO H N R UTH VEN EARL OF GOWRIE .

1 1. C HARLES I . 64

Our Sovereign Lord and Estates o f parliament ratify and approve the Grant subscribed by His Majesty under the Great Seal i n favour of Patrick

Ruthven , brother of John Ruthven sometime Earl o f Gowrie , and taking the said Patrick and the heirs

’ o f his body under his Majesty s protection , and giving authority to them t o defend and hold all

o ffi cie s lands , , pensions , and other goods whatso ever acquired by them in His Majesty ’s kingdom o r in foreign parts and to be called by the name and surname o f R uthven notwithstanding Acts o f Par liame nt made to the contrary in manner specified

12 th 16 1 in the said Grant , dated November 4 , together with that to be passed under the great

Seal . And aids and Grants fo r His Majesty and His successors with consent o f the Estates of Par liame nt and discerns and ordains this present co n fi rmat io n to be sufficient and effectual t o the said

2 03 THE RUTHVE N FAMILY PAPERS Patrick Ruthven his heirs and successors as if the aforesaid signature and grant under the great seal were word for word expressed and inserted herein and with all that may follow hereupon . His Majesty and the Estates o f Parliament have dis p e nsed and by these presents dispense for ever ; and reduce the Act of parliament made in the reign

f f rfal ure f o f o James V I . anent the o t o the said Earl

Gowrie ; and other Acts in his favour allenarly as the same may be prej udicial to the said Grant and Signature and the present ratification thereof ; and wills , grants , and ordains that the aforesaid gener ality shall be as valid as if the acts were particularly

ro inserted herein . And it is hereby expressly p v ide d and ordained that the aforesaid Restoration Grant of o ur said S o v e rign Lord to Patrick R uthven with this Ratification o f Parliament shall in no way be hurtful o r prej udicial t o George Earl o f K inno ull Mc Gill o f , and Sir James Cranston _

t he o f Riddell , and of the Senators of College Justice ; o f the right and possessions o f the lands o f

C o usland haill , teinds and pertinents thereof , and o f the lodging and dwelling house in the town o f

Perth (Gowrie House). But notwithstanding the said Restoration and Ratification and Reduction o f the act of parliament o f 1600 K inno ull the year , the said Earl of , Laird of Cranston Riddell , his heirs and successors shall

2 04

THE RUTHVEN FAMILY PAPERS (magistratus) we have LEGITIMATED and by these presents LEGITIMATE the said John and William

to ff o f brothers , and each of them the e ect enjoying the lands and heritages and of dis charging the duties , and all lawful acts in j udgement and o ut of j udgement . And we have legitimated and legitimate the said William the younger that the said John his brother may be able to succeed to the said William the younger and in like manner we have legitimated and by the tenor

' t hese rese nt s i of p legit mate the said John , that he the said John may succeed the said William his brother and the lawful issue of the said William the

o f younger , and in default the succession of the said William and John and their lawful issue , we have legitimated and made legitimate , and we will it to happen that the lawful heirs whatsoever o f the said William de Ruthven the elder may succeed to i the said William and John , as if the sa d William and John brothers , had been procreated in lawful

o f o f marriage , to the lands the Barony Ruthven , with the tenants and t e nand ries and pertinents thereof lying within the County of Perth .

2 nd 1 80 This charter bears date the July 4 , and is recorded in the Register of the Great Seal Book

9t h .

2 0 6 I N DE "

DOLPHUS 0 M L A , Gustavus , 7 Charter of ortification , ord 1 R 1 0 1 2 Alan , son of Swaine , 4 uthven , 5 9 , 7 A 1 Co w ask R E lan , the High Steward , 3 Charter of g , obert , arl A E L 1 12 2 1 0 1 1 lexander , first arl of even , 9 of Strathearn , 3 , 7 , 7

I . 1 T Alexander , 7 Charter of einds, 54 6 C L 18 Alexander II . , charters by , 35 . 3 harter by William the ion ,

A II I . 2 1 Of lexander , Charter Swaine , son of Thor , 33 Alcesto r M 1 L 6 , daughter of ar, 3 Charter of Alexander I , 35 , 3 A E R 8 1 1 ndrew , fifth arl of othes, 4 Charter of Thor, 6, 7 A D D 12 ngus , owager uchess of, 9 Charter of Surrender by William , E 166 E 1 Argyll , arl of, arl of Gowrie , 39 A E 1 R 12 rran , Stewart , arl of, 45 Charter , Sir Walter uthven , 39 , A H E 6- 8 rran , James amilton , arl of, 3 3

45 Charter of Confirmation , Sir A R 8 - 2 rticles of Westminster , 73 Walter uthven , 3 4 A E 0 18 I nchco lm tholl , John , arl of, 5 , 9 Charter , , by Sir Wm . R 1 uthven , 362 , confirming that 2 of Swaine , 4 , 43 ALFOUR L 8 B , ord , of Burleigh , 5 B E Charteris , John , of Kinfauns , 45 arnard , Clara , wife of arl of L Christian , daughter of ady Forbes , Forth , 74 0 1 3 1 3 4 Beton , Cardinal , 5 E 1 B 8 Clergy of dinburgh , 79 lair of Kinfauns , 5 L 1 E Coldingham , ady , 94 Bothwell , Francis Stewart , arl Lo Colville , first rd of Culross , 49 166 of, 166 John , Brentford , battle of, 73 2 2 D Comyn , Sir John , of Badenoch , Bruce , avid , of Clackmannan , o de nk no we s L 1 0 C w , ady , 3 2 Cowell , Col . Stepney , 57 z P in ask 8 Bru e , atrick , of F g , 4 C o w ask 2 1 E 0 g lands , Buchan , Alexander , arl of, 3 2 Cranston , Sir Thomas , 4 - E 1 John , arl of, 3 E 16 1 Cromarty , arl of, un n ham un n hamhead C y g e of C y g , M E 8 CA PB LL , John , of Glenorchy, 5 , 94 un n hame ral end s 8 I 2 C y g of C g , 5 , 93 argbe ll Shawfi e ld 8 C p , Walter , of , 9 M hawfi e ld 8 DAVID L 1 16 ary , of S , 9 , 3 , R 16 1 166 D A 1 Cecil , Sir obert , , ictatorship of rran , 45 L 1 D Cecilia , ady Strathearn , 4 orothea , Countess of Gowrie , 55 L ulis 2 0 D D L ady Fo , rummond , avid , second ord , E 1 Charter , John , arl of Gowrie , 5 7 o f D 2 Commendator Scone , 53 , 54 undee , 5 1 - 1 1 D 2 2 Charter of Surrender , 39 4 urham , battle of, 2 07 THE RUTHVE N FA MILY PAPERS

EDGAR 16 H P L 2 , King of Scots, aliburton , atrick , ord , 3 E 2 1 L 2 dgar , Walter , ady Janet , 3 E 2 H E A dgehill , battle of, 7 amilton , James . arl of rran , 45 E dnaham 16 H m Charter , amilton and the Coalition Gove

E I . 2 2 1 dward , ment , 45 E iz 6 H E E l abeth , Queen , 5 ay , dmund , rrol , 45 E D 0 H A 1 rskine , John , of un , 3 enderson , ndrew , steward , 34 E 12 H 1 rskine , Sir Thomas , 99 , 9 enry, prince of Scotland , 3 E 1 H P M va , daughter of Swaine , 3 epburn , atrick , Bishop of oray , i Balh o usie 1 1 180 1 E v o t , Colin , of , 3 , 43 i t 1 1 180 H H 12 E v o , Patrick , 3 , erries , Sir ugh, 99 , 7 1 Holyrood , convention at , 45 AIR AIRN M 12 F B , John , minister of ad Holyrood House , 9 d ert 1 L 8 18 y , 57 Home , Alexander, ord , 5 , 4 P 12 6 1 6 1 6 H Har e rsto wn 0 Falkland alace , , 3 , 4 ore , Walter , of p , 9 8 Fire at Freeland House , 4 Hume , Sir John , of Coldingham , 1 Five Articles of Perth , 95 L 0 Forbes , ady Christian , 3 r vio t 2 SOBE L ARON ESS RU HV E N 86 Fo te , church of, 3 I , B T , , 11 Founders of Ruthven family , 94 Fraudulent Indictment of the

1 1 AME S I . 2 Scottish Parliament , 3 J , 3

2 0 1 I I I . 2 Freeland Attainder, James , 5

V . 2 1 2 James I , 9 , 7 D 1 V ALFRI D . G , Bishop of unblane , 5 James and Blackfriars , 44 P 16 8 1 2 6 V . Galloway , atrick , Chaplain , 7 James I , 4 , 5 , 5 , 5

M R R . 6 . P . Genealogical tree , rs uthven James , G , 4 60 R 86 Stuart , Jean , Baroness uthven , , 93 E 1 1 L I nne rme ath Gilbert , arl of Strathearn , 4, 5 , John , ord , 57 2 1 G raitne Johnston , James, of y, 95 G P 1 6 illies , John , stationer, erth , 5 A ALE NDAR R Gilten rbor , Perth , 44 K of the uthven Family, A 0 12 Gore , Caroline nnesley, 9 rma 2 R E G o c , John , freebooter , 4 Kalendar of the uthvens , arls of 1 1 6 Gowrie estates , extent of, 43 , 44 Forth . 7 H P 12 8 1 R Gowrie ouse , erth , , 35 , Kalendar of the Freeland uth 82 174 vens , E 1 1 E Gowrie , James , second arl , 4 Kalendar of arl of Gowrie Suc E 1 0 John , third arl , conspiracy , 97, cession , 7 M 12 1 12 6 Kennedy , Hugh , Girvan ains , ’ E 1 - 1 P 1 Gowrie , John , third arl , 49 54 King s Well , erth , 7 6 8 Gowrie place of interment , 5 King John of Sweden , 4 ’ V P 1 - 1 Gowrie ersion of the Conspiracy , King s roclamation , 97 99 116 1 8 100 Knox , John , 5 E 6 8 Gowrie , William , arl of, 4 , 3 , LAST A T 11 157 ct of the ragedy , 7 P L L L O 0 Gray , atrick , fourth ord , 47 aurence , first ord liphant , 3 L R M awrie , Sir obert , of axwell I R 88 HAL BU TON . Sir Walter, of town , 2 L E 8 1 Dirleton , 3 ennox , arl of, 9 , 99 , 77

2 0 8

THE RUTHVEN FAMILY PAPERS

R Mr I S D E RSO ill uthven , s sobel , 94 AJN N, W iam, historian. ir F 0 162 166 S rancis , 7 , 94, 9 5 , Si ' il liam Of D 9 Scon stat es i to L r o rW , . unglass , 7 e e g ve n o d Sc ne, P r E l Of 2 2 0 at ick , ar Forth , 7 1 Ri 1 M 1 grant of chberg, 7 Scone onastery, 4, 35

E i 7 A 1 d nburgh Castle, 71 bbey, 44 L E E f ord of ttrick , 70 John , arl p G owrie, tCom E 82 mendat o r arl of Brentford , 73 , 79 , , 5 3 m l t Death , and fa i y , 74 Scottish Parliamen , 13 1 1 2 his commission as Lieutenant Fraudulent Indictment of, 3 e of General , 75 sent nce , 134 R E ie 8 White ose of ngland , 77, sentence on dead bod s , 13 ’ 8 L o 1 -1 7 Scott s ife of G wrie , 77 80 o f n 8 2 William , Freela d , 4 Seton , Sir John , 3 ir nd 6 a d L n S Thomas , of Freela , 4 , Simpson n ady Coldi gham, 84 I 9S D d L l d 2 avid , secon ord of Free an , Southwell , Edward, 9 t o n 0 Spurious Deposi i s , 16 thl d Lo 8 James , r rd , 7 Stepney, Sir John , 57 L 88 L James , fourth ord , Stewart , Henry, second ord 8 M 1 Captain John , 7 ethven , 93 L 8 E James , fifth ord , 9 r John , arl of A tholl , 57 L L Walter James Hore , sixth ord , ady Dorothea , 55 0 9 Stirling Castle , 5 3 Ea 62 1 John , son of third rl , Strathallan , Lord , 74 L 8 Ti more 1 1 James , fifth ord . 9 Swain of bbe r , 3, 5 , 17, A 12 2 0 lexander , 7 , 35 L William , second ord , suc 1 THOR Tibbermore 1 I 0 cession, 74 , of , 3 , S, 2 , 1 Alexander , of Freeland , 77 33 12 180 bbe I 2 William and Patrick , 9 , Ti rmq re , 7, 0 L L 1 Tibberm re 1 2 6 ady ilias , 5 7 o Chapel , 5 , L 12 8 ve ady Sophia , 99, Tragedy in fi acts, 137 L 12 8 12 1 0 ulliba d ine a d ady Beatrix , , 9, 3 , T r n 300 horse , 12 7, 194 136 — F 180- 1 amily history of, 96 1 E tartan , 97 VE NIC , 160 a I C stle , 5 1 2 6 CE 2 2 Chapel of St Peter , 5 , WALLA , Sir William , , 2 3 , 175 R 1 o aid Government , 45 Walter , son of Alan, 13 , s " art e Castle and Gowrie House sur 7 Ch r) 35 1 M R 2 6 rendered , 47 aster of uthven , R n atificatio of the Scottish Wemyss , James , of Bogie , P E Pitt en i f arliament to the arl of Gowrie Wemyss , John , of cre f, 58 2 00 th L 1 1 1 of Scone Abbey, William e ion, 3 , 4, 5 , 17 R e V ir E E 1 uthv n ersion of the Consp acy, William , arl of rrol , 3 -12 o Bonn t 102 9 Wood , William , f y on, 3 1

THE RIVE RSIDE P RE SS LI I E D E DINBUR H M T , G

’ ’ plot was a mere ruse on t h e K i ng s part to remove th ose h e d isli k ed and Incid ent w ally throw discredit oh the Presbyterian party, of hich the Ruthvens were shining lights , but for the pros and cons of the case we must refer our readers to the interesting Papers under discussion . Besides the subject of the ’ R conspiracy, there are many details of the uthven Family which are bo th valu able and entertaining , and we think the learned compiler has added a distinctly ” ' - atlzolzc notable volume to the published historic records of the kingdom . C '

Tzmes.

o wr a t his C ai but th e a t him G ie never sser ed l ms , King fe red and ha ed , and t he m ai n point of t h e Ruthven n arrative is t hat t he King was t h e conspirat or and t hat in reality t h e so - called Gowrie Conspiracy w as t h e a a to rmi t t h e t Th e screen of b sely planned plot exte na e R u hven family . nar t v t r im t t hi t r v ra ive is con incingly old , and fo ms por an s o ical e idence . Th e rest of t h e book is devot ed t o t h e hist ory of t he R ut hven family and ” o f a t — M anchester Courier is full hu m n interes s . .

I t a t a t t t h e im th e i t is now m in ined ha King h self was consp ra or . The volume will be found valuable as an account of one of t he m ost "— an i t t f i t a . Weekl co s c en and dis inguished am lies in Sco l nd y S t man.

M ’ a n t n — m o t . e r Cowan s labours y be regarded as u frui ful S otsman.

I t arouses t h e cu riosit y of all who are int erest ed in t his hi st orical ’ myst ery t o read in Mr Cow an s preface t hat t h e whole controversy is ’ t at t he t -Gl s ow now se rest by issue of his volume . a g

The t i t t at far- tr t he book hrows much l gh on h famed agedy , wr t ti t o r Go ie Conspiracy , and should be specially in eres ng all who p ide t ti t r I t h as t h e t hemselves in Sco sh his o y . been compiled with great est ti — d and t ai l t l tr . Dun ee ver iser c are con ns some exce len il us a ons Ad t .

Th e event s which led up t o t he m urder of the Earl of Gowrie and t a i t e him Th e his bro her were in re l ty planned by h King self . volume , l rint ed and l t which is we l , is valuable , is embel ished wi h numerous — t ber een ree P ress. pho os . A F

Thi s finely print ed volu me may commend itself t o t h e public by f i l t rt ait t t I t s i t t reason o ts excel en po r s and illus ra ions . ch ef a ract ion will be t he light it t hrows on t hat cu rious event known in hist ory as t h e wr n r Th e - il ain t t r a Go ie Co spi acy . arch v l of ha g im dr ma was t he ” — D un er lirze ourn l . K ing himself . f m j a

Fro m Ti mM ornin P ost u 1 12 g , j ly 9

M The R V r Samuel Cowan promises , in his title page , uthven ersion of the th Conspiracy and Assassination at Gowrie House , Perth , s August , As The f A 1600 everyone who has read Tales of a Grand ather knows , on ugust 5 , , M R E the young aster of uthven , brother of the young arl of Gowrie , was at

Falkland House early in the morning . James VI . hunted for four hours , the M M aster in his company till about noon , and then with the aster and a number of nobles and gentlemen rode to dine with the Earl of Gowrie at his house in Perth . The end was that when the King rode home he left the two Ruthvens behind

R . him , slain in their own house by young John amsay of the Royal suite James gave his own story to the world at once ; it was in a high degree z - improbable , but is accepted by Fra er Tytler , Scott , Hill Burton and myself ‘ ’ . M On th e ( James VI and the Gowrie ystery , other hand , the Scottish preac hers (whose last hope of recovering power by aid of the great nobles of E and Scotland was the arl of Gowrie)were persistently sceptical , disbelief in the i ’ M K ng s version of a conspiracy is part of the Presbyterian tradition . eanwhile what version was put forth by the Ruthven party at the moment ? Mr Cowan ‘ prints The Ruthven version of the plot extracted by us from the Ruthven ’ ‘ Family Papers ; it has , though undated , all the appearance of an ancient ’ document . From the language and the allusions it cannot be more ancient E than the end of the ighteenth Century , and it is a mere amateur essay of no his to ri al M c . value r Cowan does not , as far as I observe , even allude to a genuine contemporary document ‘ the veric maner of the E 111 of Gowrie and his brother t D . The f ft n i heir eath , q uba was killit at Perth y of August , by the Ki g s ’

S e rvant tis M . w , his ajestic being present This paper ( hich I was the first to

E z . L" . N . publish)is in our State Papers ( li abeth , Vol VI , o It was sent from Scotland to Sir John Carey , commanding in Berwick , and is unsigned . In R fl the interests of the uthvens the paper atly contradicts , on matters of fact , not ’ n only the King s narrative , but the sworn testimony of ma y nobles and gentlemen of his suite . They were honest enough , for they did not corroborate James in N essential matters not within their personal observation . obody can understand the case without reading all the evidence given at the posthumous trial of the R N the uthvens for treason . othing contradicts it but the solitary assertion of apologist , whose case compels him to conceal the fact that the King hunted for Th four hours before starting for Perth . e most mendacious statements are freely ’ made by the apologist . They are contradicted by the evidence both of James s ’ and of Gowrie s men . Mr Cowan wishes to make out that the King contrived a z R most ama ingly complicated plot against the uthvens , but never faces the whole body of evidence . Criticism cannot be expected from a writer who appears to regard the late and wholly uncritical in the Ruthven Family Papers as an ancient document . It is certainly no older than the later half of the Eighteenth M Century , if so old , and is wholly destitute of authority ; and as for r Cowan , Of fl R his theory the plot atly contradicts the facts alleged in the uthven apo logy , 1 written about September , 600 . “ N E W L A DR AN G .

Cop y o f Le tter to E ditor o f T"ze M orning P ost

S I R, M L 8 A . ff r ndrew ang in your issue of th inst has attempted , but without e ect , R M L to discredit some of my statements about the uthven Family . r ang is an excellent novelist, but in the writing of Scottish history I decline to follow him. L R ‘ et us look at his uthven notes for a moment . What has The Tales of a ’ ’ Grandfather to do with the Ruthven Family . We don t go there for inspira

. The tion We go to the source . paper Mr Lang says he was the first to pub ? — lish , what was it A State paper in the reign of Eli z abeth not of the smallest importance is its bearing on th e Ruthven catastrophe : in respect that our own i annals in as far as they are author tative will take precedence . Under any circum it I M L stances was perfectly unnecessary that should refer to this document . r ang says nobody can understand the case without reading all the evidence given at R ’ the posthumous trial of the uthvens for treason . The posthumous trial was a u ff : disgracef l a air the evidence led was false and fraudulent , useless to students of c history and the entire corrupt pro eedings , according to many spectators , among M P whom were the Clergy and agistrates of erth , were regarded as an outrage on the Ruthven family by the King and his six satellites who accomplished the deed . Are we to go to such a court as that for our inspiration ? To speak of the solitary assertion of the apologist is merely begging the q uestion , and what King contrived the disgraceful plot to assassinate the Ruthvens : and no state M L ’ ments by writers of no authority will alter the fact . r ang s expression , ‘ ’ ‘ I . uncritical don t follow What does he mean by the words, his theory of the plot flatly contradicts the facts alleged in the Ruthven apology T fl M L ’ written about September his may be called a ourish of r ang s pen . ’ A M L r mong r ang s imaginative facts are , fi st , his dating the ancient document, R r having the uthven version , in the latte half of the eighteenth century second , according to him it is wholly destitute of authority . I take leave t o say that in M L my opinion r ang is utterly wrong on both points What does he know , or i what does anyone know , about the date of a paper wh ch has been hidden for more than a hundred years . He can merely give his opinion . And what does he ’ M L know about its being destitute of authority. For anything r ang knows , the paper may contain a correct estimate of the Conspiracy, and in my opinion is

. I a correct estimate challenge anyone to show to my satisfaction , or that of any unprejudiced person , that in any respect it is inaccurate or untrue . The R 10 2 - 118 uthven version of the Conspiracy given by me (pages )I shall stand by , M A L notwithstanding the narratives of such writers as r ndrew ang , which at s — I best are the merest conjecture am , etc . “ SAMUE L COWAN .

E I B f z D N URG H fi d 1 12 . , g j y 9

Cop y o f Le tt er t o Edit or o f T"ze Morning P ost

W . LOAN E ARD E NS S . 35 S G , “ Au ust 2 nd 1 12 . g , 9 S DEAR I R,

- Mr I have to day received from Samuel Cowan your note to him ofJuly 3oth , t ogether with a copy of his letter sent to Tbe M orning P ost replying to Mr Andrew ’ ’ ’ Lang s critiq ue on The Ruthven Family Papers . Mr Lang s article appeared in ’ TIre Mornin Post 8 M E g of July th , and r Cowan s reply was dated dinburgh , th July 9 , so there was ample time for this reply to have been inserted in your ’ paper before Mr Lang s regrettable demise . I have for very many years been a reader of Tize Morning P ost and a firm ‘ ’ believer in its fair play and breadth of opinion : and I am disappointed and chagrined that inaccurate statements regarding the history of my family should d emed appear in your columns , while the person most competent to refute them is M inaccu a hearing . oreover it seems to me ridiculous that because a man dies rate statements made by him Should necessarily remain unchallenged and go down to posterity as the last word in a matter so important , and that I for one feel very strongly about . I can see nothing but a great injustice without a ' — amenae Izonorable . Y corresponding ours truly ,

- M RU VE N U R . rs J . TH ST A T

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