Swein, Lord of Travernent

RUTHVEN

1. SWEIN-

Issue-

  • 2I. THOR-

    Ref:

    "The Scots Peerage"- Vol. IV, p.254


    2I. THOR (SWEIN 1)

    Thor granted a charter to the lands of Ednaham to David, Earl of Huntingdon between 1107 and 1117:

    "To his dearest Lord, David the Earl [of Huntingdon] Thor entirely his, wisheth health. Know my Lord that King Edgar, your brother, gave to me Ednaham, waste, which I by his assistance, and my own 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 one calvegh of land. This same chapel, I for the souls of my Lord, King Edgar, and of your father and mother, and for your weal and that of King Alexander, and of Queen Matilda, have given to the aforesaid Saint and his Monks. Wherefore I pray you as my dearest Lord, that for the souls of your parents, and for the well-being of the living, that your grant this donation to Saint Cuthbert and the monks who shall serve him for ever."(3)

    Thor, son of Swein, appears as a witness to royal charters between 1127 and 1150.(1)

    Thor was the owner of the lands of Travernent or Tranent, whose church he granted to the monks of Holyrood.(2) He was also the overlord of the territory of Crawford.

    Issue-

  • 3I. SWEIN-

    Ref:

    (1) "Early Scottish Charters"- Sir Archibald Lawrie, pp. 59, 72,186 quoting the chartulary of the Glasgow Bishopric- Vol. I, 8, p. 11
    (2) Ibid- pp. 122-3,164,1751 quoting chartulary of Holyrood Abby- 11, p. 11
    (3) The Ruthven Family Papers- Samuel Cowan, Simpkin,Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., London, 1912- pp. 16-7

    The Ruthven Family Papers- Samuel Cowan, Simpkin,Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., London, 1912- p. 13
    "The Scots Peerage"- Vol.IV, p.254
    Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage- Charles Mosley, Ed., Burke's Peerage Ltd.- 107th edition, 2003- Vol. I, p. 690


    3I. SWEIN (SWEIN 1, THOR 2)

    Swein soon settled in Perthshire as he granted between 1188 and 1199 to the monks of Scone the lands of Achednapobbel and a toft in Tubermere:

    "To all the sons of the Holy Mother Church Swaine son of Thor greeting Wit ye me to have given and granted and by this my Charter to have confirmed, to God and Saint Michael of Scone and the Canons there serving and that shall serve God, Ahedenpobble by the same divisions with which Robert the Chaplain held them and one toft in Tibermore which he truly held of the Goldsmith, the Meadow also that is upon Lochethin on 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 of my woods to whosoever shall have need in free and perpetual alms for the souls of 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 of me and my heirs succeeding to me in perpetuity as freely and quietly, fully and honourably as any religious house in the whole Kingdom freely holds from any baron and quietly, fully and honourably.

    These Witnesses,
    John, Bishop of Dunkeld
    Robert of Berclay
    Hugh of Kaleder
    Macbeth, judge of Gouryn
    Galfrid, Chaplain of Perth
    William, Clerk of Forfar
    Henry the Chaplain
    Philip Unieth James of Perth
    Andrew and William, brethren of the same
    Galfrid, son of Martin
    David and Henry, his sons
    Walter of Saint Edmund" (1)

    This charter was confirmed by King William by Swein's grandson, Walter, son of Alan, and by William de Ruthven:

    "Alexander by the grace of God King of Scots to all prudent men of his whole land Clerics and laics, Greeting, know ye present and future me to have granted and by this my Charter to have confirmed that Grant which Walter son of Alan made to God and the Church of the Holy Trinity and Saint Michael of Scone and the Canons serving or that shall serve God there, of that whole land which Swaine son of Thor, Grandfather of the said Walter gave to the said canons in Tibermuir by the divisions contained in the Confirmation of the same to Walter and of that toft belonging to the Goldsmith with other tofts next adjacent to the same toft, by the divisions contained in the same Confirmation and of a certain land above the well which is called the King's Well by the divisions contained in the said Confirmation and of certain fishings of Carnes. Holding in pure and perpetual alms with common pasture and easement of wood of the same of Walter and the rest of the common easements of Tibermuir as freely and quietly fully and in peace as the confirmation made by the same Walter to the same Canons testifies my service.

    Witness
    William of Boscho
    Chancellor William Cuwin"(2)

    Swein was also overlord of the lands of Crawford in Upper Clydesdale with William de Lindsay as his vassal.(3) He witnessed a charter of Malcolm IV between 1163 and 1164.(4)

    Issue-

  • 4I. ALAN- m. CECILIA MAULE
  • II. Arkem-
  • III. Hugh-
  • IV. Walter-

    Ref:

    (1) Liber de Scone- p.18 quoted in The Ruthven Family Papers- Samuel Cowan, Simpkin,Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., London, 1912- pp. 33-5
    (2) Ibid- pp.18-9,91; original in General Register House- No. 68 also quoted by Cowan pp. 35-6
    (3) Chartulary of Newbottle- pp.102-3
    (4) Reg. Priory St. Andree- p.194

    Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage- Charles Mosley, Ed., Burke's Peerage Ltd.- 107th edition, 2003- Vol. I, p. 690
    "The Scots Peerage"- Vol.IV, pp.254-5


    4I. ALAN (SWEIN 1, THOR 2, SWEIN 3)

    m. CEILIA, daughter of Sir William Maule of Foulis
    d. 1204, bur. Paisley Abbey(1)

    Most references list Alan as being a son of Swein, however, Cowan in "The Ruthven Family Papers" states that Alan was Swein's son-in-law and was married to Eva, Swein's daughter.(1)

    Alan confirmed his father's donations to Paisley Abbey early in the reign of King Alexander II and was called Alanus filius Swaine.(2)

    Paisley Abbey

    Issue-

  • 5I. WALTER- m. CECILIA STRATHEARN
  • II. Henry-
  • III. Adam-

    Ref:

    (1) The Ruthven Family Papers- Samuel Cowan, Simpkin,Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., London, 1912- p. 13
    (2) Ibid- p. 14

    Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage- Charles Mosley, Ed., Burke's Peerage Ltd.- 107th edition, 2003- Vol. I, p. 690
    "The Scots Peerage"- Vol.IV, p.255


    5I. WALTER (SWEIN 1, THOR 2, SWEIN 3, ALAN 4)

    m. CECILIA, daughter of Gilbert, Earl of STRATHEARN

    Walter was granted a charter to Scone before 1223 and received a charter to Culgask from his brother-in-law Robert, Earl of Strathearn between 1223 and 1231.(1)

    Walter, son of Alan of Ruthven, was a witness about 1234 and a little later he was called Walter of Ruthven.(2) In 1245 he was called Sir Walter of Ruthven, being the first of the family to assume the surname.(3)

    Walter was the owner of Ruthven Castle and the chapels of Ruthven Castle, dedicated to St. Peter and of Tibbermore, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.(4)

    There is a charter from the reign of King William the Lion from Walter, son of Alan, grandson of Swaine, to the Abbey of Scone conveying the land which Swaine, son of Thor, gave them in Tibbermore, according to its marches- viz. in the King's Well, in the street which goes from Perth and leads to the village of Tibbermore.(5)

    Issue-

  • I. Gilbert- m. Cecilia Maule of Foulis, d.s.p. between 1266 & 1279
  • 6II. WILLIAM-
  • III. ______- m. Sir Patrick Edgar

    Ref:

    (1) Liber de Scone- p.91; Liber Insule Missarum- p.28
    (2) Chartulary of Lindores- 30,28
    (3) Liber de Scone- p.61
    (4) The Ruthven Family Papers- Samuel Cowan, Simpkin,Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., London, 1912- p. 15
    (5) Ibid- p. 17
    Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage- Charles Mosley, Ed., Burke's Peerage Ltd.- 107th edition, 2003- Vol. I, p. 690
    "The Scots Peerage"- Vol.IV, p.255


    6II. WILLIAM (SWEIN 1, THOR 2, SWEIN 3, ALAN 4, WALTER 5)

    d.c.1298

    William confirmed the donations of his father in 1260:

    "To all the faithful in Christ who shall see or hear this present writing William of Rothven Lord of same Greeting in the Lord everlasting, Wit ye me to have seen heard and fully understood a Charter made and granted by Sir Walter son of Alan my father of good memory to God and the Church of the Holy Trinity and Saint Michael of Scone and the Canons serving or that shall serve God there of which the tenor is thus To all the sons of Holy Mother Church Walter son of Alan greeting Wit you me to have granted and by this my Charter to have Confirmed to God and the Church of the Holy Trinity and Saint Michael of Scone and the Canons serving or that shall serve God there, that whole land which Swaine son of Thor my Grandfather gave to them in Tubermore by these divisions to wit from the King's well which is upon the street which come from Perth and lies in the foresaid town, with the toft that belonged to the Goldsmith and the other tofts contiguous and adjacent in the east part of the town, and so 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 in the ford of Lochelyn towards the east and middle along to the burn that descends from the foresaid King's well with a certain land above the foresaid well which lies on the south part of the street which comes from Perth as far as to the Wood of Aberdalgie and so towards the west as far as to the land of the Kirk of Tubermore. The Abbot and Canons truly quitclaim their whole claim that they may 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 Lochelyn for the good of 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 of the common easements whenever they shall have necessity, with my men of Tubermore in free pure and perpetual alms for my soul and of all my ancestors and successors and all the foresaids I grant to God and the foresaid Canons as freely and quietly, full and honourably as any baron in the whole Kingdom of Scotland is able to freely and quietly and fully give or grant to any other Religious [house] by way of Alms and likewise I grant to them the fishings 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 Invertunglas, Sheriff of Perth; Duncan, son of Morgrund; Reginald of Waren; Malise, Steward of the Earl Gilbert of Strathearn; Adam Olifard Brice, parson of Cref; Richard Unyneth; Walter, son of Swaine; Henry, son of Alan, son of Swaine; Isaac, son of Samuel, and many others. And because the seal of the foresaid late Sir Walter my father appended to foresaid Charter by hostile malevolence was torn away broken and entirely slipped off and carried away I the foresaid William with counsel consent and assent of Sir Walter my son and my heirs present who likewise saw and heard my said Charter having regard to the honour of God for the salvation of my soul and of all my ancestors and successors approve and ratify the tenor of the said Charter of my father in all the points and articles of it the said land with tofts foresaid by their foresaid divisions and fishings of Cairnes foresaid with the pertinents common pasture and easements before noted in the foresaid Charter to God and the Church of the Holy Trinity and Saint Michael foresaid and the Abbots and Canons of Schon there serving God and that shall serve in perpetuity in free pure and perpetual Alms, I give grant and freely, quietly fully and honourably confirm by my present Charter for ever. In testimony of which thing my seal with the seal of the said Sir Walter my son and heir is appended to this present Charter.

    Witnesses
    Master Robert of Garnald, public notary of the Lord the Pope
    Sir William, vicar of Forgrund
    Etheny, dean of the same
    Galfrid, vicar of Tubermore
    Gilbert, my son
    William of Harlaw
    Donevald of Creych, clerk
    Symon, son of Adam
    Leuing Mars
    Maurice, son of Uchdred, and many others" (5)

    William as chamberlain to Malise, Earl of Strathearn witnessed a charter before 1270.(1) As Sir William of Ruthven he witnessed two charters to the Priory of St. Andrews in Jan. 1267/8 and another about 1290.(2) William paid homage to Edward I in 1291 and in 1296.(3) In 1298 William of Ruthven, Lord of that Ilk, confirmed the charter of his father, Walter, son of Alan, to the lands of Scone.(4)

    Sir William joined Sir William Wallace at the siege of Perth in 1297 with thirty of his followers. For his gallant conduct he was appointed hereditary Sheriff of Perth.(6)

    Issue-

  • 7I. WALTER-
  • II. Gilbert-

    Ref:

    (1) Liber Insule Missarum- p.53
    (2) Reg. Priory St. Andree- pp.312-2; Reg. Epis. Moravia- p.470
    (3) Cal. Doc. Scot.- Vol.II, pp.124,211
    (4) Liber de Scone- p.91
    (5) The Ruthven Family Papers- Samuel Cowan, Simpkin,Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., London, 1912- pp. 15, 38-42
    (6) Ibid- p.22

    Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage- Charles Mosley, Ed., Burke's Peerage Ltd.- 107th edition, 2003- Vol. I, p. 690
    "The Scots Peerage"- Vol.IV, p.256


    7I. WALTER (SWEIN 1, THOR 2, SWEIN 3, ALAN 4, WALTER 5, WILLIAM 6)

    d. before 1330

    Walter was a consenting party to his father's charter to Scone about 1298. He capitulated to the English at Strathurd along with Sir John Comyn of Badenoch 9 Feb. 1303/4.(1) Walter witnessed several charters during the reign of King Robert the Bruce.(2)

    Issue-

  • 8I. WILLIAM- d. 1346

    Ref:

    (1) Cal. Dec. Scot.- Vol.II, p.470, No.1740
    (2) Liber Insule Missarum- xl, xlii

    Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage- Charles Mosley, Ed., Burke's Peerage Ltd.- 107th edition, 2003- Vol. I, p. 690
    "The Scots Peerage"- Vol.IV, p.256


    8I. WILLIAM (SWEIN 1, THOR 2, SWEIN 3, ALAN 4, WALTER 5, WILLIAM 6, WALTER 7)

    d. before Easter 1346

    William paid a fine for the relief of Newton in Edinburgh in 1330.(1)

    Issue-

  • 9I. WILLIAM- m. JOHANNA ______
  • II. Margaret- m. Sir John Seton

    Ref:

    (1) Exch. Rolls- Vol.1, p.282

    Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage- Charles Mosley, Ed., Burke's Peerage Ltd.- 107th edition, 2003- Vol. I, p. 690
    "The Scots Peerage"- Vol. IV, p. 256


    9I. WILLIAM (SWEIN 1, THOR 2, SWEIN 3, ALAN 4, WALTER 5, WILLIAM 6, WALTER 7, WILLIAM 8)

    m. JOHANNA ______
    d. before 25 June 1376

    William had safe-conducts in 1358-9, 1362 and in 1363.(1) A payment to Johanna, his wife, is entered in 1363.(2)

    "To all to whom the present letter shall come William of Ruthven Lord thereof greeting in the Lord everlasting. Be it known to all that I have ratified confirmed and by this my present charter perpetually to have approved that gift which Swaine on of Thor my predecessor made and Walter son of Alan son of Swaine confirmed to God and the Monastery of the Isle of Saint Columba and the Canons serving and who shall in future serve God there, of that toft at Tibermore viz.: of the whole land betwen the boundary of the Bishop and the toft of Gilchrist MacMal in the south part of the foresaid town, and of the whole land which of my wood next to the said toft they shall be able to root out to the breadth of the same toft along to the other division of the Bishop by the middle way which leads to the Wood in the East and West Holding and having to the said Canons in pure and perpetual Alms with common pasture of the said town and with all liberties, commodities, easements, rights, customs and other universal pertinents belonging and that shall in any manner of way be able to belong to the said land in time coming as freely quietly fully and honourably from all service of horsemanship and exercise and other exactions whatsoever as any alms within the kingdom of Scotland shall be able to hold freely, quietly fully and honorably, and also as is contained and reported in the said Charters of Swaine and Walter, In testimony of which thing my seal is appended to the present Charter and for the greater evidence of the thing I have procured the seal of a reverend father in Christ, and Lord John by the grace of God Bishop of Dunkeld, to be appended. Dated at Dunkeld the twenty-fifth day of the month of July, the year of the Lord one thousand three hundred sixty-second.

    Witnesses
    The Lord Bishop of Dunkeld
    Robert Kens, Dean
    Andrew Umphry, precentor
    John Reid, William Dalgarnock- Canons of the said Kirk of Dunkeld
    Maurice of Ruthven, my Cousin, and many others."(3)

    Issue-

  • 10I. WILLIAM-

    Ref:

    (1) Rot. Scot.
    (2) Exch. Rolls- II, 116
    (3) The Ruthven Family Papers- Samuel Cowan, Simpkin,Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., London, 1912- pp. 42-3

    Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage- Charles Mosley, Ed., Burke's Peerage Ltd.- 107th edition, 2003- Vol. I, p. 690
    "The Scots Peerage"- Vol.IV, p.256


    10I. WILLIAM (SWEIN 1, THOR 2, SWEIN 3, ALAN 4, WALTER 5, WILLIAM 6, WALTER 7, WILLIAM 8, WILLIAM 9)

    d.c.1412

    William had a charter from Robert III to the lands of Ruthven and Balerno and another to the sheriffship of St. Johnstone or Perth in 1393-5.(1) He had a safe-conduct in 1400.(2) He or his son witnessed a charter by Sir John Oliphant of Aberdalgie, to Malcolm, his brother, which was confirmed by Sir John Montgomery of Ardrossan in 1412.(3)

    Issue-

  • 11I. WILLIAM-
  • II. David-

    Ref:

    (1) Robertson's Index- II, 137, 144
    (2) Rot. Scot.- II, 154
    (3) "Oliphants in Scotland"- xxviii

    Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage- Charles Mosley, Ed., Burke's Peerage Ltd.- 107th edition, 2003- Vol. I, p. 690
    "The Scots Peerage"- Vol.IV, p.257
    "The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh, 1880


    11I. WILLIAM (SWEIN 1, THOR 2, SWEIN 3, ALAN 4, WALTER 5, WILLIAM 6, WALTER 7, WILLIAM 8, WILLIAM 9, WILLIAM 10)

    d.c.1428

    William granted a charter to Walter of Haliburton to Dirleton which was confirmed by Robert, Duke of Albany, Regent, 2 Feb. 1407/8.(1)

    Sir William was one of the commissioners appointed to bargain with the English for the release of King James I in 1423 and was one of the hostages for his majesty in 1424 when his annual income was stated to be 400 marks.(2)

    Issue-

  • 12I. JOHN- d. before 26 July 1454
  • II. ________- m. Walter Drummond of Carlisle
  • III. _______- m. George Douglas of Leswalt

    Ref:

    (1) Reg. Mag. Sig.
    (2) Cal. Doc. Scot. iv, 152, 1010; Douglas' Peerage- Vol.I, p.660

    The Ruthven Family Papers- Samuel Cowan, Simpkin,Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., London, 1912- p. 23
    Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage- Charles Mosley, Ed., Burke's Peerage Ltd.- 107th edition, 2003- Vol. I, p. 690
    "The Scots Peerage"- Vol.IV, p.257
    "The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh, 1880


    12I. JOHN (SWEIN 1, THOR 2, SWEIN 3, ALAN 4, WALTER 5, WILLIAM 6, WALTER 7, WILLIAM 8, WILLIAM 9, WILLIAM 10, WILLIAM 11)

    d. before 26 July 1454

    Sir John was on an assize 10 Aug. 1440 and Sheriff of Perth 21 Apr. 1444.(1) John probably died before 26 July 1454 as William Murray of Gask was Sheriff of Perth on that date.(2)

    In 1443 John Gormac of Atholl, leader of a band of maurauders, attacked Sir John while acting as Sheriff at the head of his guards leading a thief from Atholl to the gallows. In the ensuing skirmish, Gormac and thirteen of his followers were killed on the North Inch of Perch. The Exchequer Rolls state that Sir John was also killed, however, this is not confirmed.(3)

    Issue-

  • 13I. PATRICK- m. ______ CRANSTOUN

    Ref:

    (1) Acta Parl. Scot.- ii, 56; Adv. Lib. MS. 34.3.25, 241
    (2) Exch. Rolls- vi, 187
    (3) The Ruthven Family Papers- Samuel Cowan, Simpkin,Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., London, 1912- p. 24

    Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage- Charles Mosley, Ed., Burke's Peerage Ltd.- 107th edition, 2003- Vol. I, p. 690
    "The Scots Peerage"- Vol.IV, p.257
    "The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh, 1880


    13I. PATRICK (SWEIN 1, THOR 2, SWEIN 3, ALAN 4, WALTER 5, WILLIAM 6, WALTER 7, WILLIAM 8, WILLIAM 9, WILLIAM 10, WILLIAM 11, JOHN 12)

    m. daughter of Sir Thomas Cranstoun of that Ilk

    Patrick was deputy sheriff of Perth 9 May 1444.(1) Sir Patrick was on a jury 6 Oct. 1461.(2)

    Issue-

  • 14I. WILLIAM- m.1. ISABEL (m.1. Walter Lindsay), 2. Christian Forbes, d. 1528

    Ref:

    (1) City of Perth Charters
    (2) Seventh Rep. Hist. MSS. Com.

    Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage- Charles Mosley, Ed., Burke's Peerage Ltd.- 107th edition, 2003- Vol. I, p. 690
    "The Scots Peerage"- Vol.IV, p.257
    "The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh, 1880


    14I. WILLIAM (SWEIN 1, THOR 2, SWEIN 3, ALAN 4, WALTER 5, WILLIAM 6, WALTER 7, WILLIAM 8, WILLIAM 9, WILLIAM 10, WILLIAM 11, JOHN 12, PATRICK 13)

    m.1. ISABEL, daughter of Livingston of Saltcoats (m.1. Walter Lindsay of Beaufort)
    2. Christian Forbes, daughter of William, Lord Forbes
    d. 10 Sept. 1528

    William was Sheriff of Perthshire in 1471 and was made a Knight in Jan. 1483/4. He was a conservator of the Three Years Truce with England on 21 Sept. 1484.(1)

    Sir William was created a Lord of Parliament under the title of Lord Ruthven 29 Jan. 1487/8.(2) He fought at the battle of Sauchieburn on 18 June 1488 with King James III against the rebel barons. He was a Privy Counsellor in Aug. 1513 and after 1515 he was one of the four guardians of King James V.

    He received many charters to land in Perthshire between 1492 and 1528.(3) He had charters to the lands of Cousland from Henry, Lord Sinclair in May 1493, and from David Bruce of Clackmannan on 9 July 1500; charters to Airleywight, Kinnaird and Wester Pitlour in Fife; half the land of Strathbraan, Auchmore and Glenshee, Legertlaw and Blackhall in Perthshire; and part of the barony of Lunan.(5)

    On 24 Oct. 1493 there was a protest by the town of Perth against William, Lord Ruthven and his son before the Lords of Council, Andrew Charteris and Robert Mercer, appeared as Procurators on behalf of the Magistrates of the Town Council of Perth and protested that because Lord Ruthven and his son were summoned at their instance for certain acts contained in the summons and would not compear, therefore they should not be heard in judgement against the town until they pay to them their costs and damages and until the Town be of new summonsed. The nature of the "certain acts" was not given.(7)

    On 4 Nov. 1494 is an agreement between William, Lord Ruthven, and William, his son and the magistrates of Perth and John Eviot of Balhousie providing for the permanent maintenance of Lowswark which is to be the retainer and closer of the aqueduct and talks of taking earth and stones from the lands of Ruthven for the maintainance of the lade and the inholding of the water: "The first parties bind and oblige themselves never to disturb the second parties in the peaceable possession of the lade, nor in taking earth and stones from the lands of Ruthven for its mainenance. It was understood by the contracting parties that the river Almond runs hard at the head, and enters the lade in which the mills stand in such volume that the lade may suffer great damage thereby. For remedy thereof the said parties bind and oblige themselves that there be made for their mutual good a sluice, at the head of the lade, for receiving a sufficient water supply for all the mills that stand thereon, and belonging to them; and to defend and resist the over supply of water that is liable to flow, and cause the destruction of the lade or aqueduct, and that the auld wick called Lowswark be mended, built or reformed, so as to keep the water to its original channel; each party to be responsible for the expense according to this proportion of profit effeiring from the mills. The sluice and Lowswark to be maintained by the contracting parties in this manner." Witness Sir John Tyrie, Provost of the Collegiate Church Methven.(8)

    On 24 Apr. 1510 King James IV granted to William, Lord Ruthven for life and to his son William Ruthven, soldier, and his heirs, the superiority of the lands of the Feu in the barony of Balhousie which John Eviot of Balhousie resigned and with the King, for good services, joined to the barony of Ruthven.(9)

    Both of William's oldest sons were born before his marriage to Isabel and both obtained letters of legitimation under the Great Seal 2 July 1480.(4) William must have had considerable influence as his illegitimate sons received all the property.

    Dirleton Castle- Acquired by the Ruthvens in 1505

    On 14 Jan 1509 William and his son, the master of Ruthven, granted a charter of an annual rent of �10 for the support of a chaplain for St. Peter's chapel at Ruthven Castle and �10 for the support of a chaplain at the church of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Tibbermuir.(6)

    On 26 Jan. 1528 John, Earl of Buchan, granted a charter to his grandfather, William, Lord Ruthven and William Ruthven of Ballindean, his son, to Kettins in Forfarshire.(10) William, Lord Ruthven, granted to John Ruthven or Lindsay, brother of William Ruthven, and his heirs the lands of Drumbain in the barony of Auchtergaven 1 Aug. 1507.(10)

    Issue- first three children by Isabel, last two by Christian

  • 15I. WILLIAM- m.1. Catherine Buttergask, 2. Jean Hepburn, d. Flodden 9 Sept. 1513
  • II. John Lindsay- living in 1548
  • 16III. MARGARET- m.1. Alexander, Earl of Buchan (d. 1505), 2. before 21 June 1508 JOHN ERSKINE of Dun (killed at Flodden 9 Sept. 1513), 3. before 23 Dec. 1518 James Stewart of Ryland (killed at Edinburgh before 11 Mar. 1524/5), 4. William Wood of Bonnyton (annulled 18 Dec. 1534, d. 1548)
  • IV. William- of Ballindean. Ancestor of the families of Gardyne, Carse, Dunlugis, Redcastle and the Earl of Forth.
  • V. Elizabeth- m.1. William, Earl of Erroll, 2. contract 9 Dec. 1523 Ninian, Lord Ross

    Ref:

    (1) Cal. Doc. Scot.- iv, 1505
    (2) Acta Parl. Scot.- ii, 181
    (3) Reg. Mag. Sig.
    (4) Ibid
    (5) The Ruthven Family Papers- Samuel Cowan, Simpkin,Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., London, 1912- pp. 25-6
    (6) Ibid- p. 26
    (7) Ibid- p. 27
    (8) Ibid- pp. 27-9
    (9) Ibid- p. 29
    (10) Ibid- p. 31

    Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage- Charles Mosley, Ed., Burke's Peerage Ltd.- 107th edition, 2003- Vol. I, pp. 690-1
    "The Scots Peerage"- Vol.IV, pp.257-9
    The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant- G.E. Cokayne, Ed., Alan Sutton, Gloucester- Vol. II, pp. 299, 379
    "The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh, 1880


    15I. WILLIAM (SWEIN 1, THOR 2, SWEIN 3, ALAN 4, WALTER 5, WILLIAM 6, WALTER 7, WILLIAM 8, WILLIAM 9, WILLIAM 10, WILLIAM 11, JOHN 12, PATRICK 13, WILLIAM 14)

    m.1. CATHERINE BUTTERGASK
    2. Jean Hepburn of Riccarton
    killed at Flodden 9 Sept. 1513

    William received a letter of legitimation with his brother giving them the right of mutual succession 2 July 1480 and a grant of the lands of Ruthven 12 July 1480 resigned by his father.(1)

    Issue-

  • 17I. WILLIAM- m. JANET HALYBURTON, d. before 16 Dec. 1552
  • II. Isobel- m. John Murray of Wallaceton and Tibbermuir

    Ref:

    (1) Reg. Mag. Sig.

    Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage- Charles Mosley, Ed., Burke's Peerage Ltd.- 107th edition, 2003- Vol. I, pp. 690-1
    "The Scots Peerage"- Vol.IV, p.259
    "The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh, 1880


    17I. WILLIAM (SWEIN 1, THOR 2, SWEIN 3, ALAN 4, WALTER 5, WILLIAM 6, WALTER 7, WILLIAM 8, WILLIAM 9, WILLIAM 10, WILLIAM 11, JOHN 12, PATRICK 13, WILLIAM 14, WILLIAM 15)

    b. before 1513
    m. JANET, daughter of Patrick, Lord HALYBURTON of Dirleton
    d. before 16 Dec. 1552

    Sir William Ruthven- from "The Ruthven Family Papers"

    Sir William was elected provost of Perth on 10 Sept. 1528 and was made custodian of the royal manors and hospitals within the burgh(1).

    On 2 Feb. and 26 Feb. 1532 Sir William, Lord Oliphant, the Lairds of Ardoch, Moncrieffe, Tullibardine and other barons were fined for not coming forward to be on the jury for the trial of Lady Glammis at Forfar for poisoning her husband.(2)

    "What was called the King's Garden at Perth was, in the reign of James V, in the possession of the Blackfriars, and by them kept in repair. In July 1535... a number of men broke down the fences, and entering the Gilten Arbor hastily built at each end of it a butt or bowmark. Next morning the friars made a great outcry and complained to the King. A letter was thereupon addressed by the King to William, Lord Ruthven, Sheriff of the County, ruquesting him 'to do justice to the Blackfriars in opposition to the Magistrates and Council, who had taken illegal possession of certain crofts and pieces of land near the Blackfriars Monastery; and thrown down and destroyed part of the enclosures, and erected butts and bowmarks in the lands of the Gilten Arbor; had taken possession thereof, nor paid them the damage and skaith they had sustained, unless now complelled to do so.' The prior and friars pretested that they had been refused a copy of the King's letter to Lord Ruthven. The King eventually reversed the order he had given to his lordship, and appointed Patrick Ogilvie of Inchmartine and Edmond Hay, Chamberlain of Errol, to be judges in the dispute, and ordered them to exercise the office of Sheriff. The King afterwards ordered the Corporation to pay the damage and to cease troubling the friars in all time coming."(9)

    William was appointed an extraordinary Lord of Session 16 Feb. 1539 and Keeper of the Privy Seal 8 Aug. 1546.(3)

    William's lands were made into a free forest 28 Aug. 1536.(4) On 24 Jan. 1536 there is a charter to William, Lord Ruthven, Janet Halliburton, his wife, and James, their son of half the lands of Forteviot. There is another charter to James, second son of William, Lord Ruthven, of the barony of Legge Kingston, dated 5 Feb. 1551.(8)

    William was one of the early supporters of the Reformation in Scotland and in Parliament 13 Mar. 1543 he supported the laity reading the Scriptures in English and was called by Knox "a stout and discreet man in the cause of God". In the same Parliament he, with the Earls of Marischal and Montrose, the Lords Erskine, Linsay, Livingston and Seton were appointed guardians for Queen Mary.(5)

    Between the Kinfauns family and the Ruthvens a rivalry and feud existed which on several occasions led to fatal results. On 7 Oct. 1544 Sir William was again elected Provost of Perth and the next Jan. Cardinal Bethune while on a persecuting visit with the Regent Arran instigated the Regent to dismiss Sir William from his post and replace John Charteris of Kinfauns, a leading Catholic, in that office. The citizens of Perth, however, refused to acknowledge Charteris for their Provost and would not let him enter town. John Charteris, Lord Gray, Norman Leslie and others with their forces attacked the town. Sir William aided by the Laird of Moncrieff and the citizens resolved to defend the city. Lord Gray was to enter Perth from the bridge while Leslie was to bring in ammunition and men by water, but the tide was against him and he did not arrive in time. On 22 July 1544 Lord Gray finding the bridge undefended marched into town and met Sir William's army who routed them and killed about 60 of Lord Gray's men. In 1552 John Charteris of Kinclaven was killed by the Master of Ruthven on High St., Edinburgh "upon occasion of old feud and for staying of a decret of ane proces which the said John pursued against him before the Lords of Session". This led to an act of Parliament that whosoever should slay a man for pursuing an action against him should forfeit the right of judgment in his action in addition to his liability to the laws for the crime.(6)

    Sir William had a grant of the King's House in Perth where he was the keeper 13 Sept. 1546.(7)

    Lilias Ruthven- from "The Ruthven Family Papers"

    Issue-

  • 18I. PATRICK- b.c.1520, m.1. before 8 Aug. 1546 JANET DOUGLAS, 2. 1557 Janet Stewart (m.1. Alexander, Master of Sutherland, 2. Sir Hugh Kennedy of Girvanmains, 3. Henry Stewart, Lord Methven (m.1. Margaret Tudor, the Queen Dowager), d. 13 June 1566 Newcastle
  • II. James- of Forteviot, d.s.p. before 9 Jan. 1553
  • III. Henry-
  • IV. William- probably d.s.p. before 8 May 1543
  • V. Alexander- m. Elizabeth Moncrieff, d. 9 Oct. 1599. Alex was charged with Riccio's murder and denounced a rebel.
  • 19VI. LILIAS- m. DAVID DRUMMOND, d. 7 July 1579 Stobhall
  • 21VII. KATHERINE- int. 28 Jan. 1550/1 COLIN CAMPBELL of Glenorchy
  • VIII. Cecilia- m.1556 David Wemyss (d. 8 July 1589)
  • IX. Barbara- int. 14 Jan. 1556/7 Patrick, Lord Gray
  • X. Janet- m.1. before 1544 John Crichton of Strathord, 2. Laurence Mercer of Meikleour, d. 9 Dec. 1593
  • XI. Margaret- int. 24 Mar. 1549/0 James Johnston of Elphinston
  • XII. Christian- m. William Lundin of that Ilk

    Ref:

    (1) Reg. Mag. Sig.- 1513-46, No. 683
    (2) "The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh, 1880 quoting Pitcairn's "Criminal Trials"- Vol. I, p. 158
    (3) P.C. Reg.- I, 35; XIV, 35; Reg. Mag. Sig.- 1513-46, No. 2747
    (4) Reg. Mag. Sig.- 1513-46, No. 1617
    (5) "The Scottish Nation"; "Historie of the Kirk of Scotland"- Calderwood, Vol. I, p.158
    (6) Ibid
    (7) Ibid
    (8) The Ruthven Family Papers- Samuel Cowan, Simpkin,Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., London, 1912- pp. 32-3
    (9) The Ruthven Family Papers- Samuel Cowan, Simpkin,Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., London, 1912- pp. 44-5

    Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage- Charles Mosley, Ed., Burke's Peerage Ltd.- 107th edition, 2003- Vol. I, pp. 690-1
    "The Scots Peerage"- Vol.IV, pp.259-61


    18I. PATRICK (SWEIN 1, THOR 2, SWEIN 3, ALAN 4, WALTER 5, WILLIAM 6, WALTER 7, WILLIAM 8, WILLIAM 9, WILLIAM 10, WILLIAM 11, JOHN 12, PATRICK 13, WILLIAM 14, WILLIAM 15, WILLIAM 16)

    b.c.1520
    m.1. before 8 Aug. 1546 JANET DOUGLAS
    2. 1557 Janet Stewart (m.1. Alexander, Master of Sutherland, 2. Sir Hugh Kennedy of Girvanmains, 3. Henry Stewart, Lord Methven (m.1. Margaret Tudor, the Queen Dowager)
    d. 13 June 1566 Newcastle

    Sir Patrick was educated at St. Andrews and like his father was a staunch supporter of the Protestants. On 8 Aug. 1546 he and Jean were granted the lands of Humbie, Easter, Wester and Over Newton.(7)

    Patrick was also involved in the War of the Rough Wooing and wanted to give Perth to the English and offered it to Sir Andrew Dudley in 1548 who occupied Broughty Castle.(1) In Mar. 1551 after the war was over he went to Paris and wrote to Mary of Guise asking for the money she had promised him:

    "I haif evir bene and salbe at your grace' commandment. Fordir, pleis your grace, I think I have bene ane futtman lang aneuch, bot quhene it pless your grace ye will mak me ane hors man amangis utheris, ... I shall jeopard my lyfe in your service farder nor thame that giffis yow fairer wordis and gettis mair of your geir."(2)

    In 1552 Patrick was appointed to command the footmen sent to France.(8) By 15 Dec. he had succeeded his father when the Queen granted to he and his wife Janet Douglas a third of the lands of Dirleton, Haliburton and Hassindean in Berwickshire.(9)

    In 1559 when the Queen Regent requested him to suppress the new religion in Perth he sent back the answer that he could make the bodies of the citizens come to Her Grace and prostrate themselves before her, but he had no power over their minds or consciences. She said in great fury that he was too malapert to give such an answer and threatened to cause him and them both repent. On her approach to Perth he and several other reformers went to her for their own defense and for the defense of protestantism. Patrick with his cavalry was the army of the Congregation stationed on Cupar muir and after an eight day truce had been agreed to he with Argyle and several others marched their forces to Perth to expel the French left there by the regent. After having surrounded the city they demanded the surrender of the garrison which they did not. On the night of 25 June the bombardment began and the following day the garrison was forced to surrender. The Queen Regent fortified Leith with her French troops and in response Lord Ruthven and the other Protestant Lords sent a letter to her 29 Sept. expressing their displeasure, but no answer was returned. They collected their forces at Stirling and marched into Edinburgh 18 Oct. 1559 and the Queen Regent placed herself under the protection of her troops at Leith. At this point she sent Robert Forman, Lyon Herald King of Arms to Edinburgh to command them to disperse under penalty of treason. It was then decided to deprive her of her authority and on 21 Oct. 1559 a convention of nobility, barons and burgesses at Edinburgh passed an edict suspending her commission of regency and removing her from the government. Patrick was president of this convention and made a strong speech in favor of suspending the queen dowager as regent.(10) With 600 cavalry Patrick, Lord James Stewart and Kirkaldy of Grange continually annoyed the French with constant attacks defeating them near Kinghorn, Fife. In Jan. 1560 Patrick and his men engaged the French at Burntisland. The next month he was one of the commissioners elected by the Lords of the Congregation to meet with the Duke of Norfolk at Berwick to arrange for the assistance of Queen Elizabeth. After signing the Treaty of Berwick he sent his son Archibald as a hostage to England.(3) Patrick wrote to William Cecil from Huntingtower Castle and reminded him of their previous meetings in England during the reign of Edward VI and approved of William's "forth setting of the union of these realms in greater amity than in times bypast has been".(4) He signed the band of 27 Apr. 1560 in "defence of the liberty of the evangel" and for the removal of the French from Scotland. In the conference with Mary of Guise at Edinburgh Castle on 12 May 1560, Patrick was more unyeilding on all points than any of the other representatives.(5)

    In Feb. 1563 Patrick was chosen a privy councillor for Mary, Queen of Scots. Randolph stated that Patrick "misliked Moray" on account of his sorcery and that "an unworthier there is not in Scotland than he" and that more might be spoken than he dared to write. Later he wrote that the Queen "cannot abide him" and that "all men hate him". Knox stated that the queen "could not love him" for she knew him "to use enchantment".(11) Despite his admission to the privy council Patrick remained a staunch defender of protestantism.

    In 1563 John Knox was accused before the Council for writing a letter requesting several Protestant leaders to meet in Edinburgh on 24 Oct.

    Mary, Queen of Scots asked "who gave him authority to convocate my lieges? Is not that treason?"

    Sir Patrick at once answered "No, Madam, he convocateth the people to hear prayers and sermons almost daily and whatever Your Grace or others will think thereof, we think it no treason."

    "Hold your peace" said the Queen "and let him answer for himself".

    He did answer for himself and was acquitted of treason to the disappointment of poor Mary.

    In the General Assembly at Edinburgh on 25 Dec. 1563 Patrick was one of the noblemen appointed to revise the Book of Discipline.

    On 22 Sept. 1563 Patrick was appointed to expel the Clan Gregor out of Strathearn and on 8 May 1564 the Queen granted him the office of Sheriff of Perthshire.(12) On 1 Dec. 1564 he was granted an old house adjoining Holyrood House which he made into a residence. He was probably living there at the time of Rizzio's murder which would explain how he could appear there from his sick bed. Also on 1 Dec. he and his second wife, Janet Stewart, widow of Lord Methven, were granted the lordship of Methven.(13)

    Patrick's first wife, Janet Douglas, was a cousin to Lord Darnley and so Patrick was naturally a supporter of the marriage of the Queen to Darnley. Patrick represented him as the "chief councillor" of those who were set on the marriage.(14) Patrick, along with the Earl of Atholl and 300 horsemen, escorted the Queen from Perth through Fife to Callendar House when a plot was discovered for her capture by the Earl of Moray. On 1 July 1565 the Queen promised to pay a visit to Lord Livingston to act as godmother to his baby. Moray, with the approval of Queen Elizabeth, arranged to have the Queen seized at the Pass of Dron. She found out about the plot the night before and called on Patrick and the Earl of Atholl to escort her. During Moray's rebellion after the Queen's marriage to Darnley, Patrick joined her forces with a command in the rearguard. (15)

    The Murder of David Rizzio- Sir William Allan- 1833

    The rise of Rizzio as the Queen's favorite was accompanied by the declining influence of Darnley and all his relatives and supporters. Needless to say Patrick deeply resented the situation and agreed to assist Darnley to help him against the "villain David" despite the fact that he was so ill he "was scarcely able to walk twice the length of his chamber".

    Sir Patrick's last public appearance was on 9 Mar. 1566 when lean and ghostlike from a long illness he appeared in black armour with his son and others behind Lord Darnley with a dagger in his hand and burst into Mary's supper room having come up the private stair. The Queen and her attendants thought that Patrick was "raving through the vehemency of a fever". In the presence of the Queen he commanded the deformed Italian Riccio to leave a place of which he was unworthy. As he was about to seize Rizzio who was clinging to the Queen's garments, the other conspirators rushed in and carried Rizzio into the outer chamber. The earls of Atholl, Huntly, Borthwell and others in attendance on the Queen became alarmed at the uproar and appeared to be coming to the rescue. Patrick explained that no harm was intended to anyone other than Rizzio and that they were acting on behalf of Lord Darnley who was present. The nobles returned to their chambers and Patrick returned to the Queen's chamber and feeling faint, sat down and called for a cup of wine.

    On 2 Apr. 1566 Patrick and James Douglas sent their testimony concerning Riccio's murder to Queen Elizabeth stating that they had acted the best for Darnley, Mary, the State and religion.(6) After the murder and abandoned by Darnley he fled into England and died there three months later.

    Holyrood Palace

    A Discourse of the late troubles that happened in Scotland betwixt the Noble and Mighty Princess Mary, by the Grace of God Queen of Scots, and her husband Henry the King, with other Earls, Barons, Gentlemen and Freeholders, Merchants and Craftsmen, on their part, the 9th day of March 1565. Written in Berwick the last of April 1566.

    Whereas the Lord Ruthven of Scotland, aged forty-six, was visited by the hand of God with great trouble and sickness, having two infirmities, an inflammation of the liver, and a consumption of the kidneys, whereby he kept to his bed continually, for the space of three months, under the cure of medicines, as the Queen's French Doctor, Dr. David Preston, and Thomas Thomson, Apothecary, and so feeble that he scarcely might walk twice the length of his chamber. In the mean season the King, husband to the Queen, conceived an hatred against the Italian called David Ricchio, and about the 10th of February the King sent his dear friend and cousin George Douglas, son to his uncle Archibald Douglas, Earl of Angus, and declared unto the said Lord Ruthven how that the said David abused the King in many sorts, and staid the Queen's Majesty from giving him the Crown-Matrimonial of Scotland, which her Majesty had promised to him sundry times, besides many other wrongs which he could not bear longer and behoved him to be revenged; and because the said Lord Ruthven was one to whom he trusted, in respect that his children and the King were cousins of the first degree, he required his counsel which way he might be revenged of the said David. The Lord Ruthven answered, "That he would give no answer in that matter, because he knew the King's youth and facility to be so, that sundry of the Nobility before, giving him counsel suitable to his honour, he revealed the same to the Queen's Majesty, whereby her Grace had them in high displeasure and therefore would have no dealing with his own counsel"; with which answer the said George Douglas departed to the King. About the 12th of February the King hearing the answer, was much discontented, and said, "'Tis a sore case that I cannot get any of the Nobility to assist me against this villain David." To which George answered, "The default was in himself, in that he could not keep his own secret." Then the King took a book, and swore thereon "That what counsel the Lord Ruthven would give him, he would not reveal the same to the Queen, or to any other"; and immediately dispatched the said George Douglas again to the Lord Ruthven to declare what oath the King had made. Notwithstanding, the Lord Ruthven remained eight days ere he would give any advice therein. Then again George being sent unto him, the said Lord understood the King's intent was the slaughter of David, and considering he had now a good time to labour for certain of the Nobility banished the Realm, answered, "That he would not medle with the King's affairs unless the King would grant that the Lords banished for the Word of God might return to their country and estates" to which he yielded, on condition that they should stand by him by their subscription, which Ruthven promised. On which the King directed the said George Douglas to the Lord Ruthven with certain Articles to be subscribed by the Lord Ruthven and the rest, which was done; and they sent certain Articles to the King to be subscribed on his part, which he did, and the same was delivered to the said Lord Ruthven, who demanded Articles for the Earl of Murray, Argile, &c., which was granted, and delivered to the said Earl, the tenor whereof ensueth...

    All this while the King kept sight from the Queen's Majesty all his proceedings; and as her Majesty sought by subtile means to learn of him what was in his mind, so he crafted with her to understand her mind. In the mean time, he sending to the Lord Ruthven, saying that he would not abide David any longer; and if his slaughter were not hasted, he would slay him himself, yea though it were in the Queen's chamber; the said Lord Ruthven counselled him to the contrary, and thought it not decent that he should put hand on such a mean person; whereupon the said Lord Ruthven affixed a day whereon David should be slain, though he would have rather to be judged by the Nobility. To which the King answered, that it was cumbersome to them in such a case, but would have him hang'd or dispatched otherwise. In the mean time, the King and Queen's Majesties rode to Seton-house: The King burning in his desire of the slaughter of David, sent divers privy writings in his own hand to the Lord Ruthven, and a message to George Douglas, to be shewed to Ruthven, to have all things in a readiness against his return to Edinburgh, towards the slaughter of the said David, otherwise he would put the same in execution with his own hands. Mean time the Lord Ruthven practising with the Earl of Morton, the King's nigh kinsman, and the Lord Lindsay, whose wife was a Douglas, and with a number of Barons and Gentlemen, to assist the King in such affairs as he had to do, and that they should have their religion freely established, conform to Christ's Book, and to the Articles subscribed by the King to the Lords. And after the King's return from Seton. he directed George Douglas to the Earl of Morton and Lord Ruthven, to see what day should be appointed, with place and time for performance of the enterprize against David: To which they answered that they would have a sufficient number ready against Friday or Saturday the 8th or 9th of March, and they thought it best to take him in his own chamber, or in passing through the close, which the King refused simply; and that he could not be taken in his own chamber, for the last night he tarried late with the Queen's Majesty, he lay in the other cabinet, and sometimes in Seignior Francis chamber, and sometimes in hiw own chamber which had sundry back doors and windows through which he might easily escape; therefore he would have him taken at supper-ime, sitting with her Majesty at the table, that he might be taunted in her presence, because she had not entertained her husband according to her accustomed manner, nor as she ought of duty. To which the said Earl and Lord were loath to yeild; but no reason would prevail, and he devised the matter himself as followeth:-

    Upon Saturday at supper, Morton, and Ruthven, and Lindsay should have been ready, so many as would be partakers with the King, and as soon as he sent them word; the Earl Morton should go up to her Majesty's chamber, and the Lord Ruthven to come through the King's privy-chamber; and that the King should pass up before a private way to the Queen's chamber, and open the door, wherethrough the said Lord and his company should enter; and when the King himself should be speaking with the Queen's Majesty, the rest of the Gentlemen and Barons to be in the Court of the gates. Whereupon, the said Earl of Morton and Lord Ruthven, considering the King's device toward the killing the said David in the Queen's Majesty's chamber, considering he was a young Prince, and having a lusty Princess afterwards to lie in his arms, who might perswade him to deny all that was done and addege that others perswaded him to the same, thought it necessary to have surety thereupon, who made a bond to the Earls, Lords, Barons, Freeholders, Merchants and Craftsmen, in the King's name, declaring, that what was to be done was his own device and invention; and by bond obliged himself, his heirs, & c. to them, their heirs and successors, to keep them skaithless for executing David in the Queen's Majesty's presence, or otherwise, as the said bond more at large declareth.

    Upon Saturday the 9th of March, conform to the King's ordinance and device, the said Earl Morton, Lord Ruthven, and Lord Lindsay, having their men and friends in a readiness, abiding the King's advertisement; the King having supp'd the sooner for the same purpose; and the Queen's Majesty in her cabinet, within her inner-chamber at supper, the King sent for the said Earl, Lords, and their accomplices, and desired them to make haste and come to the Palace, for he should have the door of the privy-chamber open, and should be talking with the Queen before their coming. The said Earl Morton, Lords Ruthven and Lindsay, with their accomplices, entring the Palace by the King's commandment, and the said Earl Morton to the King's outer-chamber, and certain with him; and the said Lord Ruthven the other way, through the King's chamber to the cabinet, up to the privy way to the Queen's chamber, as the King directed them, and through the chamber to the cabinet, where they found her Majesty at supper, at a little table, the Lady Argile at the one end, and David at the other end, his cap on his head, the King speaking with her Majesty, with his hand about her waste.

    The said Lord Ruthven at his entring in, said unto the Queen's Majesty, let it please your Majesty that yonder man David come forth of your privy-chamber, where he hath been over-long. The Queen answered, what offence hath he done? Ruthven answered, that he made a greater and more hainous offence to her Majesty's honour, the King her husband, the Nobility and Commonwealth. And how? said she. If it would please your Majesty, said the Lord Ruthven, he hath offended your honour, which I dare not be so bold as to speak of. As to the King your husband's honour, he hath hindered him of the Crown-Matrimonial which your Grace promised him besides many other things which are not necessary to be expressed; and hath caused your Majesty to banish a great part of the Nobility, and to forfeit them, that he might be made a Lord. And to your Commonweal he hath been a common destroyer, hindring your Majesty to grant or give any thing but what passe through his hands, by taking of bribes for the same; and caused your Majesty to put at the Lord Ross for his whole land, because he would not give over the lands of Melvin to the said David, besides many other inconveniences that he solicited your Majesty to do. Then the said Lord Ruthven said to the King, Sir, take the Queen your wife and soereign to you, who stood all amazed, and wist not what to do. Then her Majesty rose upon her feet, and stood before David, he holding her Majesty by the plates of her gown, leaning back over the window, his dagger drawn in his hand, and Arthur Areskin, and the Abbot of Holyrood-house, and the Lord Keith, master ofthe household with the French pothecary; and one of the chamber, began to lay hands on the Lord Ruthven, none of the King's party being there present. Then the said Lord Ruthven pulled out his dagger, and defended himself until more came in, and said to them, lay no hands on me, for I will not be handled. At the coming in of others into the cabinet, the said Lord Ruthven put up his dagger; and with the rushing in of men, the board fell into the wall, meat and candles being thereon, and the Lady of Argile took one of the candles in her hand. At the same instant the Lord Ruthven took the Queen in his arms, and put her into the King's arms, beseeching her Majesty not to be afraid, for there was no man there that would do her body any harm more than they would do their own hearts; and assured her Majesty, that all that was done was the King's own deed. And the remnant of the gentlemen being in the cabinet took David out of the window, and after they had him out of the Queen's chamber, the said Lord Ruthven followed, and bade take him away down to the King's chamber the privy way, and the said Lord returned to the cabinet, thinking that the said David had been taken down to the King's chamber; the press of the people hurled him forth to the outer-chamber, where there was a great number standing who were vehemently moved against him, so that they could not abide any longer, but slew him at the Queen's fore-door in the other chamber. Immediately the Earl Morton passed forth of the Queen's outer-chamber to the Nether-Court, for the keeping of the same and the gates, and deputed certain Barons to keep certain chambers until he knew the Queen's Majesty's pleasure and the King's. Shortly after, her Majesty said to the Lord Lindsay, Arthur Areskin, and the Earl Morton, to pass to David's chamber to fetch the black coffer, with the writings and cyphers, which the said Earl Morton delivered, and gave the chamber in keeping to John Symple, son to the Lord Symple, with those goods, both gold and silver, and apparel therein. In the mean time the Queen's Majesty and the King came forth of the cabinet to the Queen's chamber, where the Queen's Majesty began to reason with the King. My Lord, why have you caused to do this wicked deed to me? considering that I took you from low estate, and made you my husband? What offence have I given you that you should do me such shame? The King answered, I have good reason for me, for since yonder fellow David came in credit and familiarity with your Majesty, you neither regarded me, entertained me, nor trusted me after your wonted fashion; for every day before dinner you were wont to come to my chamber, and past the time with me, and this long time you have not done so; and when I came to your Majesty's chamber, you bare me little company except David had been the third person; and after supper your Majesty used to sit up at the cards with the said David till one or two after midnight: And this is the entertainment that I have had of you this long time. Her Majesty answered, that it was not a gentlewoman's duty to come to her husband's chamber, but rather the husband to come to the wife's. The King answered, how came you to my chamber in the beginning, and ever till within these six months, that David fell into familiarity with you? Or am I fail'd in any sort in my body? Or what disdain have you of me? Or what offences have I done you that you should coy me at all times alike, seeing I am willing to do all things that becometh a good husband? Suppose I be of mean degree, yet am I your husband, and you promised me obedience at the day of your marriage and that I should be participant and equal with you in all things; but you have used me otherwise, by the perswasion of David. The Queen answered, my Lord, all the offence that is done me, you have the wite thereof, for the which I shall be your wife no longer, nor ly with you any more, and shall never like well till I cause you have as sorrowful a heart as I have at this present. Then the Lord Ruthven made answer, and besought her Majesty to be of good comfort, to entertain her husband, and use the counsel of the Nobility, and then her government would be as prosperous as in any King's days. The said Lord Ruthven being sore fell'd with his sickness, and wearied with his travel, desired her Majesty's pardon to sit down, and called for drink for God's sake; so a Frenchman brought him a cup of wine, and after he drank, her Majesty began to raid at him, saying, is this your sickness? He answered, God forbid your Majesty had such a sickness. Then the Queen said, if she died of her child, or her Commonweal perished, she would leave the revenge thereof to her friends, to be taken of the said Lord Ruthven and his posterity; for she had the King of Spain and the Emperor her great friends, and likewise the King of France her good brother with her uncles of Lorrain besides the Pope's Holiness, and many other princes in Italy. Ruthven answered, that these noble princes were over great personages to medle with such a poor man as he was, being her Majesty's own subject: And what her Majesty said, that if she, or her child, and Commonweal perished, she said Lord Ruthven would have the wyte thereof; he answered, if any of these three perished, her Majesty's self and her particular Council should have the wyte thereof before God and the world; for there was no man within the Palace but would honour and serve her Majesty as became true subjects, and would suffer no harm to come to her body more than to their own hearts: And if any thing be done this night that your Majesty mislikes, the King your husband, and none of us, is in the wyte; which he confessed to be true.

    At this instant, Gray knocked fast at the Queen's door, declaring that the Earls of Huntly, Athole, Bothwell, Cathness, and Sutherland, the Lords Fleming, Levingston, the Secretary, and Tullibardin the Comptroller, with their officers and servants, were fighting in the close against the Earl Morton and his company, being on the King's part. The King hearing the same would have gone down, but the Lord Ruthven stay'd him and went down himself desiring the King to entertain the Queen's Majesty in the mean time. The said Lord Ruthven went down supported by the arms, and before his coming, the officers were going in at their houses, and the Lords were holden in at the gallery-door by the Earl Morton and others, who were constrained to pass up to the gallery, and to their chambers; so the said Lord Ruthven passed up to the Earl Bothwell's chamber, where he found Huntly, Cathness, Sutherland, and divers others, where he shewed the whole proceedings of that night, and how it was invented by the King himself, as his hand-writ should shew; and how he had sent for the Lords that were banished in England, and Argile, who would be there before day. And because there was some enmity unreconciled between the Earls of Huntly and Bothwell, and Argile and Murray, the same should be made up at the sight of the Nobility, they doing the like. Whereupon the Earls of Huntly and Bothwell gave him their hand, and after they drank, the said Lord Ruthven took his leave of them, and passed to the Earl of Athole's chamber, accompanied with the Earls of Cathness and Sutherland and the Lord Gray, and found with the said Earl the Comptroller, Secretary, and James Balfour, with divers others; and because of the familiarity between the said Earl and Ruthven, the Earl began to be angry with Ruthven for concealing from him what enterprize soever he had to do, who answered, that it was the King's attempt and device, and that none of them had any further medling therein than as the King commanded, as he had writing to testify; and that it was the King's secret, and fear'd that if he had given him knowledge thereof, he would reveal it to her Majesty, which might hinder the purpose [ya think?], and cause the King to have holden Ruthven for a dishonest man. The Earl perceiving all to be the King's own doing, desired Ruthven to go to the King, and obtain leave for him to pass into his own country, with them that were then in the chamber with him.

    Meanwhile Bothwell and Huntly hearing of the other Lords return out of England, thought it better to escape than remain; so they went out at a low window, and away. Meantime, while the Lord Ruthven was with Athole, the King declared to the Queen's Majesty, that he had sent for the Lords to return again, whereunto she answered, that she was not to blame that they were so long away, for she could be content to have them home at any time but for angring of him; and to verify the same when the Queen gave remission to the Duke, he was miscontent therewith. Then came the Provost of Edinburgh, and a great company of townsmen armed, to the outer-court of the Palace, where the King called out of the window to them to return to their houses, for he and the Queen's Majesty were in good health. The Lord Ruthven being come up to the Queen's chamber, where the King was, he shewed them that there was no hurt done. Then her Majesty enquired what had become of David? Ruthven answered, that he believed in the King's chamber, for he thought not fit to shew how he died. Then her Majesty asked the said Lord Ruthven what kindness was betwixt Murray and him? Remember you, said she, what the Earl Murray would have me to unto you, for giving me the ring? Ruthven answered, that he would bear no quarrel for that cause, but would forgive him and all others, for God's sake; and as for that ring, it had no more vertue than another ring, but was a little ring with a pointed diamond in it. Remember you not, said her Majesty, that you said it had a vertue to keep me from poisoning? Liketh your Grace, said he, I said so much, that the ring had that vertue; but I take that evil opinion out of your head, of presupposition that you conceived that the Protestants would have done, which he knew the contrary, and that the Protestants would do no more harm to your Majesty's body than to their own heart. It was so imprinted in your Majesty's mind, that it could not be taken away without a contrary impression. Then said her Majesty to the Lord Ruthven, what offence or default have I done to be thus handled? Enquire, said he, at the King your husband. Nay, said she, I will enquire or you; who answered, Madam, if it would please your Majesty to remember that you have this long time a number of perverse persons, and especially David a stranger Italian, who hath ruled and guided the country without advice of the Nobility and Council, especially against those Noblemen that were banished. Her Majesty answered, were you not one of my Council? why would you not declare if I would do any thing amiss? because your Majesty would hear no such thing in all the time your Majesty was at Glasgow and Dumfries but when ever you called your Council together, did things by your self and your privy persons, albeit your Nobility be at the pains and expences. Well, said her Majesty, you find great fault with me, I will be content to set down my Crown before the Lords of the Articles, and if they find that I have offended, to give it where they please. Then answered the Lord Ruthven, God forbid Madam: But who chose the said Lords of the Articles? Not I, said she. Saving your Majesty's reverence, said he, you chose them all in Seaton, and nominated them; and as for your Majesty's Council, it hath been suffered to wait this long time, and what was done it behoved them to say it was your Majesty's pleasure. And to the Lords of the Articles, your Majesty first chose such as would say whatsoever you thought expedient to the forfeitures of the banished Lords: and, now when the Lords of the Articles have sitten certain days reasoning if they could find any principal cause why they should be forfeited, no Madam, not so much as one point, except false witness be brought in against them: Whereunto she gave no answer. Then the Lord Ruthven perceiving that her Majesty was very sick, he said to the King it was best to take leave of her Majesty, that she might take her rest: So the King took his good-night, and came forth of the Queen's chamber, and we with him, and left none there but the ladies and gentlewomen: And when the King came to his own chamber, Ruthven declared unto him the message he had from the Earl of Athole to the King, to have leave to return hom, which the King was loath to do unless he gave him a bond that he should be his. To which Ruthven answered, that he was a true man, and kept the thing he said as well as others their hand-writing and seals. Then the King desired the Lord Ruthven to fetch Athole to him, which he did; who, after he had talked with the King, he desired the said Earl to be ready to come to him whensoever he sent for him. He answered, whensoever it would please the Queen's Grace and him to send for him, he would gladly come at all times; and desired the King that he might speak to the Queen, which the King denied: And the Earl took his leave, and passed to his chamber, and the Lord Ruthven with him; for he made him ready, and in his company the Earls of Sutherland and Cathness, the Master of Cathness, the Secretary and Comptroller, with James Balfour, the Lord Grahame, with divers others... The gates being locked, the King being in his bed, the Queen walking in his chamber, the Lord Ruthven took charge of the lower gate and privy passage, bu the King's commandment, and David was thrown down the stairs from the Palace where he was slain, and brought to the Porter's lodge, who taking off his cloaths, said, this was his destiny; for upon this chest was his first bed when he came to this place, and now he lieth a very niggard and misknown knave. The King's dagger was found sticking in his side. The Queen enquired at the King where his dagger was? who answered, that he wist not well. Well, said the Queen, it will be known hereafter...

    And between four and five in the afternoon the King passed to the Queen, and took the Earls Morton and Murray with him, also the Lord Ruthven, and leaving them in the outer-chamber, the King went in to know if her Majesty would come to the outer-chamber, or admit the Lords to come in; and she came out to the outer-chamber led by the King, the said Earls and Lords sitting down on their knees, made their speech by the Earl of Morton, chancellor, and offer their particular orations by themselves. And after that her Majesty had heard all, her answer was, that it was not unknown to the Lords that she was never blood-thristy, nor greedy upon their lands or goods since her coming into Scotland, nor woulld be upon theirs that were present, but would remit the whole number that were banished, or were at the last deed or death of David, and put all things in oblivion as if they had never been and so caused the said Earls and Lords to rise on their feet, and afterwards her Majesty desired them to make their own securities, and she would subscribe the same. Then her Majesty took the King by the hand, and the Earl of Murray by the other, and walked in the said outer-chamber by the space of an hour, and then passed into her inner-chamber, when she and the King appointed that all they that were on the King's part should go forth of its place... The Lords answered, you may make us do what you please, but it is sore against our wills, for we fear that all is but deceit that is meant towards us, and that the Queen will pass away shortly and take you with her, either to the Castle of Edinburgh, or Dunbar. And the Lord Ruthven protested that what bloodshed or mischief should ensure thereon, should fall upon the King's head and his posterity, and not upon theirs. The King said he would warrant them all: So they parted and took their leave of the King, and passed all out of Holyrood-house to the Earl of Morton's house, where they supped... (16)

    All of this stress caused Patrick to fail and after several months he died at Newcastle on 13 June 1566.

    Huntington Tower or Ruthven Castle

    Issue-

  • I. Patrick- m. Marion Gray (m.2. Patrick Ogilvy of Inchmartine), d. before 1565
  • II. William- m. Dorothea Stewart, beheaded 4 May 1584 Sterling Castle. Sir William was the principal actor in the "Raid of Ruthven" to seize King James VI and take him away from the Duke of Lennox and the Earl of Arran.
  • III. George- killed 4 Sept. 1571 near Stirling
  • IV. Archibald- General in the Swedish Army under King John
  • V. James- Precentor of Dunkeld, d. after 1599
  • VI. Alexander-
  • VII. Jean- m.1. Henry Stewart, Lord Methven (d. 3 Mar. 1571), 2. Andrew, Earl of Rothes, d. Sept. 1591
  • 20VIII. ISABELL- m.c.22 Aug. 1570 JAMES COLVILLE of Culross
  • IX. James- natural son, mentioned in 1578

    Ref:

    (1) Calendar of State Papers Scotland- Vol. I, 50, 82, 98
    (2) Scottish Correspondence of Mary of Lorraine- Scottish Historical Society, 1927- p. 347
    (3) Calendar State Papers Scotland- Vol. I, pp. 344-5
    (4) Ibid- p. 323 (6 Mar. 1560)
    (5) Two Missions of de la Brosse- Gladys Dickinson, SHS, 1942- pp. 154-5
    (6) British Library- Harley MS 289, fol. 96
    (7) Reg. Mag. Sig.- 1513-46, No. 3289
    (8) Reg. P.C. Scotland- I, 135
    (9) Reg. Mag. Sig.- 1546-80, No. 735
    (10) Cal. State Papers- Foreign series 1559-60, No. 234
    (11) Ibid- 1563, No. 370
    (12) Reg. P.C. Scotland- I, 249
    (13) Reg. Mag. Sig.- 1546-80, No. 1567-8
    (14) Cal. State Papers, For. ser. 1564-5, No. 1140
    (15) Reg. P.C. Scotland- I, 379
    (16) History of the Affairs of Church and State in Scotland- Robert Keith, Vol. III, pp. 260-279; quoting Lord Ruthven's "Relation"- British Museum MS Cotton Calig. bk, ix, fol. 219

    Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage- Charles Mosley, Ed., Burke's Peerage Ltd.- 107th edition, 2003- Vol. I, pp. 690-1
    "The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh, 1880
    "The Scots Peerage"- Vol.IV, pp.261-2


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