Claud Hamilton, 1st Lord Paisley
Encyclopedia
Claud Hamilton, 1st Lord Paisley (Baptised 9 June 1546 – before 3 May 1621) was a Scottish
politician. He was a younger son of James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran
. In 1553, he received the lands of the abbey of Paisley
. As a hostage delivered to England by the Treaty of Berwick
, he was said to be 14 years old in March 1560.
In 1568, Claud aided Mary, Queen of Scots, to escape from Lochleven castle, afterwards fighting for her at the Battle of Langside
. His estates having been forfeited because of condemnation, Hamilton was concerned in the murder of the Regent
James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray
in 1570, and also in that of the Regent Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox
in the following year; but in 1573 he recovered his estates.
Then in 1579 the privy council
decided to arrest Claud and his brother John
(c. 1535–1604) (afterwards 1st marquess of Hamilton
) and to punish them for their past misdeeds; but the brothers escaped to the Kingdom of England
, where Elizabeth I of England
used them as pawns in the diplomatic game, and later Claud lived for a short time in France
.
Returning to Scotland in 1586 and mixing again in politics, Hamilton sought to reconcile James VI of Scotland with his mother; he was in communication with Philip II of Spain
in the interests of Mary and the Roman Catholic religion, and neither the failure of Anthony Babington
's plot nor even the defeat of the Spanish Armada
put an end to these intrigues. In 1589 some of his letters were seized and he suffered a short imprisonment, after which he practically disappeared from public life.
Hamilton, who was created a Scottish Lord of Parliament
as Lord Paisley in 1587, was insane during his concluding years. His eldest son James
was created Earl of Abercorn in 1606.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
politician. He was a younger son of James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran
James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran
James Hamilton, Duke of Châtellerault and 2nd Earl of Arran was a Scottish nobleman.-Biography:He was the eldest legitimate son of James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran....
. In 1553, he received the lands of the abbey of Paisley
Paisley
Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
. As a hostage delivered to England by the Treaty of Berwick
Treaty of Berwick (1560)
The Treaty of Berwick was negotiated on 27 February 1560 at Berwick-upon-Tweed. It was an agreement made by the representative of Queen Elizabeth I of England, the Duke of Norfolk, and the Scottish Lords of the Congregation...
, he was said to be 14 years old in March 1560.
In 1568, Claud aided Mary, Queen of Scots, to escape from Lochleven castle, afterwards fighting for her at the Battle of Langside
Battle of Langside
The Battle of Langside, fought on 13 May 1568, was one of the more unusual contests in Scottish history, bearing a superficial resemblance to a grand family quarrel, in which a mother fought her brother who was defending the rights of her infant son...
. His estates having been forfeited because of condemnation, Hamilton was concerned in the murder of the Regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray
James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray
James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray , a member of the House of Stewart as the illegitimate son of King James V, was Regent of Scotland for his nephew, the infant King James VI of Scotland, from 1567 until his assassination in 1570...
in 1570, and also in that of the Regent Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox
Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox
Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox was the 4th Earl of Lennox, and leader of the Catholic nobility in Scotland. He was the son of John Stewart, 3rd Earl of Lennox. His grandson was James VI of Scotland....
in the following year; but in 1573 he recovered his estates.
Then in 1579 the privy council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
decided to arrest Claud and his brother John
John Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Hamilton
John Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Hamilton was a Scottish nobleman.-Life:Hamilton was the third son of James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran by his wife Margaret Douglas, a daughter of James Douglas, 3rd Earl of Morton...
(c. 1535–1604) (afterwards 1st marquess of Hamilton
Marquess of Hamilton
The title of Marquess of Hamilton has been created twice in British history.*For the creation of 1599, see Duke of Hamilton*For the creation of 1868, see Duke of Abercorn...
) and to punish them for their past misdeeds; but the brothers escaped to the Kingdom of England
Kingdom of England
The Kingdom of England was, from 927 to 1707, a sovereign state to the northwest of continental Europe. At its height, the Kingdom of England spanned the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and several smaller outlying islands; what today comprises the legal jurisdiction of England...
, where Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
used them as pawns in the diplomatic game, and later Claud lived for a short time in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Returning to Scotland in 1586 and mixing again in politics, Hamilton sought to reconcile James VI of Scotland with his mother; he was in communication with Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
in the interests of Mary and the Roman Catholic religion, and neither the failure of Anthony Babington
Anthony Babington
Anthony Babington was convicted of plotting the assassination of Elizabeth I of England and conspiring with the imprisoned Mary, Queen of Scots...
's plot nor even the defeat of the Spanish Armada
Spanish Armada
This article refers to the Battle of Gravelines, for the modern navy of Spain, see Spanish NavyThe Spanish Armada was the Spanish fleet that sailed against England under the command of the Duke of Medina Sidonia in 1588, with the intention of overthrowing Elizabeth I of England to stop English...
put an end to these intrigues. In 1589 some of his letters were seized and he suffered a short imprisonment, after which he practically disappeared from public life.
Hamilton, who was created a Scottish Lord of Parliament
Lord of Parliament
A Lord of Parliament was the lowest rank of nobility automatically entitled to attend sessions of the pre-Union Parliament of Scotland. Post-Union, it is a member of the lowest rank of the Peerage of Scotland, ranking below a viscount...
as Lord Paisley in 1587, was insane during his concluding years. His eldest son James
James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Abercorn
James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Abercorn PC .-Biography:He was the eldest son of Claud Hamilton, 1st Lord Paisley , and of Margaret, daughter of George Seton, 7th Lord Seton....
was created Earl of Abercorn in 1606.
External Links
- Claud and his family appear in The Scots Peerage