Esmé Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox
Encyclopedia
Esmé Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox, 1st Earl of Lennox (1542 – 26 May 1583) was the son of John Stewart, 5th Lord of Aubigny who was the younger brother of Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox
. Sir James Melville described him as "of nature, upright, just, and gentle".
At the age of 37 he was introduced to the 13-year-old James VI of Scotland
at the time when the latter made his formal entry into Edinburgh. Stewart went on to the Privy Council
. He was created 1st Earl of Lennox
, on 5 March 1580, and finally 1st Duke of Lennox
on 5 August 1581. In Presbyterian
Scotland the thought of a Catholic duke irked many and Lennox had to make a choice between his Catholic faith or his loyalty to James. At the end Lennox chose James and the king taught him the doctrines of Calvinism
. The Scottish Kirk
remained suspicious of Lennox after his public conversion and took alarm when he had James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton
tried and beheaded on charges of treason.
In response, the Scottish nobles plotted to oust Lennox. They did so by luring James to Ruthven Castle as a guest but then kept him as prisoner for ten months. The Lord Enterprisers forced him to banish Lennox. A lengthy denunciation of Lennox was issued from Stirling Castle
on 17 September 1582, citing his religion, association with the murderers of Lord Darnley
and Regent Moray and Regent Lennox, and his control over the royal household and international intrigue. In December travelling from Berwick on Tweed, on his way south, by accident the Duke encountered the French ambassador, M. de la Mothe Fénélon, near Northallerton
, who was travelling north to treat with the Gowrie Regime
. In London the Scottish poet William Fowler pumped him for information which he sent to Francis Walsingham
. The duke journeyed back to France and kept a secret correspondence with James. With his return to France, Lennox had met a frosty reception as an apostate. The Scottish nobles believed that they would be proven right in their convictions that Lennox's conversion was artificial when he returned to France. Instead, the former duke remained Presbyterian and died shortly after. His final letter to James Stewart, Lord Doune, requests that the Lord take care of his son and to recover for him Esmé's possessions in Scotland. After his death in May 1583, William Schaw
took his heart back to James in Scotland, and his wife and son Ludovic came to Scotland. James had repeatedly vouched for Lennox's religious sincerity and memorialized him in a poem called "Ane Tragedie of the Phoenix", which said he was like an exotic bird of unique beauty killed by envy.
Esmé Stewart married Catherine de Balsac, circa 1572. They had five children:
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....
. Sir James Melville described him as "of nature, upright, just, and gentle".
At the age of 37 he was introduced to the 13-year-old James VI of Scotland
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
at the time when the latter made his formal entry into Edinburgh. Stewart went on to the Privy Council
Privy Council of Scotland
The Privy Council of Scotland was a body that advised the King.In the range of its functions the council was often more important than the Estates in the running the country. Its registers include a wide range of material on the political, administrative, economic and social affairs of Scotland...
. He was created 1st Earl of Lennox
Earl of Lennox
The Mormaer of Lennox or Earl of Lennox was the ruler of the long-lasting provincial Mormaerdom/Earldom of Lennox in the Medieval Kingdom of the Scots. The first Mormaer is usually regarded as Ailin I , but the genealogy of the Mormaers gives earlier names...
, on 5 March 1580, and finally 1st Duke of Lennox
Duke of Lennox
The title Duke of Lennox has been created several times in the Peerage of Scotland, for Clan Stewart of Darnley. The Dukedom, named for the district of Lennox in Stirling, was first created in 1581, and had formerly been the Earldom of Lennox. The second Duke was made Duke of Richmond; at his...
on 5 August 1581. In Presbyterian
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
Scotland the thought of a Catholic duke irked many and Lennox had to make a choice between his Catholic faith or his loyalty to James. At the end Lennox chose James and the king taught him the doctrines of Calvinism
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
. The Scottish Kirk
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
remained suspicious of Lennox after his public conversion and took alarm when he had James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton
James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton
James Douglas, jure uxoris 4th Earl of Morton was the last of the four regents of Scotland during the minority of King James VI. He was in some ways the most successful of the four, since he did manage to win the civil war which had been dragging on with the supporters of the exiled Mary, Queen of...
tried and beheaded on charges of treason.
In response, the Scottish nobles plotted to oust Lennox. They did so by luring James to Ruthven Castle as a guest but then kept him as prisoner for ten months. The Lord Enterprisers forced him to banish Lennox. A lengthy denunciation of Lennox was issued from Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle, located in Stirling, is one of the largest and most important castles, both historically and architecturally, in Scotland. The castle sits atop Castle Hill, an intrusive crag, which forms part of the Stirling Sill geological formation. It is surrounded on three sides by steep...
on 17 September 1582, citing his religion, association with the murderers of Lord Darnley
Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley
Henry Stewart or Stuart, 1st Duke of Albany , styled Lord Darnley before 1565, was king consort of Scotland and murdered at Kirk o'Field...
and Regent Moray and Regent Lennox, and his control over the royal household and international intrigue. In December travelling from Berwick on Tweed, on his way south, by accident the Duke encountered the French ambassador, M. de la Mothe Fénélon, near Northallerton
Northallerton
Northallerton is an affluent market town and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. It lies in the Vale of Mowbray and at the northern end of the Vale of York. It has a population of 15,741 according to the 2001 census...
, who was travelling north to treat with the Gowrie Regime
Raid of Ruthven
The Raid of Ruthven was a political conspiracy in Scotland which took place on 22 August 1582. It was composed of several Presbyterian nobles, led by William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie, who abducted King James VI of Scotland. He was seized while staying at the castle of Ruthven , and kept under...
. In London the Scottish poet William Fowler pumped him for information which he sent to Francis Walsingham
Francis Walsingham
Sir Francis Walsingham was Principal Secretary to Elizabeth I of England from 1573 until 1590, and is popularly remembered as her "spymaster". Walsingham is frequently cited as one of the earliest practitioners of modern intelligence methods both for espionage and for domestic security...
. The duke journeyed back to France and kept a secret correspondence with James. With his return to France, Lennox had met a frosty reception as an apostate. The Scottish nobles believed that they would be proven right in their convictions that Lennox's conversion was artificial when he returned to France. Instead, the former duke remained Presbyterian and died shortly after. His final letter to James Stewart, Lord Doune, requests that the Lord take care of his son and to recover for him Esmé's possessions in Scotland. After his death in May 1583, William Schaw
William Schaw
William Schaw was Master of Works to James VI of Scotland, and is claimed to have been an important figure in the development of freemasonry.-Biography:...
took his heart back to James in Scotland, and his wife and son Ludovic came to Scotland. James had repeatedly vouched for Lennox's religious sincerity and memorialized him in a poem called "Ane Tragedie of the Phoenix", which said he was like an exotic bird of unique beauty killed by envy.
Esmé Stewart married Catherine de Balsac, circa 1572. They had five children:
- Gabrielle Stewart
- Henrietta Stewart (c. 1573–1642), married George Gordon, 1st Marquess of HuntlyGeorge Gordon, 1st Marquess of HuntlyGeorge Gordon, 1st Marquess of Huntly was a Scottish nobleman who took a leading role in the political and military life of Scotland in the late 16th century and around the time of the Union of the Crowns.-Biography:...
and had issue. - Ludovic Stewart, 2nd Duke of LennoxLudovic Stewart, 2nd Duke of LennoxLudovic Stewart, 2nd Duke of Lennox and 1st Duke of Richmond was a Scottish nobleman and politician. He was the son of Esmé Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox and his wife Catherine de Balsac. Stewart was involved in the Plantation of Ulster in Ireland and the colonization of Maine in New England...
(1574–1624) - Esmé Stewart, 3rd Duke of LennoxEsmé Stewart, 3rd Duke of LennoxEsmé Stewart, 3rd Duke of Lennox KG was the son of Esmé Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox. He was a patron of the playwright Ben Jonson, who lived in his household for five years.He married Katherine Clifton, 2nd Baroness Clifton, in 1609...
(1579–1624) - Mary Stewart (c. 1582–1644), married John Erskine, 18th Earl of MarJohn Erskine, 18th Earl of MarJohn Erskine, 2nd Earl of Mar was a Scottish politician, the only son of John Erskine, 1st Earl of Mar. Together with King James VI of Scotland he was educated by George Buchanan...
and had issue.