Patrick Gray, 6th Lord Gray
Encyclopedia
Patrick Gray, 6th Lord Gray (died 1612), known most of his life as Patrick, Master of Gray, was a Scottish
nobleman and politician during the reigns of James VI of Scotland
and Mary, Queen of Scots.
. Raised as a Protestant and educated at the University of Glasgow
. In 1575 he was married to Elizabeth Lyon, daughter of John Lyon, 8th Lord Glamis, a marriage that failed shortly afterwards. Patrick traveled to France
, converted to Roman Catholicism and became a supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots.
to keep Mary in prison. In October 1584 he was appointed a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber and made Master of the King's wardrobe and menagerie, in charge of the king's jewels, clothing and tapestry
, and the employment of tailors and shoemakers. He was sent by James VI as Scottish Ambassador to England in 1584 to broker with Elizabeth I
over the fate of Mary. On his return to Scotland, after the execution of Mary, Patrick was declared a traitor, jailed and later banished from Scotland. James VI forgave Patrick and allowed him to return to Scotland in 1589, restoring his offices to him, although the Master of Gray continued his scheming career implicating himself in a number of intrigues and plots.
and cousin to King James. In November 1598, he was travelling in Picardy
then visited the Earl of Gowrie
at Orleans
. Then he spoke to Esmé Stewart's
widow, Catherine de Balsac, at Aubigny-sur-Nère
, who feared her son, Ludovic Stewart, 2nd Duke of Lennox
was plotting with Henry Kier, (a Catholic agent). Gray was trying to secure Lennox's inheritance. Then he had an audience with the King of France
who was waiting for James VI to send him Scottish hunting hounds.
In May 1601, the Earl of Mar
and Edward Bruce, Commendator of Kinloss
returned from an embassy to London. Although they had reached an understanding on the succession of James VI to the throne of England, it was kept secret. The apparent lack of achievement was seen as an opportunity for Mar's political opponents to supplant him, and the Master of Grey attempted, without success, to gain the confidence of Robert Cecil
in England. Cecil however did not even tell Gray of his secret correspondence
with the Scottish King. In the domestic arena, Gray also was involved in a coalition of Anne of Denmark
and the Duke of Lennox
against Mar.
Patrick became 6th Lord Gray, on his father's death in 1609, three years before his own death in 1612. He was succeeded by his son Andrew Gray, 7th Lord Gray.
wrote the historical novels The Master of Gray trilogy Lord and Master, The Courtesan and Past Master about Patrick, 6th Lord Gray.
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...
nobleman and politician during the reigns of 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...
and Mary, Queen of Scots.
Early life
Patrick Gray was the son of Patrick, 5th Lord Gray, and his wife Barbara, a daughter of William Ruthven, 2nd Lord RuthvenWilliam Ruthven, 2nd Lord Ruthven
William Ruthven, 2nd Lord Ruthven was a Scottish nobleman. He served as an Extraordinary Lord of Session and Keeper of the Privy Seal.-Life:...
. Raised as a Protestant and educated at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
. In 1575 he was married to Elizabeth Lyon, daughter of John Lyon, 8th Lord Glamis, a marriage that failed shortly afterwards. Patrick traveled to 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...
, converted to Roman Catholicism and became a supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots.
Political life
On his return to Scotland in 1583 Patrick gained notability as a political schemer and diplomat, endearing himself to the young King James whilst he plotted with James Stewart, Earl of ArranJames Stewart, Earl of Arran
Captain James Stewart, Earl of Arran was created Earl of Arran by the young King James VI, who wrested the title from James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran...
to keep Mary in prison. In October 1584 he was appointed a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber and made Master of the King's wardrobe and menagerie, in charge of the king's jewels, clothing and tapestry
Scottish Royal tapestry collection
The Scottish royal tapestry collection was a group of tapestry hangings assembled to decorate the palaces of sixteenth century kings and queens of Scotland....
, and the employment of tailors and shoemakers. He was sent by James VI as Scottish Ambassador to England in 1584 to broker with Elizabeth I
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...
over the fate of Mary. On his return to Scotland, after the execution of Mary, Patrick was declared a traitor, jailed and later banished from Scotland. James VI forgave Patrick and allowed him to return to Scotland in 1589, restoring his offices to him, although the Master of Gray continued his scheming career implicating himself in a number of intrigues and plots.
Later life
The Master of Gray married again in 1585 to Lady Mary Stewart, daughter of Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of OrkneyRobert Stewart, 1st Earl of Orkney
Robert Stewart, Knt., 1st Earl of Orkney and Lord of Zetland was a recognized illegitimate son of James V, King of Scotland, and his mistress Eupheme Elphinstone....
and cousin to King James. In November 1598, he was travelling in Picardy
Picardy
This article is about the historical French province. For other uses, see Picardy .Picardy is a historical province of France, in the north of France...
then visited the Earl of Gowrie
John Ruthven, 3rd Earl of Gowrie
John Ruthven, 3rd Earl of Gowrie was a Scottish nobleman, the second son of William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie and his wife Dorothea Stewart...
at Orleans
Orléans
-Prehistory and Roman:Cenabum was a Gallic stronghold, one of the principal towns of the Carnutes tribe where the Druids held their annual assembly. It was conquered and destroyed by Julius Caesar in 52 BC, then rebuilt under the Roman Empire...
. Then he spoke to Esmé Stewart's
Esmé Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox
Esmé Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox, 1st Earl of Lennox was the son of John Stewart, 5th Lord of Aubigny who was the younger brother of Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox...
widow, Catherine de Balsac, at Aubigny-sur-Nère
Aubigny-sur-Nère
Aubigny-sur-Nère is a commune in the Cher department in the Centre region of France.-Geography:An area of forestry and farming surrounding a small light industrial town, situated in the valley of the river Nère some north of Bourges at the junction of the D940, D924, D30 and the D923...
, who feared her son, Ludovic Stewart, 2nd Duke of Lennox
Ludovic Stewart, 2nd Duke of Lennox
Ludovic 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...
was plotting with Henry Kier, (a Catholic agent). Gray was trying to secure Lennox's inheritance. Then he had an audience with the King of France
Henry IV of France
Henry IV , Henri-Quatre, was King of France from 1589 to 1610 and King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. He was the first monarch of the Bourbon branch of the Capetian dynasty in France....
who was waiting for James VI to send him Scottish hunting hounds.
In May 1601, the Earl of Mar
John Erskine, 18th Earl of Mar
John 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 Edward Bruce, Commendator of Kinloss
Abbot of Kinloss
The Abbot of Kinloss was the head of the property and Cistercian monastic community of Kinloss Abbey, Moray, founded by King David I of Scotland around 1151 by monks from Melrose Abbey. The abbey was transformed into a temporal lordship for Edward Bruce, the last commendator, who became Lord Kinloss...
returned from an embassy to London. Although they had reached an understanding on the succession of James VI to the throne of England, it was kept secret. The apparent lack of achievement was seen as an opportunity for Mar's political opponents to supplant him, and the Master of Grey attempted, without success, to gain the confidence of Robert Cecil
Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury
Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, KG, PC was an English administrator and politician.-Life:He was the son of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley and Mildred Cooke...
in England. Cecil however did not even tell Gray of his secret correspondence
Secret correspondence of James VI
The secret correspondence of James VI of Scotland was communication between the Scottish King and administrators of Elizabeth I of England between May 1601 and the Queen's death in March 1603. In this period it was settled that James VI would succeed Elizabeth as James I of England, but the...
with the Scottish King. In the domestic arena, Gray also was involved in a coalition of Anne of Denmark
Anne of Denmark
Anne of Denmark was queen consort of Scotland, England, and Ireland as the wife of King James VI and I.The second daughter of King Frederick II of Denmark, Anne married James in 1589 at the age of fourteen and bore him three children who survived infancy, including the future Charles I...
and the 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...
against Mar.
Patrick became 6th Lord Gray, on his father's death in 1609, three years before his own death in 1612. He was succeeded by his son Andrew Gray, 7th Lord Gray.
Literature
The author Nigel TranterNigel Tranter
Nigel Tranter OBE was a Scottish historian and author.-Early life:Nigel Tranter was born in Glasgow and educated at George Heriot's School in Edinburgh. He trained as an accountant and worked in Scottish National Insurance Company, founded by his uncle. In 1933 he married May Jean Campbell Grieve...
wrote the historical novels The Master of Gray trilogy Lord and Master, The Courtesan and Past Master about Patrick, 6th Lord Gray.