Patrick Ruthven, 3rd Lord Ruthven
Encyclopedia
Patrick Ruthven, 3rd Lord Ruthven (c. 1520 – June 13, 1566), played an important part in the political intrigues of the 16th century. He succeeded to the lordship in December 1552. The Ruthven lordship encompassed the offices of Provost and Constable of Perth, and Sheriff of Strathearn
.
to the English. His father was Provost of the town, and Patrick offered it to Sir Andrew Dudley
, a brother of the Duke of Northumberland
, who occupied Broughty Castle
. After this war with England was concluded, in March 1551 he was in Paris and wrote to Mary of Guise
asking for money she had promised him. Patrick also asked for political preferment;
However, as a strong Protestant and a supporter of the Lords of the Congregation
, he signed the Treaty of Berwick
in 1560, and sent his son Archibald as a hostage to England and Westminster School
. Ruthven wrote to William Cecil
from Huntingtower Castle
reminding him of their previous meetings in England during the time of Edward VI
, and approving of Cecil's, "forth-setting of the union of these realms in greater amity than in times bypast has been." In conference with Mary of Guise on 12 May 1560, at Edinburgh Castle
, Ruthven was more unyielding on all points than any of the other representatives of the Congregation.
Thomas Randolph
reported in June 1563 that he had joined Mary's privy council at the instance of William Maitland of Lethington
, although the queen personally could not abide him.Later, he supported Mary's marriage with Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley
, and was the leader of the band which murdered David Rizzio
. This event was followed by his flight into England where he died.
On 2 April 1566, Ruthven and Morton sent their testimony on Riccio's murder to Queen Elizabeth
, declaring they had acted the best for Darnley, Mary, state and religion.
Patrick married first Janet Stewart (d. around 1552), illegitimate daughter of Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus
, and had several children. Secondly, he married Janet Stewart, daughter of John Stewart, 2nd Earl of Atholl
and widow of Henry Stewart, 1st Lord Methven
. Patrick's two eldest children married their stepmother Janet Stewart's children; daughter Jean Ruthven married Henry Stewart, 2nd Lord Methven, and the heir, William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie
, married Dorothea Stewart.
Strathearn
Strathearn or Strath Earn is the strath of the River Earn, in Scotland. It extends from Loch Earn in Perth and Kinross to the River Tay....
.
Life
During the war of the Rough Wooing, Patrick wanted to profit by delivering PerthPerth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
to the English. His father was Provost of the town, and Patrick offered it to Sir Andrew Dudley
Andrew Dudley
Sir Andrew Dudley, KG was an English soldier, courtier, and diplomat. A younger brother of John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland, he served in Henry VIII's navy and obtained court offices under Edward VI...
, a brother of the Duke of Northumberland
John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland
John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland, KG was an English general, admiral, and politician, who led the government of the young King Edward VI from 1550 until 1553, and unsuccessfully tried to install Lady Jane Grey on the English throne after the King's death...
, who occupied Broughty Castle
Broughty Castle
Broughty Castle is a historic castle in Broughty Ferry, Dundee, Scotland. It was completed around 1495, although the site was earlier fortified in 1454 when George Douglas, 4th Earl of Angus received permission to build on the site. His son Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Angus was coerced into...
. After this war with England was concluded, in March 1551 he was in Paris and wrote to Mary of Guise
Mary of Guise
Mary of Guise was a queen consort of Scotland as the second spouse of King James V. She was the mother of Mary, Queen of Scots, and served as regent of Scotland in her daughter's name from 1554 to 1560...
asking for money she had promised him. Patrick also asked for political preferment;
"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."
However, as a strong Protestant and a supporter of the Lords of the Congregation
Lords of the Congregation
The Lords of the Congregation were a group of Protestant Scottish nobles who in the mid-16th century favoured reformation of the church along Protestant principles and a Scottish-English alliance.- Historical events :...
, he signed 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...
in 1560, and sent his son Archibald as a hostage to England and Westminster School
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
. Ruthven wrote to William Cecil
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley , KG was an English statesman, the chief advisor of Queen Elizabeth I for most of her reign, twice Secretary of State and Lord High Treasurer from 1572...
from Huntingtower Castle
Huntingtower Castle
Huntingtower Castle once known as Ruthven Castle or the Place [Palace] of Ruthven is located near the village of Huntingtower beside the A85 and near the A9, about 5km NW of the centre of Perth, Perth and Kinross, in central Scotland, on the main road to Crieff.- History :Huntingtower Castle was...
reminding him of their previous meetings in England during the time of Edward VI
Edward VI of England
Edward VI was the King of England and Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death. He was crowned on 20 February at the age of nine. The son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, Edward was the third monarch of the Tudor dynasty and England's first monarch who was raised as a Protestant...
, and approving of Cecil's, "forth-setting of the union of these realms in greater amity than in times bypast has been." In conference with Mary of Guise on 12 May 1560, at Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is a fortress which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock. Human habitation of the site is dated back as far as the 9th century BC, although the nature of early settlement is unclear...
, Ruthven was more unyielding on all points than any of the other representatives of the Congregation.
Thomas Randolph
Thomas Randolph (diplomat)
Thomas Randolph was an English ambassador serving Elizabeth I of England. Most of his professional life he spent in Scotland at the courts of Mary, Queen of Scots, and her son James VI. While in Scotland, he was embroiled in marriage projects and several upheavals...
reported in June 1563 that he had joined Mary's privy council at the instance of William Maitland of Lethington
William Maitland of Lethington
Sir William Maitland of Lethington was a Scottish politician and reformer, and the eldest son of the poet Richard Maitland....
, although the queen personally could not abide him.Later, he supported Mary's marriage with Henry Stuart, 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 was the leader of the band which murdered David Rizzio
David Rizzio
Davide Rizzio, sometimes written as Davide Riccio or Davide Rizzo , was an Italian courtier, born close to Turin, a descendant of an ancient and noble family still living in Piedmont, the Riccio Counts de San Paolo et Solbrito, who rose to become the private secretary of Mary, Queen of Scots...
. This event was followed by his flight into England where he died.
On 2 April 1566, Ruthven and Morton sent their testimony on Riccio's murder to Queen Elizabeth
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...
, declaring they had acted the best for Darnley, Mary, state and religion.
Patrick married first Janet Stewart (d. around 1552), illegitimate daughter of Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus
Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus
Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus was a Scottish nobleman active during the reigns of James V and Mary, Queen of Scots...
, and had several children. Secondly, he married Janet Stewart, daughter of John Stewart, 2nd Earl of Atholl
John Stewart, 2nd Earl of Atholl
John Stewart, 2nd Earl of Atholl was the second Earl of Atholl. He fought in the Battle of Flodden Field on 9 September 1513.-Biography:He was born after 1475 to John Stewart, 1st Earl of Atholl and Eleanor Sinclair. He married Lady Janet Campbell, daughter of Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll...
and widow of Henry Stewart, 1st Lord Methven
Henry Stewart, 1st Lord Methven
Henry Stewart, 1st Lord Methven was Master of the Scottish Artillery and third husband of Margaret Tudor, eldest daughter of Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York.-Ancient lineage:...
. Patrick's two eldest children married their stepmother Janet Stewart's children; daughter Jean Ruthven married Henry Stewart, 2nd Lord Methven, and the heir, William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie
William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie
William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie , known as The Lord Ruthven between 1566 and 1581, was a son of Patrick Ruthven, 3rd Lord Ruthven.-Life account:...
, married Dorothea Stewart.