Walter Scott, 4th Baron of Buccleuch (1549–1574) was head of the

Border Borders are generally defined as geography, geographical boundaries, imposed either by features such as oceans and terrain, or by polity, political entities such as governments, sovereign states, federated states, and other administrative divisio ...

family of Scott and, despite his youth, played a prominent part in the turbulent politics of 16th century Scotland.

Origin

Scott was the eldest son of Sir William Scott of Kirkurd, Younger of Buccleuch (died 1552) and his sister was Jean Scott, Lady Ferniehirst. They were the grandchildren of Walter Scott, 3rd of Buccleuch (who was murdered on 4 October 1552, having been pre-deceased by his son). His mother was Grisel, second daughter of John Betoun of Creich.Sir James Balfour Paul,

The Scots Peerage ''The Scots Peerage'' is a nine-volume book series of the Scottish nobility compiled and edited by Sir James Balfour Paul, published in Edinburgh from 1904 to 1914. The full title is ''The Scots Peerage: Founded on Wood's Edition of Sir Rober ...

, volume II (David Douglas, Edinburgh, 1905), at pages 231-232

Career

Scott succeeded his grandfather at age three. His uncle, Walter Scott of Goldielands, a natural half-brother of his father, led the Scotts during his minority. In 1565 an agreement was made with the family who had killed his father. It was agreed that there would be a number of marriages between the family members to end the feud. Despite the good intentions none of the agreements took place, but this was an important basis for the later marriage of his sister in 1569. On 24 March 1566, Queen Mary appointed him captain of Newark Castle, Selkirkshire, whereupon he supported her with a force of over 3,000 men. In January 1570 (in reliance upon the distraction likely to be caused by the assassination of the Regent Moray, of which he had advance knowledge), he engaged in depredations on the English side of the

. By way of retaliation the English, under the

Earl of Sussex Earl of Sussex is a title that has been created several times in the Peerages of England, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom. The early Earls of Arundel (up to 1243) were often also called Earls of Sussex. The fifth creation came in the Pee ...

and Lord Scrope, destroyed his stronghold at Branxholme Castle. Scott rebuilt the castle in the following year. In 1569 his sister Jean married the widower Sir Thomas Kerr bridging the feud between the families. A dowry was agreed but at least £1,000 was not paid in Scott's lifetime. He was a principal leader of the raid to

Stirling Stirling (; ; ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city in Central Belt, central Scotland, northeast of Glasgow and north-west of Edinburgh. The market town#Scotland, market town, surrounded by rich farmland, grew up connecting the roya ...

on 4 September 1571, when an attempt was made to seize the Regent Lennox, who was slain by one of the Hamiltons during the mêlée. Buccleuch, who had interposed to save the

Regent Morton James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton (c. 1516 – 2 June 1581) was a Scottish nobleman. He played a leading role in the murders of Queen Mary's confidant, David Rizzio, and king consort Henry Darnley. He was the last of the four regents of Scot ...

, his kinsman, whom the Hamiltons intended also to have slain, was during the retreat taken prisoner by Morton, and was for some time confined in

Doune Castle Doune Castle is a medieval stronghold near the village of Doune, in the Stirling (council area), Stirling council area of central Scotland and the historic county of Perthshire. The castle is sited on a wooded bend where the Ardoch Burn flows i ...

in Menteith. Scott was made Keeper and Captain of the royal Newark Castle, and Baillie and Chamberlain of Ettrick Forest in December 1573.

Gordon Donaldson Gordon Donaldson (13 April 1913 – 16 March 1993) was a Scottish historian. Life He was born in a tenement at 140 McDonald RoadEdinburgh and Leith Post Office Directory, 1912 off Leith Walk in northern Edinburgh on 13 April 1913 the so ...

, ''Register of the Privy Seal: 1567-1574'', vol. 6 (Edinburgh, 1963), p. 421 no. 2234. Scott died at Branxholme on 17 April 1574.

Family

Scott married

Margaret Douglas Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox (8 October 1515 – 7 March 1578), born Lady Margaret Douglas, was the daughter of the Scottish queen dowager Margaret Tudor and her second husband Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus, and thus the granddau ...

, daughter of David Douglas, 7th Earl of Angus. (She survived him and married secondly Francis Stewart, 5th Earl of Bothwell.) They had three children: *

Walter Scott Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet (15 August 1771 – 21 September 1832), was a Scottish novelist, poet and historian. Many of his works remain classics of European literature, European and Scottish literature, notably the novels ''Ivanhoe'' (18 ...

, later 1st Lord Scott of Buccleuch *Margaret (sometimes, though doubtfully, said to be married to Robert Scott of Thirlestane) *Mary, who married William Elliott of Lariston

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Scott, Walter, 4th of Buccleuch 1549 births 1574 deaths Nobility from the Scottish Borders Scottish politicians Scottish soldiers Walter Scott, 4th of Buccleuch 16th-century Scottish landowners