John Leslie, 6th Earl of Rothes (1600 – 23 August 1641) was a Scottish nobleman, one of the main leaders of the

Covenanter Covenanters ( gd, Cùmhnantaich) were members of a 17th-century Scottish religious and political movement, who supported a Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and the primacy of its leaders in religious affairs. The name is derived from ''Covenan ...

Life

Born in

Leslie, Fife Leslie (Scottish Gaelic: Fiodh Chill) is a large village and parish on the northern tip of the River Leven Valley, to the west of Glenrothes in Fife. According to the population estimates (2006), the village has a population of 3,092. The village ...

, he was the only son of

James Leslie, Master of Rothes James is a common English language surname and given name: *James (name), the typically masculine first name James * James (surname), various people with the last name James James or James City may also refer to: People * King James (disambiguat ...

(died 1607) and Katherine Drummond, his second wife. In 1621 he was served heir to his grandfather, Andrew Leslie, 5th Earl of Rothes, who died in 1611. Rothes was one of the commissioners at the parliament of 1621 who voted against the

Five Articles of Perth The Five Articles of Perth was an attempt by King James VI of Scotland to impose practices on the Church of Scotland in an attempt to integrate it with those of the Church of England. This move was unpopular with those Scots who held Reformed vi ...

. In 1626 he was sent to London, along with other commissioners, to petition against the Act of Revocation of 12 October 1625, by which church property in the hands of laymen reverted to the crown. At first, the king spoke against the petition as too high a strain from petitioners and subjects, but ultimately commissioners were appointed by which a compromise was arrived. At the opening of parliament on the visit of Charles to Scotland in 1633, Rothes bore the

sceptre A sceptre is a staff or wand held in the hand by a ruling monarch as an item of royal or imperial insignia. Figuratively, it means royal or imperial authority or sovereignty. Antiquity Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia The ''Was'' and other ...

, but then he resolutely opposed the king's ecclesiastical policy. He denounced the act which joined an acknowledgement of the

royal prerogative The royal prerogative is a body of customary authority, privilege and immunity, recognized in common law and, sometimes, in civil law jurisdictions possessing a monarchy, as belonging to the sovereign and which have become widely vested in th ...

with an acknowledgement of the king's authority to determine the apparel of the judges, magistrates, and the clergy, as an encroachment on the ecclesiastical prerogatives of the kirk. The king, however, refused to have the bill divided. A majority of the votes were declared in its favour, and Rothes's attempt to challenge the correctness of the numbers was overruled by Charles. At the closing of parliament on 20 June 1633,

William Cunningham, 9th Earl of Glencairn William Cunningham, 9th Earl of Glencairn ( gd, Uilleam Coineagan) (1610–1664), was a Scottish nobleman, Lord Chancellor of Scotland, and a cavalier. He was also the chief of Clan Cunningham. The eldest son of William Cunningham, 8th Earl of ...

took the place of Rothes in bearing the sceptre, and Charles was at his chilliest with Rothes and his friends. Rothes headed the opposition to the proposed introduction of the ''

Book of Common Prayer The ''Book of Common Prayer'' (BCP) is the name given to a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion and by other Christian churches historically related to Anglicanism. The original book, published in 1549 in the reign ...

'' into the services of the kirk in 1638, and was active against

episcopacy A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

. Early in 1639, he addressed a circular letter to the noblemen and gentlemen who had been neutrals, urging them to take a stand on behalf of the liberties of the kirk. Along with

John Campbell, 1st Earl of Loudoun John Campbell, 1st Earl of Loudoun (1598 – March 1662) was a Scottish politician and Covenanter. As a young man Campbell travelled abroad. In 1620 married the heiress of the barony of Loudoun; in his wife's right, took his seat in the Parli ...

and

John Elphinstone, 2nd Lord Balmerino John Elphinstone, 2nd Lord Balmerino (died 28 February 1649) was a Scottish aristocrat, convicted in a celebrated trial of the 1630s which became a crux of the religious issue of the time. Early life He was the son of James, 1st Lord Balmerino, ...

he undertook the revision of the new version of the covenant drawn up by

Johnstone of Warriston Archibald Johnston, Lord Wariston (1611 – 1663) was a Scottish judge and statesman. He assisted Alexander Henderson in writing the Scottish National Covenant in 1638, and was appointed Procurator of the Kirk in the same year. He helped ne ...

and Alexander Henderson. He was one of the deputation who met the Marquis of Hamilton, the king's commissioner to the assembly, on his arrival to the assembly; and when the assembly was dissolved by the commissioner he presented a protest against its dissociation. In case of the rejection of the king's demands, Hamilton had threatened that Charles would march north to Scotland, and Rothes joined his kinsman

Alexander Leslie Alexander Leslie, 1st Earl of Leven (15804 April 1661) was a Scottish soldier in Swedish and Scottish service. Born illegitimate and raised as a foster child, he subsequently advanced to the rank of a Swedish Field Marshal, and in Scotland b ...

in preparing for armed resistance. Leslie drilled Rothes's dependents and followers in Fife, while Rothes advised on the purchase of arms and accoutrements in Holland, and the recall of experienced Scottish officers serving in foreign countries. On 22 March Rothes and other nobles, with one thousand musketeers, went to the palace of

Lord-treasurer Traquair John Stewart, 1st Earl of Traquair (died 27 March 1659) was a Scotland, Scottish statesman who was created Baron Stewart of Traquair in 1628 and Earl of Traquair in 1633. Life He was the son of John Stewart, the Younger, of Traquair House, Traqu ...

at Dalkeith, seized much ammunition and arms, and brought the

royal ensign The Honours of Scotland (, gd, Seudan a' Chrùin Albannaich), informally known as the Scottish Crown Jewels, are the regalia that were worn by Scottish monarchs at their coronation. Kept in the Crown Room in Edinburgh Castle, they date from th ...

s of the kingdom (the crown, sword and sceptre) to

Edinburgh Castle Edinburgh Castle is a historic castle in Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland. It stands on Castle Rock (Edinburgh), Castle Rock, which has been occupied by humans since at least the Iron Age, although the nature of the early settlement is unclear. ...

. On 7 April the King issued a proclamation excepting leaders of the covenanters, including Rothes, from pardon. Rothes accompanied the army of General David Leslie in June to Dunse Lew, and was one of the commissioners appointed to treat with the king. When the king's declaration was read by the herald on 24 June at Edinburgh, Rothes and other covenanting noblemen gave notice that they adhered to the assembly of Glasgow, but the herald refused to accept their protestation. The covenanters were slow to disband their forces, and their leaders were again summoned to confer with Charles at Berwick. Rothes was the principal spokesman of the opposition, and the king denounced him angrily. At the parliament held in Edinburgh in the following September Rothes was chosen a lord of the articles. Rothes and the covenanting noblemen sent a letter to the king of France, asking for his aid against England, but it was intercepted in April, and was sent to the king. The Scots anticipated Charles's war plans by invading England, and on 27 August 1640 Rothes, in command of a regiment, and as one of the committee of the estates, accompanied Leslie's army across the

River Tweed The River Tweed, or Tweed Water ( gd, Abhainn Thuaidh, sco, Watter o Tweid, cy, Tuedd), is a river long that flows east across the Border region in Scotland and northern England. Tweed cloth derives its name from its association with the R ...

; according to

Gilbert Burnet Gilbert Burnet (18 September 1643 – 17 March 1715) was a Scottish philosopher and historian, and Bishop of Salisbury. He was fluent in Dutch, French, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. Burnet was highly respected as a cleric, a preacher, an academic, ...

, the Scots were encouraged by a message sent by Viscount Savile, for three people: Rothes, the

Earl of Argyll Earl () is a rank of the nobility in the United Kingdom. The title originates in the Old English word ''eorl'', meaning "a man of noble birth or rank". The word is cognate with the Scandinavian form ''jarl'', and meant "chieftain", particular ...

, and Johnston of Warriston. After the occupation of

Newcastle Newcastle usually refers to: *Newcastle upon Tyne, a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England *Newcastle-under-Lyme, a town in Staffordshire, England *Newcastle, New South Wales, a metropolitan area in Australia, named after Newcastle ...

, Rothes was one of the commissioners sent to London in November to conclude the negotiations after the

Treaty of Ripon The Treaty of Ripon was an agreement signed by Charles I, King of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Scottish Covenanters on 28 October 1640, in the aftermath of the Second Bishops' War. The Bishops' Wars were fought by the Covenanters to ...

, and after the pacification was arranged he remained in England at the court of Charles. There he hoped to obtain office in the royal household, and to marry

Christian Cavendish, Countess of Devonshire Christian Cavendish, Countess of Devonshire ( Bruce; 1595-1675) was an influential Anglo-Scottish landowner and royalist. Life Christian Bruce was the daughter of Edward Bruce, 1st Lord Kinloss and Master of the Rolls, and Magdalen Clerk, whos ...

. In August 1641 he was a factor in the plans Charles had to venture into Scotland, expecting his help. But he died quickly of

consumption Consumption may refer to: *Resource consumption *Tuberculosis, an infectious disease, historically * Consumption (ecology), receipt of energy by consuming other organisms * Consumption (economics), the purchasing of newly produced goods for curren ...

, at

Richmond, Surrey Richmond is a town in south-west London,The London Government Act 1963 (c.33) (as amended) categorises the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames as an Outer London borough. Although it is on both sides of the River Thames, the Boundary Commis ...

, on 23 August. He was buried at Leslie, Fife, on 31 November.

Works

Children

On 28 December 1614, he married Lady Anne Erskine, daughter of Sir John Erskine, Earl of Mar and Marie Stewart (daughter of Esmé Stewart). John and Anne had three children: # Lady Mary Leslie (born before 1625) married

Hugh Montgomerie, 7th Earl of Eglinton Hugh Montgomerie, 7th Earl of Eglinton (1613–1669) was a Scottish landowner. Early life He was the son of Alexander Montgomerie, 6th Earl of Eglinton and Anne Livingstone. He spent much of his childhood at Seton Palace with his grandmother, Mar ...

John Leslie, 1st Duke of Rothes John Leslie (c. 163027 July 1681), son of John Leslie, 6th Earl of Rothes, was the 7th Earl of Rothes and 1st Duke of Rothes. According to tradition, he was a descendant of Princess Beatrix, sister of King Malcolm III of Scotland. His family had ...

(1630–1681) married Lady Anne Crawford–Lindsay #Lady Margaret Leslie (born before 1632 – died in February 1688) married (1) Alexander Leslie, lord Balgony; (2)

Francis Scott, 2nd Earl of Buccleuch Francis Scott, 2nd Earl of Buccleuch (21 December 1626 – 22 November 1651) was a Scottish peer. He was the son of Walter Scott, 1st Earl of Buccleuch and his wife, Lady Mary Hay, daughter of Francis Hay, 9th Earl of Erroll. Upon the death of hi ...

; (3)

David Wemyss, 2nd Earl of Wemyss David Wemyss, 2nd Earl of Wemyss (6 September 1610July 1679) was an army officer. He was the only son of John Wemyss, 1st Earl of Wemyss and Jean Gray (d. 1640), daughter of Lord Gray. As Lord Elcho, a title he held between 1633 and 1649, he com ...

References

* * *

External links

John Leslie, 6th Earl of Rothes
Retrieved 16 March 2008 {{DEFAULTSORT:Rothes, John Leslie, 6th Earl Of 1600 births 1641 deaths 6 Members of the Convention of the Estates of Scotland 1621 Members of the Convention of the Estates of Scotland 1625 Members of the Convention of the Estates of Scotland 1630 Members of the Parliament of Scotland 1617 Members of the Parliament of Scotland 1621 Members of the Parliament of Scotland 1628–1633 Members of the Parliament of Scotland 1639–1641