William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie, 4th Lord of Ruthven (c. 1541May 1584) was a Scottish peer known for devising the

Raid of Ruthven The Raid of Ruthven, the kidnapping of King James VI of Scotland, was a political conspiracy in Scotland which took place on 23 August 1582."Ruthven, William", by T. F. Henderson, in ''Dictionary of National Biography'', Volume 50 (Smith, Elder, ...

Life and career

William Ruthven was born in 1541 in Ruthven Castle, in

Perthshire Perthshire (Scottish English, locally: ; ), officially the County of Perth, is a Shires of Scotland, historic county and registration county in central Scotland. Geographically it extends from Strathmore, Angus and Perth & Kinross, Strathmore ...

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

, the son of

Patrick Ruthven, 3rd Lord Ruthven Patrick Ruthven, 3rd Lord Ruthven (c. 1520 – 13 June 1566) played an important part in the political intrigues of 16th century Scotland. He succeeded to the lordship in December 1552. The Ruthven lordship encompassed the offices of Provost and ...

and Janet Douglas. On 23 August 1581, he was named Earl of Gowrie by James VI of Scotland. He and his father had both been involved in the murder of

David Rizzio David Rizzio ( ; ; – 9 March 1566) or Riccio ( , ) was an Italian courtier, born in Pancalieri close to Turin, a descendant of an ancient and noble family still living in Piedmont, the Riccio Counts di San Paolo e Solbrito, who rose to bec ...

in 1566; and both took an active part on the side of the

Kirk Kirk is a Scottish and former Northern English word meaning 'church'. The term ''the Kirk'' is often used informally to refer specifically to the Church of Scotland, the Scottish national church that developed from the 16th-century Reformation ...

in the constant intrigues and factions among the Scottish nobility of the period. William had been the custodian of

Mary, Queen of Scots Mary, Queen of Scots (8 December 1542 – 8 February 1587), also known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, was List of Scottish monarchs, Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced abdication in 1567. The only surviving legit ...

, during her imprisonment in Lochleven Castle, where, according to the queen, he had pestered her with amorous attentions. Ruthven wrote a friendly letter to his "great aunt" Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox in June 1571 during the Marian Civil War. He asked about the health of her son Charles Stuart, 1st Earl of Lennox and hoped for peaceful times in which she could visit Scotland. He said the young

James VI James may refer to: People * James (given name) * James (surname) * James (musician), aka Faruq Mahfuz Anam James, (born 1964), Bollywood musician * James, brother of Jesus * King James (disambiguation), various kings named James * Prince Ja ...

was growing tall. On 22 or 23 August 1582, Ruthven devised and undertook the

, a successful plot to seize the 15-year-old King James during a visit to his castle near Perth, now known as Huntingtower Castle. James was held captive until his escape at St Andrews on 27 June 1583. Ruthven remained at the head of the government for several months during the king's detention. Ruthven was the last-known custodian of the silver casket that contained the Casket Letters; letters said to have been written by

, implicating her in the murder of her husband,

Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley (1546 – 10 February 1567) was King of Scotland as the second husband of Mary, Queen of Scots, from 29 July 1565 until his murder in 1567. Lord Darnley had one child with Mary, the future James VI of Scotland and I ...

Arrest and execution

Ruthven was arrested at his house in Dundee by Colonel William Stewart. Stewart surrounded the house with 100 soldiers from 3 o'clock in the morning to 3' o'clock in the afternoon before Ruthven surrendered, when the town of Dundee received an order from James VI to take arms against him. Ruthven was shipped to Leith and brought to Holyrood Palace. He was taken to Kinneil House and then to

Stirling Castle Stirling Castle, located in Stirling, is one of the largest and most historically and architecturally important castles in Scotland. The castle sits atop an Intrusive rock, intrusive Crag and tail, crag, which forms part of the Stirling Sill ge ...

. His trial was held in Mar's Wark or "Lady Mar's house" at Stirling. The judges included John Graham, Lord Hallyards The charges, recorded by

Roger Aston Sir Roger Aston (died 23 May 1612) of Cranford, Middlesex, was an English courtier and favourite of James VI of Scotland. Biography Aston was the illegitimate son of Thomas Aston (died 1553), Thomas Aston (died 1553). Scottish sources spell his n ...

, included "witchcraft in conferring with sorcerers". He was beheaded at Stirling on 3 May 1584 because of his leading involvement in the

and all of his honours were forfeited. Following his execution, his lands were divided among the king's favourites, but the honours were restored to his son James in 1586. His widow, Dorothea Stewart came to the opening of

Parliament In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...

on 22 August 1584 and kneeled on the

Royal Mile The Royal Mile () is the nickname of a series of streets forming the main thoroughfare of the Old Town, Edinburgh, Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland. The term originated in the early 20th century and has since entered popular usage. The Royal ...

crying to the king for grace for her children. James Stewart, Earl of Arran pushed her away, and she fainted and was left on the street. A letter produced in the posthumous trial of Robert Logan of Restalrig in 1609 referred to William Ruthven as '' Greysteil'', a character in a popular poem of his time noted for his strength and sinister powers, enthralled to a powerful woman.

Marriage and children

William Ruthven was married to Dorothea Stewart, the oldest daughter of Henry Stewart, 1st Lord Methven and Janet Stewart, daughter of John Stewart, 2nd Earl of Atholl. Scots Peerage lists 14 children of William and Dorothea, ten daughters and four sons: * James Ruthven, 2nd Earl of Gowrie (died 1588) * John Ruthven, 3rd Earl of Gowrie (c. 15775 August 1600) *

Alexander Ruthven Alexander Ruthven, master of Ruthven (12 January 1580 – 5 August 1600) was a Scotland, Scottish nobleman. He is most notable for his participation in the Gowrie conspiracy of 1600. Early life Ruthven was born in Perth, Scotland, Perth, the th ...

(12 January 15805 August 1600) * William Ruthven, died in France prior to 1622 * Patrick Ruthven, imprisoned for 19 years in the

Tower of London The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic citadel and castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamle ...

. Father of Mary Ruthven, who married the painter

Anthony van Dyck Sir Anthony van Dyck (; ; 22 March 1599 – 9 December 1641) was a Flemish Baroque painting, Flemish Baroque artist who became the leading court painter in England after success in the Spanish Netherlands and Italy. The seventh child of ...

. * Mary Ruthven, married to John Stewart, 5th Earl of Atholl, and then after his death married John Stewart, 1st Earl of Atholl (1566–1603) * Margaret Ruthven, married to John Graham, 4th Earl of Montrose, mother of

James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose (1612 – 21 May 1650) was a Scottish nobleman, poet, soldier and later viceroy and captain general of Scotland. Montrose initially joined the Covenanters in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, but subsequ ...

* Sophia Ruthven (died May 1592), first wife of

Ludovic Stewart, 2nd Duke of Lennox Ludovic Stewart, 2nd Duke of Lennox and 1st Duke of Richmond (29 September 157416 February 1624) was a Scotland, Scottish nobleman and a second cousin of King James VI and I. He was involved in court theatre and the Plantation of Ulster in ...

* Jean Ruthven, mother of James Ogilvy, 1st Earl of Airlie * Elizabeth "Isabel" Ruthven, who married Robert Gordon of Lochinvar, and was mother of

John Gordon, 1st Viscount of Kenmure John Gordon, 1st Viscount of Kenmure (1599–1634) was a Scottish nobleman, renowned Presbyterian, and founder of the town of New Galloway. Biography Sir John Gordon of Lochinvar (as he was known before his ennoblement) was the eldest son of S ...

* Beatrix Ruthven, lady in waiting to Anne of Denmark, wife of John Home of Cowdenknowes * Lilias, about whom little is known, the English ambassador wrote she was "dead also with sorrow" after her father's execution in May 1584. * Dorothea, who married John Wemyss of Pittencrieff * Barbara Ruthven, lady in waiting to

Anne of Denmark Anne of Denmark (; 12 December 1574 – 2 March 1619) was the wife of King James VI and I. She was List of Scottish royal consorts, Queen of Scotland from their marriage on 20 August 1589 and List of English royal consorts, Queen of Engl ...

Another source, Paterson's ''History of the Counties of Ayr and Wigton'' lists another daughter named Elizabeth, explicitly called "Elizabeth (Not Isabel)": * Elizabeth Ruthven (died 1617), second wife of Sir Hugh Campbell of Loudon (died 1622). There were plans in 1591 for Dorothea Stewart, Countess of Gowrie to marry William Keith of Delny but James VI forbade it.''Calendar State Papers Scotland'', vol. 10 (Edinburgh, 1936), pp. 371, 547. John and Alexander Ruthven were killed on 5 August 1600 as the main characters in

The Gowrie Conspiracy ''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The ...

, a failed attempt to kidnap or murder

References

Sources

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Gowrie, William Ruthven, 1st Earl Of 1540s births 1584 deaths Nobility from Perth and Kinross 16th-century Scottish peers 101 Executed Scottish nobility People executed for treason against Scotland 16th-century executions by Scotland Treasurers of Scotland People executed by the Kingdom of Scotland by decapitation Scottish politicians convicted of crimes

William William is a masculine given name of Germanic languages, Germanic origin. It became popular in England after the Norman Conquest, Norman conquest in 1066,All Things William"Meaning & Origin of the Name"/ref> and remained so throughout the Middle ...

Raid of Ruthven