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 was a political conspiracy in Scotland which took place on 22 August 1582. It was composed of several Presbyterian nobles, led by William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie, who abducted King James VI of Scotland. The nobles intende ...

Life and career

William Ruthven was born in 1541 in Ruthven Castle, in

Perthshire Perthshire ( locally: ; gd, Siorrachd Pheairt), officially the County of Perth, is a historic county and registration county in central Scotland. Geographically it extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the nort ...

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to ...

, 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 the 16th century Scotland. He succeeded to the lordship in December 1552. The Ruthven lordship encompassed the offices of Provost ...

and Janet Douglas. On 23 August 1581, he was named

Earl of Gowrie Earl of Gowrie is a title that has been created twice, once in the Peerage of Scotland and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, both times for members of the Ruthven family. It takes its name from Gowrie, a historical region and ancient p ...

by James VI of Scotland. He and his father had both been involved in the murder of

David Rizzio David Rizzio ( ; it, Davide 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 ...

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". It is often used specifically of the Church of Scotland. Many place names and personal names are also derived from it. Basic meaning and etymology As a common noun, ''kirk' ...

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 Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced abdication in 1567. The only surviving legitimate child of James V of S ...

, during her imprisonment in

Loch Leven Castle Lochleven Castle is a ruined castle on an island in Loch Leven, in the Perth and Kinross local authority area of Scotland. Possibly built around 1300, the castle was the site of military action during the Wars of Scottish Independence (1296–13 ...

, 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 The Marian civil war in Scotland (1568–1573) was a period of conflict which followed the abdication of Mary, Queen of Scots, and her escape from Lochleven Castle in May 1568. Those who ruled in the name of her infant son James VI fought against ...

. He asked about the health of her son

Charles Stuart, 1st Earl of Lennox Charles Stuart, 5th Earl of Lennox (April or May 1557 – April 1576), was the fourth son of Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox and Margaret Douglas, daughter of Margaret Tudor and granddaughter of King Henry VII of England. His brother was Hen ...

and hoped for peaceful times in which she could visit Scotland. He said the young

James VI 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 ...

was growing tall. In 1582 Ruthven devised and undertook the

, a plot to seize the fifteen-year-old King James during a visit to his house in Perth. Ruthven remained at the head of the government for several months during the detention. Ruthven continued to plot against the king, and 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 an English nobleman who was the second husband of Mary, Queen of Scots, and the father of James VI of Scotland and I of England. Through his parents, he had claims to both the Scottis ...

. Ruthven was arrested at his house in Dundee by

Colonel William Stewart Sir William Stewart of Houston (c. 1540 – c. 1605) was a Scottish soldier, politician and diplomat. He is often known as "Colonel Stewart", or the Commendator of Pittenweem. Life He began his career as a soldier in the Netherlands, where he b ...

. 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 was ordered 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 important castles in Scotland, both historically and architecturally. The castle sits atop Castle Hill, an intrusive crag, which forms part of the Stirling Sill geological ...

. His trial was held in

Mar's Wark Mar's Wark is a ruined building in Stirling built 1570–1572 by John Erskine, Regent of Scotland and Earl of Mar, and now in the care of Historic Scotland. Mar intended the building for the principal residence of the Erskine family in Stirlin ...

or "Lady Mar's house" at Stirling. 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). Scottish sources spell his name variously as "Ascheto ...

, 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 honors 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: representing the electorate, making laws, and overseeing the government via hearings and inquiries. Th ...

on 22 August 1584 and kneeled on the

Royal Mile The Royal Mile () is a succession of streets forming the main thoroughfare of the Old Town of the city of Edinburgh in Scotland. The term was first used descriptively in W. M. Gilbert's ''Edinburgh in the Nineteenth Century'' (1901), de ...

crying to the king for grace for her children.

James Stewart, Earl of Arran Captain James Stewart, Earl of Arran (died 1595) was created Earl of Arran by the young King James VI, who wrested the title from James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran. He rose to become Lord Chancellor of Scotland and was eventually murdered in ...

pushed her away, and she fainted and was left on the street. A letter produced in the

posthumous trial A posthumous trial or post-mortem trial is a trial held after the defendant's death. Posthumous trials can be held for a variety of reasons, including the legal declaration that the defendant was the one who committed the crime, to provide justice ...

Robert Logan of Restalrig Sir Robert Logan of Restalrig (1555-July 1606) was a Scottish knight involved in the Gowrie House affair of 1600. Family background Robert Logan's father and grandfather were also called "Robert Logan of Restalrig". In 1547, his father, Robert ...

in 1609 referred to William Ruthven as ''

Greysteil ''Greysteil'' ("Graysteel") is a medieval poem popular in 16th century Scotland. Set to music, it was performed for James IV of Scotland and James V of Scotland. The poem was also called ''Syr Egeir and Syr Gryme'', Eger and Grime being the name ...

'', 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 Henry Stewart, 1st Lord Methven (c. 1495 – 1552) was Master of the Scottish Artillery and third, and last husband, of Margaret Tudor, eldest daughter of Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York. Ancient lineage He was a son of Andrew Stewa ...

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 John Ruthven, 3rd Earl of Gowrie (c. 1577 – 5 August 1600), was a Scottish nobleman who died in mysterious circumstances, referred to as the "Gowrie Conspiracy", in which he and/or his brother Alexander were attempting to kill or kidnap King ...

(c. 15775 August 1600) *

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

(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 castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, which is sep ...

. Father of Mary Ruthven, who married the painter

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

. * Mary Ruthven, married to

John Stewart, 5th Earl of Atholl John Stewart, 5th Earl of Atholl, (1563–1595) was a Scottish landowner. John Stewart was the son of John Stewart, 4th Earl of Atholl and Margaret Fleming, daughter of Malcolm Fleming, 3rd Lord Fleming and Janet Stewart. In 1578 he married Ma ...

, and then after his death married

John Stewart, 1st Earl of Atholl (1566–1603) John Stewart, 1st Earl of Atholl (1566-1603) was a Scottish landowner. John Stewart was sixth Lord Innermeath and made Earl of Atholl in 1596. His parents were James Stewart, 5th Lord Innermeath and Helen Ogilvy, a daughter of James Ogilvy, Lo ...

* 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 and soldier, lord lieutenant and later viceroy and captain general of Scotland. Montrose initially joined the Covenanters in the Wars of the Three ...

* Sophia Ruthven (died before 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), lord of the Manor of Cobham, Kent, was a Scottish nobleman who through their paternal lines was a second cousin of King James VI of Scotland ...

* Jean Ruthven, wife of James Ogilvy, 1st Earl of Airlie * Elizabeth "Isabel" Ruthven, who married

Robert Gordon of Lochinvar Sir Robert Gordon of Lochinvar (died 1628) was a Scottish landowner, courtier, and promoter of colonies in Nova Scotia. He was a son of John Gordon of Lochinvar and his second wife Elizabeth Maxwell, a daughter of John Maxwell 4th Lord Herries. H ...

, 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 Barbara Ruthven (died 1625) was a Scottish courtier and favourite of Anne of Denmark, expelled from court after the death of her brother. Barbara Ruthven was a daughter of William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie and Dorothea Stewart, the oldest daug ...

, 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; as such, she was Queen of Scotland from their marriage on 20 August 1589 and Queen of England and Ireland from the union of the Scottish and Eng ...

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 persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...

, a failed attempt to kidnap or murder

References

Sources

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Gowrie, William Ruthven, 1st Earl Of 1540s births 1584 deaths 16th-century Scottish people

William William is a male given name of Germanic origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conquest of Engl ...

Executed Scottish people 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 Ruthven family