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{{Short description|1582 political conspiracy in Scotland}}
The '''Raid of Ruthven''' was a ] in ] which took place on 22 August 1582. It was composed of several ] nobles, led by ], who abducted King ]. The nobles intended to reform the government of Scotland and limit the influence of French and pro-Catholic policy, and to prevent or manage the return of ] from England. Their short-lived rule is known as the "Ruthven" or "Gowrie Regime."
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
The '''Raid of Ruthven''', the kidnapping of King ], was a ] in ] which took place on 23 August 1582.<ref name=Henderson>"Ruthven, William", by T. F. Henderson, in ''Dictionary of National Biography'', Volume 50 (Smith, Elder, & Co., 1897)</ref><ref>Steven J. Reid, ''The Early Life of James VI, A Long Apprenticeship'' (Edinburgh: John Donald, 2023), p. 187.</ref> It was composed of several ] nobles, led by ], who abducted the king. The nobles intended to reform the ] and limit the influence of ] and ] policy, and to prevent or manage the return of ] from England to rule with her son in an "]". Their short-lived rule of around 10 months is known as the "Ruthven" or "Gowrie Regime".<ref>Steven J. Reid, 'Of bairns and bearded men: James VI and the Ruthven Raid', Miles Kerr-Peterson & Steven J. Reid, ''James VI and Noble Power in Scotland 1578-1603'' (Routledge, 2017), pp. 32-44.</ref>


==Scottish coup d'état== ==Scottish coup d'état==
]]] ]]]
===Ruthven Castle=== ===Ruthven Castle===
In July 1582 the discontented lords made a bond to support each other in their enterprise to displace Catholic influences around the young king. Their party became known as the "Lords Enterprisers," their opponents were the King's favourite, the French ], and ], ], who shared control of the government. James VI was seized while hunting near the castle of Ruthven in ] on 22 (or 23) August. The 17th-century historian ] named the Ruthven Raiders as the Earls of ] and Gowrie, the ], the Laird of Easter-Wemyss, ], ], ], the Abbots of Dunfermline, Dryburgh, and Paisley, the Prior of Pittenween, and the Constable of Dundee. In July 1582 the discontented lords made a bond to one another in their enterprise to displace ] influences around the young king. Their party became known as the "Lords Enterprisers", and their opponents were the King's favourite, the Frenchman ], and ], who shared control of the government. James VI was seized while he was hunting near the castle of Ruthven in ] on 22 (or 23) August.<ref>Alexander Courtney, ''James VI, Britannic Prince: King of Scots and Elizabeth's Heir, 1566–1603'' (Routledge, 2024), pp. 60–64.</ref> Some sources, including the letters of ], an English diplomat sent to ] after the event, state the King was captured at Ruthven Castle on 23 August. The Ruthven lords presented the King with a lengthy "supplication" to explain the motives of their surprise action, dated 23 August.<ref>], ''History of the Kirk'', vol. 3 (Edinburgh: Wodrow Society, 1843), p. 637.</ref>


The 17th-century historian ] named the Ruthven Raiders as the Earls of ] and ], the ], the Laird of Easter-Wemyss, ], ], ], ], ], the ], the Prior of Pittenween and the ].<ref>Steven J. Reid, 'Of bairns and bearded men: James VI and the Ruthven Raid', Miles Kerr-Peterson & Steven J. Reid, ''James VI and Noble Power in Scotland 1578-1603'' (Routledge, 2017), p. 34.</ref>
⚫ To prevent a rescue attempt by the Duke of Lennox's soldiers, the Earl of Mar stationed an armed force at ] to break their march north. The Earl of Arran's brother, ] reached Ruthven and fought the raiders, lost two fingers and was captured. Arran himself arrived and was captured. The Ruthven lords presented the King with a lengthy "supplication" explaining the motives of their surprise action, dated 23 August. Some sources including the letters of ], an English diplomat sent to Scotland after the event, state the King was captured at Ruthven Castle on 23 August.<ref>Calderwood, David, ''History of the Kirk'', vol.3, Wodrow Society (1843), p.637</ref>


It was said that James VI started to cry.<ref>], ''History of the Kirk of Scotland'', vol. 3, p. 643.</ref> The Master of Glamis is reported to have said, "Better bairns greet than bearded men".<ref>Steven J. Reid, 'Of bairns and bearded men: James VI and the Ruthven Raid', p. 32.</ref> ("Greet" is a ] word meaning "weep, mourn."<ref>], ''Register of the Privy Council of Scotland'', vol. 4 (Edinburgh, 1881), p. xiv.</ref>)
⚫ The King was held and controlled by the Ruthven Lords for almost a year, and was moved around a number of houses. He was taken to Perth the next day, where the earl of Gowrie had a large townhouse, as Provost of the town. ] wrote that the lords gave him their "supplication" at Perth, then he was taken to ] at the end of August. At Stirling the Ruthven party was swelled by ], the ] and Laurence, Master of Oliphant, and their retainers to the number of 400.<ref>Moysie, David, ''Memoirs of the Affairs of Scotland'', vol.1 (1830), p.38</ref>


⚫ To prevent a rescue attempt by the Duke of Lennox's soldiers, the Earl of Mar stationed an armed force at ] to break their march northward. The Earl of Arran's brother, ], reached Ruthven, fought the raiders, lost two fingers and was captured. Arran himself arrived and was captured.<ref>Steven J. Reid, ''The Early Life of James VI, A Long Apprenticeship'' (Edinburgh: John Donald, 2023), p. 189.</ref>
⚫ Copies of relevant papers, such as the Lords's "supplication" of 23 August 1582 and Lennox's protest, "D'Obany's petition", were given by ] to Robert Bowes and sent to England, where they remain in the ].<ref>Laing, David, ed, ''Original letters of Mr. John Colville, 1582-1603, and his Palinode, 1600'', Bannatyne Club (1858), pp.8-9: A copy of a declaration in French by Lennox, against the "calumnies of Gowrie and his confederates", Dumbarton, 22 September 1582, is preserved in ], .</ref>


⚫ The king was held and controlled by the Ruthven Lords for ten months, until managing to escape on 27 June 1583.<ref name=Henderson/> He was moved around a number of houses. He was taken to ] the next day, where the Earl of Gowrie had a large townhouse, as provost of the town.<ref>Steven Veerapen, ''The Wisest Fool: The Lavish Life of James VI and I'' (Birlinn, 2023), p. 66.</ref> ] wrote that the lords had given him their "supplication" at Perth, and James then was taken to ] at the end of August. At Stirling, the Ruthven party was swelled by ]; the ]; and Laurence, Master of Oliphant, and their retainers had now grown 400.<ref>Moysie, David, ''Memoirs of the Affairs of Scotland'', vol. 1 (1830), p. 38.</ref> In October 1582, James was at ], in Edinburgh.<ref>Steven J. Reid, 'Of bairns and bearded men: James VI and the Ruthven Raid', ''James VI and Noble Power in Scotland 1578-1603'' (Routledge, 2017), p. 34.</ref>
⚫ Ruthven Castle's name was officially changed to ] in 1600 after the ].


⚫ Ruthven Castle's name was officially changed to ] in 1600, after the ]. The castle is maintained and opened to the public by ].
⚫ ===Opponents of the Regime===

⚫ The earl of Gowrie remained at the head of the government assisted by figures like the ]. The king's favourite Esmé Stewart, Duke of Lennox, the main politician targeted by the coup, was sent to ], then forced into exile in France, after lingering at ] on the ], and died in Paris in May 1583. Another prominent politician, the recently ennobled James Stewart, Earl of Arran, was imprisoned at Dupplin, Stirling, Ruthven (Huntingtower), then confined at his own ].
===Historical sources===
⚫ Among the rest of the nobility, the Ruthven regime was opposed by the Earls of Huntly, Crawford, Morton (Maxwell) and Sutherland, and the Lords Livingston, ], Ogilvy, ] and Doune, all of whom were reported to support Arran and Lennox.
⚫ Copies of relevant papers, such as the Lords's "supplication" of 23 August 1582 and Lennox's protest, "D'Obany's petition", were given by ] to Robert Bowes and sent to ], where they remain in the ].<ref>David Laing, ''Original letters of Mr John Colville, 1582-1603, and his Palinode, 1600'' (Edinburgh: Bannatyne Club, 1858), pp. 8-9: A copy of a declaration in French by Lennox, against the "calumnies of Gowrie and his confederates", Dumbarton, 22 September 1582, is preserved in ], </ref>

⚫ ===Opponents of Regime===
⚫ The Earl of Gowrie remained at the head of the government and was assisted by figures like the ]. The king's favourite, Esmé Stewart, Duke of Lennox, the main politician who was targeted by the coup, was sent to ]; was forced into exile in ] after he had lingered at ]; on the ]; and died in ] in May 1583. Another prominent politician, the recently-ennobled James Stewart, Earl of Arran, was imprisoned at Dupplin, Stirling, Ruthven (Huntingtower) and then confined at his own ].

⚫ Among the rest of the nobility, the Ruthven regime was opposed by the Earls of Huntly, Crawford, Morton (Maxwell) and Sutherland and the Lords Livingston, ], Ogilvy, ] and Doune, all of whom were reported to support Arran and Lennox.


===Policy=== ===Policy===
] was not enthralled by the Ruthven program of reforms]] ] was not enthralled by the Ruthven program of reforms.]]
The resultant Gowrie regime favoured what has been described as an ultra-] regime and was approved by the ] as the 'late act of the ]'.<ref>''Book of the Universal Kirk'', vol. 2, 594.</ref> The Regime was approved by influential ministers of the Kirk of Scotland from the pulpit. These churchmen were called "Melvillians" after their spokesman ].<ref>Lynch, Michael, ''Scotland: A New History'', Pimlico (1992), p.228, 232</ref> The noble leaders of the regime also included those who were ] by the fall of ] in 1581, and the Douglas family, who had been exiled in England, were re-instated on 28 September 1582. The resultant Gowrie regime favoured what has been described as an ultra-] regime and was approved by the ] as the 'late act of the ]'.<ref>''Book of the Universal Kirk'', vol. 2, 594.</ref> It was approved by influential ministers of the ] from the pulpit. These churchmen were called "Melvillians" after their spokesman, ].<ref>], ''Scotland: A New History'' (Pimlico, 1992), pp. 228, 232.</ref> The noble leaders of the regime also included those who were "discomfited" by the fall of ] in 1581, and the Douglas family, which had been exiled in England, were re-instated on 28 September 1582.

⚫ The coup was also prompted by an urge to curb excessive spending at court. Because of its extravagance, the Earl of Gowrie as ] was owed ]48,000.<ref>Steven J. Reid, 'Of bairns and bearded men: James VI and the Ruthven Raid', Miles Kerr-Peterson & Steven J. Reid, ''James VI and Noble Power in Scotland 1578-1603'' (Routledge, 2017), p. 35.</ref> The debt was never repaid.<ref>Julian Goodare, 'Debts of James VI', in ''Economic History Review'', 64: 4 (November 2009), pp. 934-936: William K. Boyd, ''Calendar of State Papers Scotland'', vol. 6 (Edinburgh, 1910), 240.</ref> A number of cost-saving measures for the royal household were proposed by Gowrie and his ] colleagues.<ref>Steven J. Reid, 'Of bairns and bearded men: James VI and the Ruthven Raid', Miles Kerr-Peterson & Steven J. Reid, ''James VI and Noble Power in Scotland 1578-1603'' (Routledge, 2017), pp. 41-2.</ref> They were described as "havand respect to the order of the hous of your hieness goudsire King James the fifth of worthie memorie and to the {{sic|possibilitie}} of your majesties present rents", a reference to the alleged thriftiness of ].<ref>], E34/36 Scheme for ordering the household November 1582: See Amy Juhala, , University of Edinburgh PhD (2000), 39-47, Edinburgh Research Archive</ref>

Lennox seems to have made himself particularly unpopular by using his office of Chamberlain to profit from merchant trade in the Scottish towns and burghs. The Ruthven Regime ordered him to leave Scotland. Lennox delayef his exile unto 22 December, when he sailed for France and never returned.<ref>Steven J. Reid, 'Of bairns and bearded men: James VI and the Ruthven Raid', Miles Kerr-Peterson & Steven J. Reid, ''James VI and Noble Power in Scotland 1578-1603'' (Routledge, 2017), pp. 38, 40.</ref>

===Response in England===
] to invade Scotland]]
⚫ Queen ] was pleased with events and sent £1000 in September 1582 to Robert Bowes, a payment declared as the wages of the King's Guard.<ref>''CSP Scotland'', vol. 6 (Edinburgh, 1910), p. 185 no. 186</ref> In response, the opponents of the Ruthven Regime, the Earls of Huntley, Argyll, Atholl, Crawford, Montrose, Arran, Lennox and Sutherland, wrote a letter from Dunkeld, near Atholl's ], to the town of Edinburgh and described this force, funded by England, as 400 ] raised to convey James VI to their "auld enemies" in England. They urged the townspeople of Edinburgh to arm themselves and to seize James, who was at ], on their behalf. The people of Edinburgh did not follow up on the suggestion.<ref>''CSP Scotland'', vol. 6 (Edinburgh, 1910), no. 177</ref>

⚫ The reaction of ] was more circumspect. He wrote to the ], the keeper of ], with news of progress in Scotland on 26 September 1582. Walsingham thought that "thinges stand not yet in so good termes as were to be wished". He found James's own letters, and his speech in favour of the ] made at Stirling on 14 September, to demonstrate 'of what rare towardliness that yonge prince is, and howe dangerous an enemye therefore he would prove unto England yf he should happen to runne to any other coorse".<ref>Dynfnallt Owen, ed., ''HMC 58, Manuscripts Marquess of Bath'', vol. 5 (London, HMSO, 1980), p. 39: W. K. Boyd, ''Calendar State Papers Scotland'', vol. 6 (Edinburgh, 1910), pp. 169-170, no. 169.</ref>

In September, Mary sent ], a brother-in-law of her secretary, ], to the ] to discuss possible plans. They included taking James VI to France and invading Scotland with 600 musketeers, possibly with ] funding. Mary envisaged a landing at ] and the capture of ] and ].<ref>], ''Letters of Mary Stuart'' (London, 1845), pp. 307-311.</ref>

===French reaction and English diplomacy===
], the French queen mother, wrote to the French ambassador in London, ], with her concerns over the capture of James and the exile of Lennox.<ref></ref> Elizabeth I was told that Castelnau had secretly conveyed letters to Mary, Queen of Scots, and to her supporters in Scotland. Walsingham asked the ambassador in France, ], to advise King ] and Catherine de' Medici of the situation and that Castelnau should be more circumspect in the handling of Mary's letters. Elizabeth had no wish to foment further disquiet in Scotland after the recent disturbances.<ref>Arthur John Butler, ''Calendar of State Papers, Foreign Series, 1582'', vol. 16 (London, 1909), no. 357.</ref>


===Requests for funding===
⚫ The coup was also prompted by an urge to curb excessive spending at court. Because of its extravagance, the Earl of Gowrie as ] was owed £48,000 ]. This debt was never repaid.<ref>Julian Goodare, 'Debts of James VI', in ''Economic History Review'', vol. 64, no. 4 (November 2009), pp.926-952 at p.934-936, and see also, Boyd, William K. ed., ''Calendar of State Papers Scotland'', vol. 6 (1910), 240.</ref> A number of cost-saving measures for the royal household were proposed by Gowrie and his ] colleagues. These were described as "havand respect to the order of the hous of your hieness goudsire King James the fifth of worthie memorie and to the {{sic|possibilitie}} of your majesties present rents," a reference to the thriftiness of ].<ref>National Archives of Scotland: E34/36 Scheme for ordering the household November 1582: See Amy Juhala, {{cite web |url=http://www.era.lib.ed.ac.uk/handle/1842/1727 |title=The Court and Household of James VI}}, Edinburgh University PhD (2000), 39-47, Edinburgh Research Archive.</ref>
⚫ ] was sent as ambassador by the Regime to England in April 1583 to ask for £10,000 and yearly £5000 as an income from the English lands of ], and for the ratification and renewal of the 1560 ]. Stewart was to enquire discreetly of the succession to the English throne.<ref>William Boyd, ''Calendar State Papers Scotland'', vol. 6 (Edinburgh, 1910), 410-415.</ref> Robert Bowes, the English diplomat, stayed in Edinburgh and followed events. As it seemed opportune, he was instructed by Walsingham to seek out the ], which had been used to incriminate Queen Mary in 1568, but the Earl of Gowrie refused to hand them over.


===French embassy===
⚫ Queen Elizabeth was pleased with events and sent £1000 in September 1582 with Robert Bowes, a payment declared as the wages of the King's Guard.<ref>''CSP Scotland'', vol.6 (1910), p.185 no.186</ref> In response, the opponents of the Ruthven Regime, the Earls of Huntley, Argyll, Atholl, Crawford, Montrose, Arran, Lennox and Sutherland, wrote a letter from Dunkeld (near Atholl's ]) to the town of Edinburgh describing this force, funded by England, as four hundred men-of-war raised for the purpose of conveying James VI to their "auld enemies" in England. They urged the townspeople of Edinburgh to arm themselves and seize the King, who was at ], on their behalf. The people of Edinburgh did not follow up on this suggestion.<ref>''CSP Scotland'', vol.6 (1910), no.177</ref>
⚫ Gowrie was also courted by France and received in February 1583 an offer of a yearly pension of 100,000 crowns for the state, 2000 crowns personally and a lump sum of 10,000 crowns. Two French ambassadors, ] and François de Rocherolles, Sieur de Maineville, hoped to secure French influence over James VIs choice of bride.<ref>''Calendar State Papers Scotland'', vol. 6 (Edinburgh, 1910), 300-1.</ref> James gave the French ambassadors an audience in the presence of ], an English diplomat who would later deliver Mary's death warrant. The ambassadors intended to build a pro-French faction and may have offered French pensions to sympathetic nobles. Maineville remained in Scotland until May 1583. His presence and unpopularity divided the Ruthven lords and weakened their support.<ref>Steven J. Reid, 'Of bairns and bearded men: James VI and the Ruthven Raid', Miles Kerr-Peterson & Steven J. Reid, ''James VI and Noble Power in Scotland 1578-1603'' (Routledge, 2017), pp. 43-44, 46.</ref>


⚫ ===Failure of Regime===
⚫ The reaction of ] was more circumspect. He wrote to the ], the keeper of Mary, Queen of Scots, with news of progress in Scotland on 26 September 1582. Walsingham thought that 'thinges stand not yet in so good termes as were to be wished.' He found King James' own letters, and his speech in favour of the ] made at Stirling on 14 September, to demonstrate 'of what rare towardliness that yonge prince is, and howe dangerous an enemye therefore he would prove unto England yf he should happen to runne to any other coorse.'<ref>Dynfnallt Owen, ed., ''HMC 58, Manuscripts Marquess of Bath'', vol. 5 (London, HMSO, 1980), p. 39: W. K. Boyd ed., ''Calendar State Papers Scotland'', vol. 6 (1910), pp. 169-170, no. 169</ref>
⚫ Gowrie's regime was ineffectually supported by Elizabeth I and Walsingham. After ten months, James gained his freedom at ] in July 1583. He first stayed at the New Inns of St Andrews but was persuaded to sleep in ]. The faction against the Regime was there in strength, the Lords Enterprisers were dismissed from court and a number of their followers who were salaried court servants were removed from office.<ref>Moysie, David, vol.1 (1830), p.46</ref>


James went to Stirling and ], joined Arran for a banquet at Kinneil House on 13 November and returned to Edinburgh. The Earl of Arran gained a brief ascendancy in ]. The Earl of Gowrie was pardoned, but kept plotting and was later ] for ]. In November 1585, however, Arran himself was removed from public affairs.
⚫ Colonel William Stewart was sent as ambassador by the regime to England in April 1583 to ask for £10,000 and yearly £5000 as an income from the English lands of ], and for the ratification and renewal of the 1560 ]. The Colonel was to enquire discreetly after the succession to the English throne.<ref>Boyd, William K. ed., ''Calendar State Papers Scotland'', vol. 6 (1910), 410-415.</ref> Robert Bowes, the English diplomat, stayed in Edinburgh and followed events. As it seemed opportune, he was instructed by ] to seek out the ] which had been used to incriminate Queen Mary in 1568, but the Earl of Gowrie refused to hand them over.


⚫ As Elizabeth was displeased by the fall of the Regime, Walsingham was sent as ambassador to Scotland in September 1583. He spoke to James VI at Perth and was convinced that Mary's influence was dominant in Scotland and working to the young James's confusion. Walshingham wrote to Elizabeth that Mary, "though she cannot live many years", would see his overthrow.
⚫ Gowrie was also courted by France, receiving in February 1583 an offer of a yearly pension of 100,000 crowns for the state, 2000 crowns personally, and a lump sum of 10,000 crowns. Two French ambassadors, La Mothe and Maineville, hoped to secure French influence over James's choice of bride.<ref>''Calendar State Papers Scotland'', vol. 6 (1910), 300-1.</ref> James VI heard the French embassy of La Mothe in the presence of ] who would later deliver Mary, Queen of Scots death warrant.


James had not enjoyed the Ruthven government. Walsingham found him unable to take his complaints seriously. James laughed at Walsingham, "falling into a distemperture". He told Walshingham of being an "absolute King" who would order his subjects as he would "best lyke himself".<ref>''CSP Scotland'', vol.6 (1910), p.603, 611</ref>
⚫ ===Failure of the Gowrie Regime===
⚫ Gowrie's regime was ineffectually supported by ] and her Secretary Walsingham. After ten months, the king gained his freedom at ] in July 1583. James VI first stayed at the New Inns of St Andrews but was persuaded to sleep in ]. The faction opposed to the Gowrie regime was there in strength, and the Lords Enterprisers were dismissed from court, and a number of their followers who were salaried court servants were sacked.<ref>Moysie, David, vol.1 (1830), p.46</ref> James VI went to Stirling and ], then joined Arran for a banquet at Kinneil House on 13 November, and returned to Edinburgh. The Earl of Arran gained a brief ascendancy over ]. The earl of Gowrie was pardoned, but kept plotting and was later ] for ]. In November 1585, however, Arran himself was removed from public affairs.


Arran and the Earl of Crawford hired Kate the Witch to disrupt Walsingham's visit with £6 and a length of plaid cloth. She stood outside the royal palaces and complained about the amity with England, the kirk and the nobility.<ref>], </ref>
⚫ As Queen Elizabeth was displeased by the fall of the Ruthven Regime, Walsingham was sent as ambassador to Scotland in September 1583. He spoke to James VI at Perth, and was convinced that Queen Mary's influence was dominant in Scotland, and working to the young king's confusion. He wrote to Elizabeth that Mary, "though she cannot live many years" would see his overthrow. James VI had not enjoyed the Ruthven government. Walsingham found the King unable to take his complaints seriously, and he laughed at Walsingham, "falling into a distemperture", telling him that he was an "absolute King" and would order his subjects as he would "best lyke himself."<ref>''CSP Scotland'', vol.6 (1910), p.603, 611</ref> James was 17, Mary was 40.


==Last of the Oliphants==
Two of those implicated in the Raid, the eldest son of the Chief of ], Laurence Master of Oliphant, and his brother-in-law ], were exiled in 1584. The ship in which they sailed to France was lost at sea, and it was rumoured that their ship had been captured by a Dutch ship and they were killed in the fighting or drowned with their ship.<ref>''Register Privy Council of Scotland'', vol.3 (1880), p.348, 365, 664, 669</ref> Later, there were reports that they had been sold to a Turkish slave ship. In 1589, a Scot, James Hudson, with the Scottish ambassador, appealed to Francis Walsingham for his help finding the men, reported to be slaves in the castle of ].<ref>Markham-Thorpe, ''Calendar Scottish Papers'' vol.2 (1858), p.570 no.103: ''CSP Scotland'', vol.10 (1906), pp.224-5</ref> In 1601, Robert Oliphant went to Algiers to look for his kinsmen, carrying a letter of introduction to Sultan ] written by Queen Elizabeth, who also recommended her ambassador John Wroth help the search.<ref>Marcus, Mueller, Rose, edd., ''Elizabeth I: Collected Works'', University of Chicago (2000), p.400 no.100</ref> Two of those implicated in the raid, the eldest son of the Chief of ], Laurence Master of Oliphant, and his brother-in-law ], were exiled in 1584. The ship in which they sailed to France was lost at sea, and it was rumoured that their ship had been captured by a Dutch ship and that they had been killed in the fighting or drowned with their ship.<ref>''Register Privy Council of Scotland'', vol.3 (1880), p.348, 365, 664, 669</ref> Later, there were reports that they had been sold to a Turkish slave ship. In 1589, a Scot, James Hudson, with the Scottish ambassador, appealed to Francis Walsingham for his help finding the men, who were reported to be slaves in the castle of ].<ref>Markham-Thorpe, ''Calendar Scottish Papers'' vol.2 (1858), p.570 no.103: ''CSP Scotland'', vol.10 (1906), pp.224-5</ref> In 1601, Robert Oliphant went to Algiers to look for his kinsmen and carried a letter of introduction to Sultan ] written by Queen Elizabeth, who also recommended her ambassador, John Wroth, to help the search.<ref>Marcus, Mueller, Rose, edd., ''Elizabeth I: Collected Works'', University of Chicago (2000), p.400 no.100</ref>


A plaque to their memory was raised in the English church in Algiers. The 17th-century historian of the Douglas family, ] laid the blame for their loss on Robert's mother, ], for her attempt in 1584 to prevent them supporting the Earl of Gowrie, which was considered misguided.<ref>Reid, David, ed. (2005), ''David Hume of Godscroft's History of the House of Angus'', vol. 2, STS, p. 313</ref> A plaque to their memory was raised in the English church in Algiers. The 17th-century historian of the Douglas family, ], laid the blame for their loss on Robert's mother, ], for her attempt in 1584 to prevent them from supporting the Earl of Gowrie, which was considered misguided.<ref>Reid, David, ed. (2005), ''David Hume of Godscroft's History of the House of Angus'', vol. 2, STS, p. 313</ref>


== See also == == See also ==
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==External links== ==External links==
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Latest revision as of 12:14, 8 June 2024

1582 political conspiracy in Scotland

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. It was composed of several Presbyterian nobles, led by William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie, who abducted the king. The nobles intended to reform the government of Scotland and limit the influence of French and pro-Catholic policy, and to prevent or manage the return of Mary, Queen of Scots from England to rule with her son in an "association". Their short-lived rule of around 10 months is known as the "Ruthven" or "Gowrie Regime".

Scottish coup d'état

Ruthven Castle now called Huntingtower

Ruthven Castle

In July 1582 the discontented lords made a bond to one another in their enterprise to displace Catholic influences around the young king. Their party became known as the "Lords Enterprisers", and their opponents were the King's favourite, the Frenchman Esmé Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox, and James Stewart, Earl of Arran, who shared control of the government. James VI was seized while he was hunting near the castle of Ruthven in Perthshire on 22 (or 23) August. Some sources, including the letters of Robert Bowes, an English diplomat sent to Scotland after the event, state the King was captured at Ruthven Castle on 23 August. The Ruthven lords presented the King with a lengthy "supplication" to explain the motives of their surprise action, dated 23 August.

The 17th-century historian David Calderwood named the Ruthven Raiders as the Earls of Mar and Gowrie, the Master of Glamis, the Laird of Easter-Wemyss, Lewis Bellenden, Lord Boyd, Lord Lindsay, the Abbot of Dunfermline, David Erskine, Commendator of Dryburgh, the Abbot of Paisley, the Prior of Pittenween and the Constable of Dundee.

It was said that James VI started to cry. The Master of Glamis is reported to have said, "Better bairns greet than bearded men". ("Greet" is a Scots word meaning "weep, mourn.")

To prevent a rescue attempt by the Duke of Lennox's soldiers, the Earl of Mar stationed an armed force at Kinross to break their march northward. The Earl of Arran's brother, William Stewart, reached Ruthven, fought the raiders, lost two fingers and was captured. Arran himself arrived and was captured.

The king was held and controlled by the Ruthven Lords for ten months, until managing to escape on 27 June 1583. He was moved around a number of houses. He was taken to Perth the next day, where the Earl of Gowrie had a large townhouse, as provost of the town. David Moysie wrote that the lords had given him their "supplication" at Perth, and James then was taken to Stirling Castle at the end of August. At Stirling, the Ruthven party was swelled by Francis Stewart, Earl of Bothwell; the Earl of Glencairn; and Laurence, Master of Oliphant, and their retainers had now grown 400. In October 1582, James was at Holyrood Palace, in Edinburgh.

Ruthven Castle's name was officially changed to Huntingtower in 1600, after the Gowrie House conspiracy. The castle is maintained and opened to the public by Historic Environment Scotland.

Historical sources

Copies of relevant papers, such as the Lords's "supplication" of 23 August 1582 and Lennox's protest, "D'Obany's petition", were given by John Colville to Robert Bowes and sent to England, where they remain in the Public Record Office.

Opponents of Regime

The Earl of Gowrie remained at the head of the government and was assisted by figures like the Master of Glamis. The king's favourite, Esmé Stewart, Duke of Lennox, the main politician who was targeted by the coup, was sent to Dumbarton Castle; was forced into exile in France after he had lingered at Rothesay Castle; on the Island of Bute; and died in Paris in May 1583. Another prominent politician, the recently-ennobled James Stewart, Earl of Arran, was imprisoned at Dupplin, Stirling, Ruthven (Huntingtower) and then confined at his own Kinneil House.

Among the rest of the nobility, the Ruthven regime was opposed by the Earls of Huntly, Crawford, Morton (Maxwell) and Sutherland and the Lords Livingston, Seton, Ogilvy, Ochiltree and Doune, all of whom were reported to support Arran and Lennox.

Policy

James VI of Scotland was not enthralled by the Ruthven program of reforms.

The resultant Gowrie regime favoured what has been described as an ultra-Protestant regime and was approved by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland as the 'late act of the Scottish reformation'. It was approved by influential ministers of the Kirk of Scotland from the pulpit. These churchmen were called "Melvillians" after their spokesman, Andrew Melville. The noble leaders of the regime also included those who were "discomfited" by the fall of James Douglas, Regent Morton in 1581, and the Douglas family, which had been exiled in England, were re-instated on 28 September 1582.

The coup was also prompted by an urge to curb excessive spending at court. Because of its extravagance, the Earl of Gowrie as Lord High Treasurer of Scotland was owed £48,000. The debt was never repaid. A number of cost-saving measures for the royal household were proposed by Gowrie and his exchequer colleagues. They were described as "havand respect to the order of the hous of your hieness goudsire King James the fifth of worthie memorie and to the possibilitie [sic] of your majesties present rents", a reference to the alleged thriftiness of James V.

Lennox seems to have made himself particularly unpopular by using his office of Chamberlain to profit from merchant trade in the Scottish towns and burghs. The Ruthven Regime ordered him to leave Scotland. Lennox delayef his exile unto 22 December, when he sailed for France and never returned.

Response in England

Mary, Queen of Scots, sketched plans for her cousin Henry I, Duke of Guise to invade Scotland

Queen Elizabeth I was pleased with events and sent £1000 in September 1582 to Robert Bowes, a payment declared as the wages of the King's Guard. In response, the opponents of the Ruthven Regime, the Earls of Huntley, Argyll, Atholl, Crawford, Montrose, Arran, Lennox and Sutherland, wrote a letter from Dunkeld, near Atholl's Blair Castle, to the town of Edinburgh and described this force, funded by England, as 400 men-of-est raised to convey James VI to their "auld enemies" in England. They urged the townspeople of Edinburgh to arm themselves and to seize James, who was at Holyroodhouse, on their behalf. The people of Edinburgh did not follow up on the suggestion.

The reaction of Francis Walsingham was more circumspect. He wrote to the Earl of Shrewsbury, the keeper of Mary, Queen of Scots, with news of progress in Scotland on 26 September 1582. Walsingham thought that "thinges stand not yet in so good termes as were to be wished". He found James's own letters, and his speech in favour of the Duke of Lennox made at Stirling on 14 September, to demonstrate 'of what rare towardliness that yonge prince is, and howe dangerous an enemye therefore he would prove unto England yf he should happen to runne to any other coorse".

In September, Mary sent Jean Champhuon, sieur du Ruisseau, a brother-in-law of her secretary, Claude Nau, to the Duke of Guise to discuss possible plans. They included taking James VI to France and invading Scotland with 600 musketeers, possibly with papal funding. Mary envisaged a landing at Dumbarton Castle and the capture of Blackness Castle and Stirling Castle.

French reaction and English diplomacy

Catherine de' Medici, the French queen mother, wrote to the French ambassador in London, Michel de Castelnau, with her concerns over the capture of James and the exile of Lennox. Elizabeth I was told that Castelnau had secretly conveyed letters to Mary, Queen of Scots, and to her supporters in Scotland. Walsingham asked the ambassador in France, Henry Cobham, to advise King Henry III of France and Catherine de' Medici of the situation and that Castelnau should be more circumspect in the handling of Mary's letters. Elizabeth had no wish to foment further disquiet in Scotland after the recent disturbances.

Requests for funding

Colonel William Stewart was sent as ambassador by the Regime to England in April 1583 to ask for £10,000 and yearly £5000 as an income from the English lands of Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox, and for the ratification and renewal of the 1560 Treaty of Edinburgh. Stewart was to enquire discreetly of the succession to the English throne. Robert Bowes, the English diplomat, stayed in Edinburgh and followed events. As it seemed opportune, he was instructed by Walsingham to seek out the casket letters, which had been used to incriminate Queen Mary in 1568, but the Earl of Gowrie refused to hand them over.

French embassy

Gowrie was also courted by France and received in February 1583 an offer of a yearly pension of 100,000 crowns for the state, 2000 crowns personally and a lump sum of 10,000 crowns. Two French ambassadors, Bertrand de Salignac de la Mothe-Fénelon and François de Rocherolles, Sieur de Maineville, hoped to secure French influence over James VIs choice of bride. James gave the French ambassadors an audience in the presence of William Davidson, an English diplomat who would later deliver Mary's death warrant. The ambassadors intended to build a pro-French faction and may have offered French pensions to sympathetic nobles. Maineville remained in Scotland until May 1583. His presence and unpopularity divided the Ruthven lords and weakened their support.

Failure of Regime

Gowrie's regime was ineffectually supported by Elizabeth I and Walsingham. After ten months, James gained his freedom at St Andrews in July 1583. He first stayed at the New Inns of St Andrews but was persuaded to sleep in St Andrews Castle. The faction against the Regime was there in strength, the Lords Enterprisers were dismissed from court and a number of their followers who were salaried court servants were removed from office.

James went to Stirling and Falkland Palace, joined Arran for a banquet at Kinneil House on 13 November and returned to Edinburgh. The Earl of Arran gained a brief ascendancy in Scottish politics. The Earl of Gowrie was pardoned, but kept plotting and was later beheaded for high treason. In November 1585, however, Arran himself was removed from public affairs.

As Elizabeth was displeased by the fall of the Regime, Walsingham was sent as ambassador to Scotland in September 1583. He spoke to James VI at Perth and was convinced that Mary's influence was dominant in Scotland and working to the young James's confusion. Walshingham wrote to Elizabeth that Mary, "though she cannot live many years", would see his overthrow.

James had not enjoyed the Ruthven government. Walsingham found him unable to take his complaints seriously. James laughed at Walsingham, "falling into a distemperture". He told Walshingham of being an "absolute King" who would order his subjects as he would "best lyke himself".

Arran and the Earl of Crawford hired Kate the Witch to disrupt Walsingham's visit with £6 and a length of plaid cloth. She stood outside the royal palaces and complained about the amity with England, the kirk and the nobility.

Last of the Oliphants

Two of those implicated in the raid, the eldest son of the Chief of Clan Oliphant, Laurence Master of Oliphant, and his brother-in-law Robert Douglas, Master of Morton, were exiled in 1584. The ship in which they sailed to France was lost at sea, and it was rumoured that their ship had been captured by a Dutch ship and that they had been killed in the fighting or drowned with their ship. Later, there were reports that they had been sold to a Turkish slave ship. In 1589, a Scot, James Hudson, with the Scottish ambassador, appealed to Francis Walsingham for his help finding the men, who were reported to be slaves in the castle of Algiers. In 1601, Robert Oliphant went to Algiers to look for his kinsmen and carried a letter of introduction to Sultan Mehmed III written by Queen Elizabeth, who also recommended her ambassador, John Wroth, to help the search.

A plaque to their memory was raised in the English church in Algiers. The 17th-century historian of the Douglas family, David Hume of Godscroft, laid the blame for their loss on Robert's mother, Agnes Leslie, Countess of Morton, for her attempt in 1584 to prevent them from supporting the Earl of Gowrie, which was considered misguided.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Ruthven, William", by T. F. Henderson, in Dictionary of National Biography, Volume 50 (Smith, Elder, & Co., 1897)
  2. Steven J. Reid, The Early Life of James VI, A Long Apprenticeship (Edinburgh: John Donald, 2023), p. 187.
  3. Steven J. Reid, 'Of bairns and bearded men: James VI and the Ruthven Raid', Miles Kerr-Peterson & Steven J. Reid, James VI and Noble Power in Scotland 1578-1603 (Routledge, 2017), pp. 32-44.
  4. Alexander Courtney, James VI, Britannic Prince: King of Scots and Elizabeth's Heir, 1566–1603 (Routledge, 2024), pp. 60–64.
  5. Calderwood, David, History of the Kirk, vol. 3 (Edinburgh: Wodrow Society, 1843), p. 637.
  6. Steven J. Reid, 'Of bairns and bearded men: James VI and the Ruthven Raid', Miles Kerr-Peterson & Steven J. Reid, James VI and Noble Power in Scotland 1578-1603 (Routledge, 2017), p. 34.
  7. David Calderwood, History of the Kirk of Scotland, vol. 3, p. 643.
  8. Steven J. Reid, 'Of bairns and bearded men: James VI and the Ruthven Raid', p. 32.
  9. David Masson, Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, vol. 4 (Edinburgh, 1881), p. xiv.
  10. Steven J. Reid, The Early Life of James VI, A Long Apprenticeship (Edinburgh: John Donald, 2023), p. 189.
  11. Steven Veerapen, The Wisest Fool: The Lavish Life of James VI and I (Birlinn, 2023), p. 66.
  12. Moysie, David, Memoirs of the Affairs of Scotland, vol. 1 (1830), p. 38.
  13. Steven J. Reid, 'Of bairns and bearded men: James VI and the Ruthven Raid', James VI and Noble Power in Scotland 1578-1603 (Routledge, 2017), p. 34.
  14. David Laing, Original letters of Mr John Colville, 1582-1603, and his Palinode, 1600 (Edinburgh: Bannatyne Club, 1858), pp. 8-9: A copy of a declaration in French by Lennox, against the "calumnies of Gowrie and his confederates", Dumbarton, 22 September 1582, is preserved in Bibliothèque nationale de France, Ms Fr. 3308, Register of Mr Pinard, item 122
  15. Book of the Universal Kirk, vol. 2, 594.
  16. Michael Lynch, Scotland: A New History (Pimlico, 1992), pp. 228, 232.
  17. Steven J. Reid, 'Of bairns and bearded men: James VI and the Ruthven Raid', Miles Kerr-Peterson & Steven J. Reid, James VI and Noble Power in Scotland 1578-1603 (Routledge, 2017), p. 35.
  18. Julian Goodare, 'Debts of James VI', in Economic History Review, 64: 4 (November 2009), pp. 934-936: William K. Boyd, Calendar of State Papers Scotland, vol. 6 (Edinburgh, 1910), 240.
  19. Steven J. Reid, 'Of bairns and bearded men: James VI and the Ruthven Raid', Miles Kerr-Peterson & Steven J. Reid, James VI and Noble Power in Scotland 1578-1603 (Routledge, 2017), pp. 41-2.
  20. National Archives of Scotland, E34/36 Scheme for ordering the household November 1582: See Amy Juhala, The Court and Household of James VI, University of Edinburgh PhD (2000), 39-47, Edinburgh Research Archive
  21. Steven J. Reid, 'Of bairns and bearded men: James VI and the Ruthven Raid', Miles Kerr-Peterson & Steven J. Reid, James VI and Noble Power in Scotland 1578-1603 (Routledge, 2017), pp. 38, 40.
  22. CSP Scotland, vol. 6 (Edinburgh, 1910), p. 185 no. 186
  23. CSP Scotland, vol. 6 (Edinburgh, 1910), no. 177
  24. Dynfnallt Owen, ed., HMC 58, Manuscripts Marquess of Bath, vol. 5 (London, HMSO, 1980), p. 39: W. K. Boyd, Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 6 (Edinburgh, 1910), pp. 169-170, no. 169.
  25. William Barclay Turnbull, Letters of Mary Stuart (London, 1845), pp. 307-311.
  26. Les Mémoires de messire Michel de Castelnau, seigneur de Mauvissière, vol. 1 (Paris, 1731), pp. 699-700
  27. Arthur John Butler, Calendar of State Papers, Foreign Series, 1582, vol. 16 (London, 1909), no. 357.
  28. William Boyd, Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 6 (Edinburgh, 1910), 410-415.
  29. Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 6 (Edinburgh, 1910), 300-1.
  30. Steven J. Reid, 'Of bairns and bearded men: James VI and the Ruthven Raid', Miles Kerr-Peterson & Steven J. Reid, James VI and Noble Power in Scotland 1578-1603 (Routledge, 2017), pp. 43-44, 46.
  31. Moysie, David, vol.1 (1830), p.46
  32. CSP Scotland, vol.6 (1910), p.603, 611
  33. Thomas Thomson, History of the Kirk of Scotland by David Calderwood, vol. 4 (Edinburgh, 1843), p. 442
  34. Register Privy Council of Scotland, vol.3 (1880), p.348, 365, 664, 669
  35. Markham-Thorpe, Calendar Scottish Papers vol.2 (1858), p.570 no.103: CSP Scotland, vol.10 (1906), pp.224-5
  36. Marcus, Mueller, Rose, edd., Elizabeth I: Collected Works, University of Chicago (2000), p.400 no.100
  37. Reid, David, ed. (2005), David Hume of Godscroft's History of the House of Angus, vol. 2, STS, p. 313

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