Patrick Ruthven, Lord Ruthven

PATRICK, LORD RUTHVEN

Patrick, third Lord Ruthven, born about 1520, and educated at St. Andrews. He was one of the most noted nobles in the reign of Queen Mary, belonging to the party which sided with the Reformers. He was an adherent of Darnley, and was the principal actor in the murder of Riccio, 9 March 1566, having risen from a sick-bed for the purpose. After the murder he fled to England, where he died at Newcastle on 13 June 1566. The Scots Peerage IV: 261

First Marriage

Patrick, third Lord Ruthven, married, first, before 8 August 1546, Janet Douglas, natural daughter of Archibald, Earl of Angus, by a daughter of Stewart of Traquair."The Scots Peerage IV: 261

Second Marriage

Patrick, third Lord Ruthven, married secondly, 1557, Janet Stewart, Lady Methven, eldest daughter of John, second Earl of Atholl, married, first, to Alexander, Master of Sutherland; secondly, to Sir Hugh Kennedy of Girvanmains ; and thirdly, to Henry Stewart, first Lord Methven, third husband of Margaret Tudor, the Queen-Dowager. The Scots Peerage IV: 261

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

1560: "at the campe betuix Leitht and Edyndrucht". Discharge by Alexander Blair, chamberlain and granitor of Scone, to Constance Snell in Scone, of the teinds of Braco, Warkland and Hoill. Witnesses: Patrick, Lord Ruthven; John Halyburtoun; John Narn. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Smythe Family of Methven, Perthshire, reference GD190/3/102

                   2

1561: Letters of renunciation by Patrick, Lord Ruthven in favour of Archibald, earl of Angus, of the lands and regality of Abirnethy in the sheriffdom of Perth, of which he had a charter from deceased George Douglas, natural son of the late Archibald, earl of Angus. National Records of Scotland, Writs Relating to Properties in Perthshire and Forfarshire, reference GD111/3/11

                   3

23 September 1562: Charter a me by Andrew Quhite, burgess of Perth, to Catherine Ruthven, spouse of Sir Colin Campbell of Glenurquhaie, in liferent, and to said Sir Colin and his heirs, in fee, of 4 merkland of old extent of Wester Balloch alias Balleualstoun, in lordship of Deschoir and Toyer, sheriffdom of Perth. Witnesses: Alexander Ruthven, brother of Patrick, lord Ruthven, Patrick Robertsoun of Williamtoun, James Ruthven, (faded) Bane McNab, sir John ?Sympsoun and sir William Ramsay, notaries. Signed by granter; seal damaged on tag.National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Campbell Family, Earls of Breadalbane (Breadalbane Muniments), reference GD112/1/844

                   4

11 April 1563: Charter of confirmation by Patrick, lord Ruthven. Records of Scotland, Papers of the Brooke Family of Biel, reference GD6/97

                   5

21 January 1564: Extract decreet of removing at the instance of Patrick, lord Ruthven, Alexander, lord Hume, and Andrew Ker of Fawdounsyde, heritors of the lordship of Dirltoun, against Robert Ker of Wodheid, Isobel Hume, his spouse, William Ker, their eldest son and heir, Sir Thomas Ker of Phairnyhirst, Robert Oliveir in Northberwik, Alexander Nicolsoun, Patrick Falie, Gilbert Falie, William Mcclellane, Bernard Howie, David Zoung, Adam Thomesoun and Gilbert Thurebrand, occupiers of the Mains, Eist Lynkis and Warrane of Dirletone. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Brooke Family of Biel, reference GD6/103

                   6

21 July 1563: Charter of confirmation by Patrick, lord Ruthven. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Brooke Family of Biel, reference GD6/100

                   7

20 August 1564: Feu charter containing precept of sasine, by Patrick, lord Ruthven, to Mr David Borthuik of Lochhill, in liferent, and David Borthuik, his eldest son, in fee, of the husbandland in the territory of Eist Fentoun, presently occupied by Adam Forres, indweller in the town of Eist Fentoun. [Granter's signature and seal, completely defaced]. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Brooke Family of Biel, reference GD6/109

                   8

18 March 1564-65: Instrument of sasin following on precept of sasine by Patrick, Lord Ruthven, in similar terms to no 405, dated 1 March 1562. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Earls of Glasgow (Crawford Priory), reference GD20/1/407

                   9

21 March 1564-65: Patrick, 3rd lord Ruthven, Edinburgh, to the laird of Glenurquhay, his brother in law. Has received recipient's letter with copy of the earl of Argyll's letter; "quhen I spek with my lord of Argyle he gef als gud wordis as evir he gef bot quhat followis thairon God knawis bot I am hard of trust as sant Thomas wes, as to your freindis of courte ye stand to them as ye were wount & he & I hes resonit oft anewcht anent the slachter of Drummond for it wes giff ye to understand that the were your servandis that committit the slauchter & tene out of your houss to the deyd doing & hes bein furneist & resayt within your boundis sensine". National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Campbell Family, Earls of Breadalbane (Breadalbane Muniments), reference GD112/39/54

                  10

25 April 1565: Instrument of sasine by William, master of Ruthven, bailie in that part of Patrick, lord Ruthven, in favour of Agnes Nicholsoun and Robert Angus, her husband, of a tenement and yard on the north side of the Towne Grene of Dirltoun, between the lands of the abbacy of Dryburgh on the west and of Laurence Strageth on the east, and of an acre of land of the north thereof, lying between the lands of Robert Haistye on the east and Laurence Shagislye on the west and the common of Dyrltoun on the north. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Brooke Family of Biel, reference GD6/111

                  11

27 July 1565: Letters of four forms at instance of John Levingstoun of Salcoittis, Patrick Congiltoun of that ilk, John Hepburn, his tutor, Andrew Murray of Blakbarony, Adam Hepburne of Kyngistoun, Margaret Dunce, Patrick Hepburn, her spouse, Patrick Quitlaw of that ilk, David Borthuik of Lochthill, Patrick, lord Lyndesay of the Byris, John Sydsarf of that ilk and James Heriot of Traben, against Patrick, lord Ruthven, Alexander Robesoun, yr, in Dirltoun, Alexander Tod, son of George Tod, Henry Nicolsoun and Alexander Nicolsoun there, William Schawes in West Fentoun, George Scheves, his brother, John Craig in Gulane, William, master of Ruthuen, Andrew Ker of Fawdonsyde, James Haliburtoun of Cokilmyln, Alexander Robesoun, George Tod, Edward Nicolsoun, Andrew Hude, John Robesoun, Alexander Robesoun, his brother, Archibald Sande and John Gylour, charging them to refrain from molesting the complainers in the possession of their respective lands and commonty in and round the South Loch of Dirltoun. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Brooke Family of Biel, reference GD6/112

                  12

31 October [1565]: Patrick, 3rd lord Ruthven, Ruthven, to Colin Campbell of Glenurquhay, his brother in law. In similar terms to the previous letter; summons against recipient to compeir before the king and queen at instance of the laird of Tullybarne, who will not fail to get letters to charge the Earl of Atholl to take recipient's house, supposing he is put to the horn; "ye haife mony fois & few frindis". National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Campbell Family, Earls of Breadalbane (Breadalbane Muniments), reference GD112/39/5/7

                  13

[c. 1565]: Patrick, 3rd Lord Ruthven, Ruthven, to Katherine Ruthven, lady Glenurchay, his sister. Has spoken to Lord Atholl "& resonyt at lencht with hym": thinks he may be persuaded to refer differences with Glenorchy to Arrell, Drummond, Tullibardin and some of the Glengregor; "as to the lettres that wes purchaisit aganis the lard my broder I wes in the merss at the tyme thai wer purchaisit & hard no word of thame quhill I resavit your wrettyne," has written to the sheriff at more length; asks on what day the laird was summoned or else for a copy of the summons. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Campbell Family, Earls of Breadalbane (Breadalbane Muniments), reference GD112/39/5/6

                  14

5 November [1565]: Patrick, 3rd lord Ruthven, Ruthven, to Katherine Ruthven, lady Glenurchay, his sister. Conversation with Lord Atholl, who is "of guid mynd towart your husband And ... promest to me to haif the laird of Innermarky this day at me with ane byll to the laird of Tullybarne to stay hym that he eximit na lettres apoun the laird in hope of agreans". National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Campbell Family, Earls of Breadalbane (Breadalbane Muniments), reference GD112/39/5/9

                  15

23 December 1565: Patrick, 3rd lord Ruthven, Edinburgh, to Katherine Ruthven, lady Glenurquhay, his sister. Has thanked Lord Atholl and Lord Bodweill for their goodness to recipient; has not yet spoken to the queen but will do so. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Campbell Family, Earls of Breadalbane (Breadalbane Muniments), reference GD112/39/5/12

                  16

17 January 1565-66: Patrick, 3rd lord Ruthven, Edinburgh, to the laird of Glenurquha, his brother in law. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Campbell Family, Earls of Breadalbane (Breadalbane Muniments), reference GD112/39/6/1

Evidence from the Laing Charters

                   1

19 December 1562: Precept of clare constat issued by Patrick, Lord Ruthven, son and heir of the late noble lady Jonet Haliburton. Calendar of the Laing Charters, A.D.854-1837, belonging to the University of Edinburgh. Edited by the Reverend John Anderson (James Thin, Edinburgh, 1899), charter number 749 on p. 191

                   2

7 December 1564: Ibidem: charter number 780 on p. 198

                   3

20 April 1565: Ibidem, charter number 784 on pp. 198-99

Genealogy

The Scots Peerage IV: 261-2

Biographical Summary by Darryl Lundy's Peerage

Patrick Ruthven, 3rd Lord Ruthven was the son of William Ruthven, 2nd Lord Ruthven and Janet Halyburton, Lady Dirletoun. He married, secondly, Lady Janet Stewart, daughter of John Stewart, 2nd Earl of Atholl and Lady Janet Campbell. He died on 13 May 1566, in exile. He succeeded to the title of 7th Lord Dirletoun. He succeeded to the title of 3rd Lord Ruthven [S., 1488] before 29 October 1552. He was invested as a Privy Counsellor (P.C.) [Scotland] in 1553. He held the office of Provost of Perth. He held the office of Hereditary Sheriff of Perthshire. He held the office of Lord Warden of the Middle March in March 1558. In 1560 he promoted the Reformation. In 1566 he was the ringleader in the assassination of Rizzio, when he rose from his sick-bed clad in black armour to lead his fellow conspirators up the secret stair to Mary Queen of Scots' apartments at Holyrood. Afterwards, he deserted his friend, the King Consort, Lord Darnley, and fled to England. He married, firstly, Janet Douglas, daughter of Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus.