Laurence Oliphant, Master of Oliphant

Laurence, Master of Oliphant, was concerned (took part) in the raid of Ruthven, and on this account was in March 1584 charged, along with his brother-in-law, Robert Douglas, son of William Douglas of Lochleven, to quit the realm.

The two set sail for the continent, but never reached it. According to Calderwood's History of the Church in Scotland," ‘they perished by the way, and were never seen again, they, nor ship, nor any belonging thereunto. The manner is uncertain, but the most common report was that, being invaded by Hollanders or Flusingers, and fighting valiantly, slew one of the principal of their number, in revenge whereof they were all sunk, or, as others report, after they had rendered, they were hanged upon the mast of the ship.'

Another report was that they had been made slaves by the Turks, and detained in captivity in the town of Algiers on the coast of Barbary (Cal. Scottish State Papers, 1509–1603, pp. 431, 570).