Henry Erskine, Master of Cardross facts for kids

Henry Erskine, Master of Cardross (died 1628) was an important Scottish landowner. He was the son of John Erskine, Earl of Mar (1558–1634) and Marie Stewart. Henry lived during a time of change in Scotland and Europe. He was known for his travels and his family's connections to powerful people.

Early Life and Family

Henry Erskine was born into a very important Scottish family. His father, John Erskine, was the Earl of Mar. This meant his family owned a lot of land and had a lot of influence. His mother was Marie Stewart.

In 1608, Henry might have taken part in a special performance called Lord Haddington's masque. A masque was a type of play with music, dancing, and costumes, often performed for royalty.

Travels and Adventures

From 1618 to 1620, Henry Erskine and his brother, Alexander Erskine, went on a long trip called a Grand Tour. This was a common journey for young noblemen to learn about other cultures. They traveled through France and Italy, visiting many famous cities. While in Venice, Italy, they met a well-known English diplomat named Henry Wotton.

News from London

In March 1624, Henry was in London and wrote to his father about important news from the English Parliament. At this time, a big decision was made to stop the plan for the future King of England (Prince Charles) to marry a Spanish princess. This plan was known as the Spanish Match.

Henry's brother, Alexander, was also busy. He was helping to gather a group of Scottish horsemen to join the army of the Prince of Orange. The Prince of Orange was a powerful leader in the Netherlands.

Marriage Plans

Elizabeth of Bohemia, who was the daughter of King James VI and I, had an idea for Henry or his brother Alexander. She suggested that one of them should marry one of her ladies-in-waiting. A lady-in-waiting was a female assistant to a queen or princess. The lady she suggested was Mistress Margaret Croft. Margaret was the daughter of Sir Herbert Croft. However, this marriage plan never happened.

In 1626, Henry Erskine married Margaret Bannatyne or Bellenden. She was the daughter of Sir James Bellenden of Broughton.

His Son and Legacy

Henry and Margaret had a son named David Erskine. After Henry's death, David became the next Lord Cardross. In 1646, David married Anne Hope, whose father was Sir Thomas Hope.