John Erskine, Earl of Mar (died 1572) facts for kids
John Erskine, 1st Earl of Mar (died 28 October 1572) was an important Scottish noble and politician. He was in charge of the young King James VI of Scotland and later became the Regent (a ruler for a king who is too young) of Scotland.
John Erskine was the son of John Erskine, 5th Lord Erskine and Lady Margaret Campbell. His father was a guardian for King James V and later for Mary, Queen of Scots.
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John Erskine's Life and Work
John Erskine became the head of Dryburgh Abbey in 1547. He took over from his father as the 6th Lord Erskine in 1552. Erskine joined the religious reformers in 1559. These reformers wanted to change the church in Scotland. He even signed a letter asking the church leader John Knox to return to Scotland in 1557.
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Erskine was in charge of Edinburgh Castle during a difficult time. This was when the regent, Mary of Guise, was fighting with the Lords of the Congregation. Erskine always tried to keep the peace during this conflict.
When Mary, Queen of Scots, came back to Scotland in 1561, Lord Erskine was part of her council. He supported her marriage to Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley. His wife was Annabella Murray. She was the daughter of William Murray of Tullibardine. Annabella was often with Queen Mary.
In 1565, Queen Mary gave Erskine the title of Earl of Mar. This meant he became the Earl of Mar. Before this, Mary's half-brother, James Stewart, held the title. John Erskine is seen as both the 18th Earl and the 1st Earl, depending on how the title's history is counted.
Mar became the Sheriff of Stirlingshire and the Keeper of Stirling Castle on July 18, 1566. He was also in charge of the parks nearby. He became the guardian of Queen Mary's son, James, at Stirling Castle on March 19, 1567. He made sure the young prince was safe from Lord Bothwell.
When Scottish nobles rose against Mary and Bothwell, Mar was one of their leaders. He helped govern Scotland after Mary was imprisoned at Lochleven Castle. She then gave up her crown. In December 1568, Regent Moray asked Mar to fix the main entrance of Stirling Castle. When Mary escaped from Lochleven on May 5, 1568, Regent Moray told Mar to make Stirling Castle even more secure.
Becoming Regent of Scotland
On September 5, 1571, John Erskine was chosen as the Regent of Scotland. This meant he would rule the country because the king, James VI, was still a child. However, James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton had a lot of influence over him.
One of Mar's first actions was to execute two prisoners, George Bell and George Calder. Bell had helped the Queen's men in a raid on Stirling. Calder was thought to have shot Regent Lennox.
The Marian Civil War was still going on. Mar went to Leith and got ready to attack Edinburgh Castle. The castle was held by William Kirkcaldy of Grange, who supported Queen Mary. Mar brought cannons from other castles like Dumbarton Castle, Stirling, Dundee, and Dunbar. He fired the cannons at the town wall, causing damage. But Mar eventually gave up and went back to Leith. He asked Queen Elizabeth I of England for military help.
The King's side faced some setbacks. At Aberdeen, the Forbes family's forces were defeated at the battle of Craibstone. Broughty Castle near Dundee was also captured. Queen Elizabeth sent two ambassadors to Scotland. One spoke with Regent Mar, and the other with the Laird of Grange in Edinburgh Castle.
Mar stayed in touch with English officials like William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley and William Drury. On August 1, 1572, he agreed to a two-month truce with Queen Mary's supporters. This truce was called an "Abstinence." In September, he wrote about the truce to Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox. He also mentioned a mint operating in Edinburgh Castle by his enemies. Mar told her that her grandson, the six-year-old James VI, would soon be able to speak to her himself. Queen Elizabeth wrote to Mar on October 2, congratulating him on becoming Regent. She also discussed Mary, Queen of Scots, trying to regain power. Elizabeth urged Mar to punish anyone involved in the murder of Regent Lennox.
Death of John Erskine
John Erskine died at Stirling on October 29, 1572. He had been sick for a short time. Most people agreed that he died of natural causes. However, some people believed he might have been poisoned by the Earl of Morton. James Melville, a writer of the time, said Mar's illness started after a dinner at Dalkeith Palace hosted by Morton.
King James VI continued to care for Annabella Murray, Mar's wife. He called her "Minnie." She later became the governess for his son, Prince Henry, at Stirling Castle.
Buildings and Possessions
John Erskine started building a house in Stirling called 'Mar's Wark'. Today, it is a ruin looked after by Historic Scotland. The family also had another home called Alloa Tower. Records show he owned silver plates, table linens, and a bed with red and yellow silk curtains. The bedposts were made of carved walnut wood.
