John Leslie, 6th Earl of Rothes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Leslie
|
|
|---|---|
| 6th Earl of Rothes | |
 |
|
| Known for | one of the main leaders of the Covenanters |
| Born | 1600 |
| Died | 23 August 1641 |
| Spouse(s) | Lady Anne Erskine |
| Issue |
|
| Father | James Leslie, Master of Rothes |
| Mother | Katherine Drummond |
John Leslie, 6th Earl of Rothes (born in 1600 – died on 23 August 1641) was an important Scottish nobleman. He was one of the main leaders of the Covenanters, a group who supported the Scottish Presbyterian Church.
Contents
A Young Leader
John Leslie was born in Leslie, Fife, Scotland. He was the only son of James Leslie, Master of Rothes, and Katherine Drummond. When his grandfather, Andrew Leslie, 5th Earl of Rothes, died in 1611, John became the new Earl of Rothes in 1621.
Rothes quickly became involved in Scottish politics. In 1621, he was one of the officials in the Scottish parliament who voted against the Five Articles of Perth. These were rules that changed how the Scottish church (called the kirk) practiced its religion.
Standing Up to the King
In 1626, Rothes went to London with other leaders. They wanted to speak to King Charles I about a new law. This law, called the Act of Revocation, would take back church land that was owned by regular people. The king was not happy about their request at first, but they eventually reached a compromise.
When King Charles I visited Scotland in 1633, Rothes carried the sceptre, a symbol of royal power. However, he strongly disagreed with the king's plans for the church. Rothes spoke out against a law that mixed the king's special powers with his right to decide what judges, officials, and church leaders should wear. Rothes believed this was wrong and went against the rules of the Scottish church.
The king refused to separate the two parts of the law. Even though Rothes tried to say the vote count was wrong, the king ignored him. At the end of the parliament meeting, Rothes was replaced in carrying the sceptre. The king showed he was very unhappy with Rothes and his friends.
Leading the Covenanters
Rothes became a key leader against the king's plan to introduce a new Book of Common Prayer in 1638. This new prayer book would change how church services were held in Scotland. He also strongly opposed episcopacy, which was a system where bishops led the church. Many Scots preferred a system where ministers and elders had more power.
In 1639, Rothes wrote to other noblemen, asking them to join the fight for the church's freedom. He helped revise a new version of the Covenant, an agreement to protect the Scottish church. Rothes was part of the group that met the king's representative, the Marquis of Hamilton. When the king's representative tried to close the church assembly, Rothes protested against it.
The king had threatened to march his army into Scotland if his demands were not met. So, Rothes worked with his relative, Alexander Leslie, to prepare for a fight. Leslie trained Rothes's followers in Fife. Rothes helped buy weapons from Holland and called back experienced Scottish officers who were serving in other countries.
On 22 March, Rothes and other nobles, with a thousand soldiers, went to the palace of Lord-treasurer Traquair. They took a lot of weapons and ammunition. They also brought the royal symbols of Scotland (the crown, sword, and sceptre) to Edinburgh Castle. Because of these actions, the king announced on 7 April that Rothes and other Covenanter leaders would not receive a pardon.
Conflict and Peace Talks
In June, Rothes joined General David Leslie's army at Dunse Lew. He was one of the leaders chosen to talk with the king. When the king's message was read in Edinburgh, Rothes and other Covenanter nobles stated they still supported the Glasgow church assembly. However, the messenger refused to accept their protest.
The Covenanters were slow to send their soldiers home. Their leaders were called to meet with King Charles again in Berwick-upon-Tweed. Rothes was the main spokesperson for the Covenanters, and the king became very angry with him.
At the parliament meeting in Edinburgh later that September, Rothes was chosen as a "lord of the articles." This meant he helped prepare laws for the parliament. Rothes and other Covenanter nobles sent a letter to the King of France, asking for help against England. However, the letter was stopped in April and sent to King Charles.
The Scots decided to act before King Charles could start a war. On 27 August 1640, Rothes led a group of soldiers and crossed the River Tweed into England with Leslie's army.
After taking control of Newcastle upon Tyne, Rothes was one of the leaders sent to London in November. They were there to finish the talks after the Treaty of Ripon, which aimed to bring peace. Rothes stayed in England at the king's court. He hoped to get a job in the royal household and marry Christian Cavendish, Countess of Devonshire. In August 1641, he was part of the king's plans to go to Scotland, and the king expected his help.
However, John Leslie, 6th Earl of Rothes, sadly died quickly from a lung illness (tuberculosis) on 23 August 1641, in Richmond, Surrey. He was buried in Leslie, Fife, on 31 November.
Family Life
On 28 December 1614, John Leslie married Lady Anne Erskine. She was the daughter of Sir John Erskine, Earl of Mar and Marie Stewart.
John and Anne had three children:
- Lady Mary Leslie (born before 1625) married Hugh Montgomerie, 7th Earl of Eglinton.
- John Leslie, 1st Duke of Rothes (1630–1681) married Lady Anne Crawford–Lindsay.
- Lady Margaret Leslie (born before 1632 – died in February 1688) married three times: (1) Alexander Leslie, lord Balgony; (2) Francis Scott, 2nd Earl of Buccleuch; (3) David Wemyss, 2nd Earl of Wemyss.
