John Wood (Scottish courtier) facts for kids

Master John Wood (died 1570) was an important Scottish official. He worked as a secretary and administrator for the Earl of Moray. The Earl of Moray was a powerful leader in Scotland. John Wood was sadly killed on April 15, 1570.

John Wood's Early Life and Career

John Wood was the son of Andrew Wood of Largo. He went to college at St Leonards College, which is part of the University of St Andrews. He finished his studies in 1536. Because he had a degree, people called him "Master" John Wood. Some people think he might have also been a church leader in Largo.

John Wood started working with Lord James Stewart around 1548. Lord James Stewart was the half-brother of Queen Mary. He later became known as the Earl of Moray. John Wood even traveled with him to France.

In 1560, John Wood went on an important trip to England. He was part of a group representing Scotland. During this time, he was known for supporting the Scottish Reformation. This was a big change in how the church worked in Scotland.

Working for the Kirk

In December 1560, John Wood was chosen for a special role. The first General Assembly of the Kirk (the Scottish Church) picked him. They thought he was very good at "preaching the word and ministering the sacraments." This meant he was skilled in leading church services.

In 1561, John Wood went with Lord James Stewart to France again. They were visiting Queen Mary. The English ambassador in Paris, Nicholas Throckmorton, said John Wood was a very good and capable person. He even suggested that England should pay Wood for his help.

John Wood and Queen Mary

John Knox, a famous Scottish reformer, wrote about John Wood. He said that in December 1562, Wood started working more closely with the Scottish royal court. He became a judge, called an Extraordinary Lord of Session. His title was Lord Tullidavie.

Knox also wrote that Mary, Queen of Scots did not like John Wood very much. He said Wood and another person, John Wishart, did not flatter her. They didn't praise her dancing or other activities. Knox claimed that Queen Mary thought Wood and Wishart made up stories. For example, she believed they invented her half-brother's dying wish for her to become a Protestant.

The Chaseabout Raid

In 1565, there was a rebellion against Queen Mary. It was called the Chaseabout Raid. The Earl of Moray led this rebellion. John Wood supported the Earl of Moray. Because of this, Queen Mary ordered Wood to go to Dumbarton Castle and be imprisoned. When he didn't go, he was declared a rebel. He lost his job as a judge.

During this time, John Wood went to England. He asked Queen Elizabeth I for help for the rebels. But his requests were not successful.

John Wood as Regent Moray's Secretary

John Wood stayed out of the public eye for a while. But when Queen Mary gave up her throne, the Earl of Moray became the Regent of Scotland. A Regent is someone who rules for the king or queen when they are too young or not able to rule. John Wood then became the Regent's main secretary. He was chosen over another important person, William Maitland of Lethington.

Wood was involved in many secret political missions for the Regent. He also helped make lists of Queen Mary's valuable jewels. He even took some of these jewels to England.

Investigating Queen Mary

After Queen Mary escaped to England in 1568, John Wood was sent there. The Regent wanted him to explain things to Queen Elizabeth I. The Earl of Moray believed that John Wood had copies of letters. These letters supposedly showed that Queen Mary agreed to the murder of her husband, Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley. Wood took these copies to Elizabeth I of England.

In October 1568, John Wood arrived in York, England. He joined a meeting to discuss Queen Mary and the famous Casket letters. James Melville of Halhill, another Scottish official, said Wood was a "great ringleader" at this meeting. Wood also wrote letters to William Cecil, who was England's Secretary of State. Later, at another meeting, Wood pretended not to want to accuse Queen Mary. But he let someone else present the accusations to the English council.

Later Missions

After the Regent Moray returned to Scotland in 1569, Wood went on another trip to England. This was in March 1569. He came back in June 1569. His trip was to help show the secret plans of the Duke of Norfolk. The Duke was secretly talking with Queen Mary.

To make his trip more important, John Wood tried to get a higher title. He wanted to be the Bishop of Moray. He got this title from the Regent. When he returned to Scotland, he told the Privy Council (a group of advisors) what he had done. The Regent thanked him for his work. Wood also worked with Queen Mary's servant, Servais de Condé, to check the queen's belongings.

In January 1570, a false story was spread by enemies of the Regent. It said that John Wood gave a speech telling the Regent to be harsh with his enemies. It also said Wood told the Regent to do anything to get more public support.

Wood wrote a letter from Manderston in October 1569. He described how successful the Regent Moray's military trip to western Scotland had been.

John Wood's Assassination

In January 1570, the Regent Moray was going through Linlithgow. John Wood was sent by Agnes Keith, Countess of Moray, the Regent's wife. She wanted Wood to warn her husband about a plan to kill him. But the Regent did not listen to the warning.

Wood continued to work for Agnes Keith. She was pregnant at the time. He helped arrange the Regent's funeral. He also made the agreement for the Regent's tomb. Agnes Keith wanted John Wood and her other servants to be safe in England. In March, he visited her baby daughter at Lochleven Castle.

On April 4, 1570, Wood wrote to Agnes. He said he was going to Glasgow and then would return to see her. He also mentioned that his brother, James Wood, had her important papers.

In April 1570, John Wood visited Sir William Douglas at Loch Leven. At Lochleven Castle, Wood spoke to Margret Erskine, Lady Lochleven. She was looking after Agnes Keith's daughter. Wood said the child was "merry and very lusty." The child's nurse was pregnant and wanted to go home. In Edinburgh, Sir William Douglas helped Wood check Agnes Keith's clothes at Holyrood Palace. Wood then went to St Andrews on April 4.

John Wood was killed on April 15, 1570.

Later, Arthur Forbes and his son were accused of being involved in the murder. The Hamilton family was also blamed for Wood's death. A writer named George Buchanan wrote that Wood's enemies brought men from Teviotdale to Fife to kill him.

Buchanan also wrote that John Wood was killed for no other reason than being a good servant to the crown and to his master, the Regent. He said Wood was killed by "butchers" brought from Teviotdale.