John Leslie, 6th Earl of Rothes
Encyclopedia
John Leslie, 6th Earl of Rothes (1600 – 23 August 1641) was a Scottish nobleman, one of the main leaders of the Covenanters.
, he was the only son of James Leslie, Master of Rothes (died 1607) and Katherine Drummond, his second wife. In 1621 he was served heir to his grandfather, Andrew Leslie, 5th Earl of Rothes
, who died in 1611.
Rothes was one of the commissioners at the parliament of 1621 who voted against the five articles of Perth
. In 1626 he was sent to London, along with other commissioners, to petition against the Act of Revocation of 12 October 1625, by which church property in the hands of laymen reverted to the crown. At first the king spoke against the petition as too high a strain from petitioners and subjects,, but ultimately commissioners were appointed by which a compromise was arrived at.
At the opening of parliament on the visit of Charles to Scotland in 1633, Rothes bore the sceptre
, but then he resolutely opposed the king's ecclesiastical policy. He denounced the act which joined an acknowledgment of the royal prerogative
with an acknowledgment of the king's authority to determine the apparel of the judges, magistrates, and the clergy, as an encroachment on the ecclesiastical prerogatives of the kirk. The king, however, refused to have the bill divided. A majority of the votes declared in its favour, and Rothes's attempt to challenge the correctness of the numbers was overruled by Charles. At the closing of parliament on 20 June 1633, William Cunningham, 9th Earl of Glencairn took the place of Rothes in bearing the sceptre, and Charles was at his chilliest with Rothes and his friends.
Rothes headed the opposition to the proposed introduction of the Book of Common Prayer
into the services of the kirk in 1638, and was active against episcopacy. Early in 1639 he addressed a circular letter to the noblemen and gentlemen who had been neutrals, urging them to take a stand on behalf of the liberties of the kirk. Along with John Campbell, 1st Earl of Loudoun
and John Elphinstone, 2nd Lord Balmerino
he undertook the revision of the new version of the covenant drawn up by Johnstone of Warriston and Alexander Henderson
. He was one of the deputation who met the Marquis of Hamilton
, the king's commissioner to the assembly, on his arrival to the assembly; and when the assembly was dissolved by the commissioner he presented a protest against its dissociation. In case of the rejection of the king's demands, Hamilton had threatened that Charles would march north to Scotland, and Rothes joined his kinsman Alexander Leslie in preparing for armed resistance. Leslie drilled Rothes's dependents and followers in Fife, while Rothes advised on the purchase of arms and accoutrements in Holland, and the recall of experienced Scottish officers serving in foreign countries. On 22 March Rothes and other nobles, with one thousand musketeers, went to the palace of Lord-treasurer Traquair at Dalkeith, seized much ammunition and arms, and brought the royal ensigns of the kingdom (the crown, sword and sceptre) to Edinburgh Castle
. On 7 April the King issued a proclamation excepting leaders of the covenanters, including Rothes, from pardon.
Rothes accompanied the army of General David Leslie in June to Dunse Lew, and was one of the commissioners appointed to treat with the king. When the king's declaration was read by the herald on 24 June at Edinburgh, Rothes and other covenanting noblemen gave notice that they adhered to the assembly of Glasgow, but the herald refused to accept their protestation. The covenanters were slow to disband their forces, and their leaders were again summoned to confer with Charles at Berwick
. Rothes was the principal spokesman of the opposition, and the king denounced him angrily.
At the parliament held in Edinburgh in the following September Rothes was chosen a lord of the articles . Rothes and the covenanting noblemen sent a letter to the king of France, asking his aid against England, but it was intercepted in April, and was sent to the king. The Scots anticipated Charles's war plans by invading England, and on 27 August 1640 Rothes, in command of a regiment, and as one of the committee of the estates, accompanied Leslie's army across the River Tweed
; according to Gilbert Burnet
, the Scots were encourage by a message sent by Viscount Savile
, for three people: Rothes, the Earl of Argyll
, and Johnstone of Warrington. After the occupation of Newcastle
, Rothes was one of the commissioners sent to London in November to conclude the negotiations after the Treaty of Ripon
, and after the pacification was arranged he remained in England at the court of Charles. There he hoped to obtain office in the royal household, and to marry Christian Cavendish, Countess of Devonshire
. In August 1641 he was a factor in the plans Charles had to venture into Scotland, expecting his help. But he died quickly of consumption
, at Richmond, Surrey, on 23 August. He was buried at Leslie, Fife, on 31 November.
and Mary Stewart, Countess of Mar. John and Anne had three children:
Attribution
Life
Born in Leslie, FifeLeslie, Fife
Leslie is a large village on the northern tip of the River Leven Valley, to the west of Glenrothes in Fife. According to the population estimates , the village has a population of 3,092. The village was granted burgh of barony status by James II in 1458 for George Leslie who became the first Earl...
, he was the only son of James Leslie, Master of Rothes (died 1607) and Katherine Drummond, his second wife. In 1621 he was served heir to his grandfather, Andrew Leslie, 5th Earl of Rothes
Andrew Leslie, 5th Earl of Rothes
Andrew Leslie, 5th Earl of Rothes was a Scottish nobleman. He was the son of George Leslie, 4th Earl of Rothes, and his third wife Agnes Somerville, daughter of Sir John Somerville of Cambusnethan and Elizabeth Carmichael. He succeeded his father as 5th Earl in 1558...
, who died in 1611.
Rothes was one of the commissioners at the parliament of 1621 who voted against the five articles of Perth
Five Articles of Perth
The Five Articles of Perth was an attempt by King James VI of Scotland to impose practices on the Church of Scotland in an attempt to integrate it with the episcopalian Church of England...
. In 1626 he was sent to London, along with other commissioners, to petition against the Act of Revocation of 12 October 1625, by which church property in the hands of laymen reverted to the crown. At first the king spoke against the petition as too high a strain from petitioners and subjects,, but ultimately commissioners were appointed by which a compromise was arrived at.
At the opening of parliament on the visit of Charles to Scotland in 1633, Rothes bore the sceptre
Sceptre
A sceptre is a symbolic ornamental rod or wand borne in the hand by a ruling monarch as an item of royal or imperial insignia.-Antiquity:...
, but then he resolutely opposed the king's ecclesiastical policy. He denounced the act which joined an acknowledgment of the royal prerogative
Royal Prerogative
The royal prerogative is a body of customary authority, privilege, and immunity, recognized in common law and, sometimes, in civil law jurisdictions possessing a monarchy as belonging to the sovereign alone. It is the means by which some of the executive powers of government, possessed by and...
with an acknowledgment of the king's authority to determine the apparel of the judges, magistrates, and the clergy, as an encroachment on the ecclesiastical prerogatives of the kirk. The king, however, refused to have the bill divided. A majority of the votes declared in its favour, and Rothes's attempt to challenge the correctness of the numbers was overruled by Charles. At the closing of parliament on 20 June 1633, William Cunningham, 9th Earl of Glencairn took the place of Rothes in bearing the sceptre, and Charles was at his chilliest with Rothes and his friends.
Rothes headed the opposition to the proposed introduction of the Book of Common Prayer
Book of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is the short title of a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion, as well as by the Continuing Anglican, "Anglican realignment" and other Anglican churches. The original book, published in 1549 , in the reign of Edward VI, was a product of the English...
into the services of the kirk in 1638, and was active against episcopacy. Early in 1639 he addressed a circular letter to the noblemen and gentlemen who had been neutrals, urging them to take a stand on behalf of the liberties of the kirk. Along with John Campbell, 1st Earl of Loudoun
John Campbell, 1st Earl of Loudoun
John Campbell, 1st Earl of Loudoun was a Scottish politician. He was the eldest son of James Campbell of LawersJohn Campbell married Margaret, the daughter of George Campbell around 1620. Margaret was heir to her grandfather Hugh Campbell, first Lord Loudoun, who resigned his peerage in John's...
and John Elphinstone, 2nd Lord Balmerino
John Elphinstone, 2nd Lord Balmerino
John Elphinstone, 2nd Lord Balmerino was a Scottish aristocrat, convicted in a celebrated trial of the 1630s which became a crux of the religious issue of the time.-Early life:...
he undertook the revision of the new version of the covenant drawn up by Johnstone of Warriston and Alexander Henderson
Alexander Henderson (theologian)
Alexander Henderson was a Scottish theologian, and an important ecclesiastical statesman of his period. He is considered the second founder of the Reformed Church in Scotland, and its Presbyterian churches are largely indebted to him for the forms of their dogmas and organization.-Life:He was born...
. He was one of the deputation who met the Marquis of Hamilton
James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton
General Sir James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton KG was a Scottish nobleman and influential Civil war military leader.-Young Arran:...
, the king's commissioner to the assembly, on his arrival to the assembly; and when the assembly was dissolved by the commissioner he presented a protest against its dissociation. In case of the rejection of the king's demands, Hamilton had threatened that Charles would march north to Scotland, and Rothes joined his kinsman Alexander Leslie in preparing for armed resistance. Leslie drilled Rothes's dependents and followers in Fife, while Rothes advised on the purchase of arms and accoutrements in Holland, and the recall of experienced Scottish officers serving in foreign countries. On 22 March Rothes and other nobles, with one thousand musketeers, went to the palace of Lord-treasurer Traquair at Dalkeith, seized much ammunition and arms, and brought the royal ensigns of the kingdom (the crown, sword and sceptre) to Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is a fortress which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock. Human habitation of the site is dated back as far as the 9th century BC, although the nature of early settlement is unclear...
. On 7 April the King issued a proclamation excepting leaders of the covenanters, including Rothes, from pardon.
Rothes accompanied the army of General David Leslie in June to Dunse Lew, and was one of the commissioners appointed to treat with the king. When the king's declaration was read by the herald on 24 June at Edinburgh, Rothes and other covenanting noblemen gave notice that they adhered to the assembly of Glasgow, but the herald refused to accept their protestation. The covenanters were slow to disband their forces, and their leaders were again summoned to confer with Charles at Berwick
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed or simply Berwick is a town in the county of Northumberland and is the northernmost town in England, on the east coast at the mouth of the River Tweed. It is situated 2.5 miles south of the Scottish border....
. Rothes was the principal spokesman of the opposition, and the king denounced him angrily.
At the parliament held in Edinburgh in the following September Rothes was chosen a lord of the articles . Rothes and the covenanting noblemen sent a letter to the king of France, asking his aid against England, but it was intercepted in April, and was sent to the king. The Scots anticipated Charles's war plans by invading England, and on 27 August 1640 Rothes, in command of a regiment, and as one of the committee of the estates, accompanied Leslie's army across the River Tweed
River Tweed
The River Tweed, or Tweed Water, is long and flows primarily through the Borders region of Great Britain. It rises on Tweedsmuir at Tweed's Well near where the Clyde, draining northwest, and the Annan draining south also rise. "Annan, Tweed and Clyde rise oot the ae hillside" as the Border saying...
; according to Gilbert Burnet
Gilbert Burnet
Gilbert Burnet was a Scottish theologian and historian, and Bishop of Salisbury. He was fluent in Dutch, French, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. Burnet was respected as a cleric, a preacher, and an academic, as well as a writer and historian...
, the Scots were encourage by a message sent by Viscount Savile
Thomas Savile, 1st Earl of Sussex
Thomas Savile, 1st Earl of Sussex Thomas Savile was born on 14 September 1590, the son of John Savile, 1st Baron Savile of Pomfret and Elizabeth Cary. He was baptised at Doddington-Pigot in the English county of Cheshire....
, for three people: Rothes, the Earl of Argyll
Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll
Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll, 8th Earl of Argyll, chief of Clan Campbell, was the de facto head of government in Scotland during most of the conflict known as the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, also known as the British Civil War...
, and Johnstone of Warrington. After the occupation of Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, Rothes was one of the commissioners sent to London in November to conclude the negotiations after the Treaty of Ripon
Treaty of Ripon
The Treaty of Ripon was an agreement signed by Charles I, King of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Scottish Covenanters on 26 October 1640, in the aftermath of the Second Bishops' War...
, and after the pacification was arranged he remained in England at the court of Charles. There he hoped to obtain office in the royal household, and to marry Christian Cavendish, Countess of Devonshire
Christian Cavendish, Countess of Devonshire
Christian Cavendish, Countess of Devonshire was an influential Anglo-Scottish landowner and royalist.-Life:She was the daughter of Edward Bruce, 1st Lord Kinloss. In token of her father's services she received, on her marriage to William Cavendish from King James I a grant of £10,000...
. In August 1641 he was a factor in the plans Charles had to venture into Scotland, expecting his help. But he died quickly of consumption
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
, at Richmond, Surrey, on 23 August. He was buried at Leslie, Fife, on 31 November.
Works
Rothes was the author of a Short Relation of Proceedings concerning the affairs of Scotland from August 1637 to July 1638, printed by the Bannatyne Club in 1830.Children
On 28 December 1614 he married Lady Anne Erskine, daughter of Sir John Erskine, 18th Earl of MarJohn Erskine, 18th Earl of Mar
John Erskine, 2nd Earl of Mar was a Scottish politician, the only son of John Erskine, 1st Earl of Mar. Together with King James VI of Scotland he was educated by George Buchanan...
and Mary Stewart, Countess of Mar. John and Anne had three children:
- Lady Mary Leslie (born before 1625) married Hugh Montgomerie, 7th Earl of Eglinton
- John Leslie, 1st Duke of RothesJohn Leslie, 1st Duke of RothesJohn Leslie , son of John Leslie, 6th Earl of Rothes, was the 7th Earl of Rothes and 1st Duke of Rothes. He was a descendant of Princess Beatrix, sister of King Malcolm III of Scotland...
(1630–1681) married Lady Anne Crawford–Lindsay - Lady Margaret Leslie (born before 1632 – died in February, 1688) married (1) Alexander Leslie, lord Balgony (2) Francis Scott, 2nd Earl of BuccleuchFrancis Scott, 2nd Earl of BuccleuchFrancis Scott, 2nd Earl of Buccleuch was the son of Walter Scott, 1st Earl of Buccleuch.On 25 July 1646, he married Lady Margaret Leslie, daughter of John Leslie, 6th Earl of Rothes and they had three children:...
(3) David Wemyss, 2nd Earl of WemyssDavid Wemyss, 2nd Earl of WemyssDavid Wemyss, 2nd Earl of Wemyss was an army officer.Only son of John Wemyss, 1st Earl of Wemyss and Jean Gray , daughter of Lord Gray....
.
External links
- A Relation of Proceedings Concerning the Affairs of the Kirk of Scotland, from August 1637 to July 1638, by John, Earl of Rothes.
Attribution