William Murray of Tullibardine

Last updated

William Murray of Tullibardine (died 1583) was a Scottish courtier and leader of the Clan Murray.

Contents

Family background

William Murray was the son of William Murray of Tullibardine (d. 1562) and Katherine Campbell, daughter of Sir Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy (d. 1513) and Margaret Moncreiffe.

Career

Mary, Queen of Scots, visited him at Tullibardine on 16 November 1562, [1] and on 31 December 1566. [2]

When Lord Darnley was made Lord of Ardmanoch and Earl of Ross at Stirling Castle on 15 May 1565, he was one of 14 men who were made knights. [3] Murray was given the office of foud of Shetland, a kind of bailiff in charge of collecting customs due the crown, on 29 July 1565. [4]

His brother James Murray offered to fight with the Earl of Bothwell in May 1567 to prove his guilt in the murder of Lord Darnley by combat. [5]

On 9 August 1567 the English ambassador in Edinburgh Nicholas Throckmorton interviewed Murray, trying to work out the politics of his brother-in-law, the Earl of Mar, and the intentions of the Scottish lords towards the deposed and imprisoned Mary, Queen of Scots. Tullibardine discussed how she was expendable to the Hamilton family's cause. [6]

Later that month, Murray and William Kirkcaldy of Grange took ships and chased the Earl of Bothwell to Shetland, but the earl escaped. Tullibardine continued the pursuit for a time. [7] Some of the ships came from Dundee, including the James, the Primrose, and the Robert. [8]

At the same time, his brother James Murray was made "customar" of Edinburgh, in place of James Curl, collecting taxes duties from merchants owed to the crown. [9] Tullibardine was involved, requesting James Curl return some unlawfully impounded English cloth. [10]

Murray's sister was the influential Annabell Murray, Countess of Mar (died February 1603), who was the keeper of the young James VI of Scotland at Stirling Castle. There was a story, promoted by the secretary of Mary, Queen of Scots, John Lesley, that the king found the "testament of Bothwell" in Tullibardine's papers in 1577 and was pleased to hear a story that showed his mother as innocent, for a change.

In March 1579, as Comptroller of the king's household Murray told the Privy Council that he had commissioned and made a proclamation authorising Jerome Bowie's "visiting, tasting, and uptaking of wines for his Majesty's house at reasonable prices". Several merchants failed to comply. The Provost of Edinburgh Archibald Stewart and others came to argue the merchants' case, but the Privy Council was not impressed and set prices for wines sold to Bowie. [11]

On 24 April 1579 the Earl of Atholl died shortly after attending a banquet at Stirling Castle. His wife Margaret Fleming, (who had been married to Murray's brother-in-law, Thomas Erskine, Master of Erskine), was also unwell. A rumour started that they had been poisoned. [12] Agnes Graham, the wife of William Murray of Tullibardine, wrote to Annabell Murray assuring her that the Countess of Atholl's complaints against her were "forged lies". [13]

He was Comptroller of Scotland. He resigned the office in August 1580 due to ill-health and James VI gave it to his son John. [14] The privy seal letter appointing his son as his substitute describes his faithful service and the present "inhabilitie of his persoun, being subject to infirmitie and seiknes, speciallie the gut" (gout). His wife, Agnes Graham, was also unwell, which meant that he wished to remain at home rather than attend at court. [15]

He died in 1583.

Family

William Murray married Agnes Graham, a daughter of William Graham, 2nd Earl of Montrose and Janet Keith. Their children included:

A sister of Agnes Graham, Jonet Graham, married his cousin, Andrew Murray of Balvaird and Arngask. Their children included:

John Murray of Pardewis was a brother of William Murray, the Comptroller. [18]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell</span> King consort of Scotland in 1567

James Hepburn, 1st Duke of Orkney and 4th Earl of Bothwell, better known simply as Lord Bothwell, was a prominent Scottish nobleman and briefly King consort of Scotland in 1567. He was known for his marriage to Mary, Queen of Scots, as her third and final husband. He was accused of the murder of Mary's second husband, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, a charge of which he was acquitted. His marriage to Mary was controversial and divided the country; when he fled the growing rebellion to Norway, he was arrested and lived the rest of his life imprisoned in Denmark.

John Stewart, 4th Earl of Atholl, called the Fair, was a Scottish nobleman and courtier. He was favoured by Mary, Queen of Scots, but later turned against her.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Erskine, Earl of Mar (died 1572)</span> Scottish noble

John Erskine, 1st Earl of Mar was a Scottish aristocrat and politician. He was the custodian of the infant James VI of Scotland and Regent of Scotland.

George Gordon, 5th Earl of Huntly, was Lord Chancellor of Scotland and major conspirator of his time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Kirkcaldy of Grange</span> 16th-century Scottish politician and soldier

Sir William Kirkcaldy of Grange was a Scottish politician and soldier who fought for the Scottish Reformation. He ended his career holding Edinburgh castle on behalf of Mary, Queen of Scots and was hanged at the conclusion of a long siege.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clan Murray</span> Highland Scottish clan

Clan Murray is a Highland Scottish clan. The chief of the Clan Murray holds the title of Duke of Atholl. Their ancestors were the Morays of Bothwell who established the family in Scotland in the 12th century. In the 16th century, descendants of the Morays of Bothwell, the Murrays of Tullibardine, secured the chiefship of the clan and were created Earls of Tullibardine in 1606. The first Earl of Tullibardine married the heiress to the Stewart earldom of Atholl and Atholl therefore became a Murray earldom in 1626. The Murray Earl of Atholl was created Marquess of Atholl in 1676 and in 1703 it became a dukedom. The marquess of Tullibardine title has continued as a subsidiary title, being bestowed on elder sons of the chief until they succeed him as Duke of Atholl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Janet Stewart, Lady Fleming</span> Scottish governess (1502–1562)

Janet Stewart, Lady Fleming, called la Belle Écossaise, was a Scottish courtier. She was an illegitimate daughter of King James IV of Scotland who served as governess to her half-niece Mary, Queen of Scots. Janet was briefly a mistress of King Henry II of France, by whom she had a legitimated son: Henri d'Angoulême. Her daughter, Mary Fleming, was one of the young queen's "Four Marys".

The Battle of Carberry Hill took place on 15 June 1567, near Musselburgh, East Lothian, a few miles east of Edinburgh, Scotland. A number of Scottish lords objected to the rule of Mary, Queen of Scots, after she had married the Earl of Bothwell, who was widely believed to have murdered her previous husband Lord Darnley. The Lords were intent to avenge Darnley's death. However, Bothwell escaped from the stand-off at Carberry while Queen Mary surrendered. Mary abdicated, escaped from prison, and was defeated at the battle of Langside. She went to exile in England while her supporters continued a civil war in Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Francis Stewart, 5th Earl of Bothwell</span> 16th-century Scottish nobleman

Francis Stewart, 5th Earl of Bothwell was Commendator of Kelso Abbey and Coldingham Priory, a Privy Counsellor and Lord High Admiral of Scotland. He was a notorious conspirator who led several uprisings against his first cousin, King James VI, all of which ultimately failed, and he died in poverty in Italy after being banished from Scotland. Francis's maternal uncle James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell, was the chief suspect in the murder of James VI's father Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley.

Anne Lyon, Countess of Kinghorne, was a Scottish courtier said to be the mistress of James VI of Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Murray, 1st Earl of Tullibardine</span> Scottish nobleman

John Murray, 1st Earl of Tullibardine was a Scottish courtier and leader of the Clan Murray.

John Stewart, 5th Earl of Atholl, (1563–1595) was a Scottish landowner.

Annabell Murray, Countess of Mar (1536–1603), was a Scottish landowner, courtier and royal servant, the keeper of the infant James VI and his son Prince Henry at Stirling Castle

Margaret Beaton, Lady Reres was a Scottish courtier and companion of Mary of Guise and Mary, Queen of Scots. She was blamed by the enemies of Mary, Queen of Scots, for her involvement in alleged immorality at court.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Murray, 2nd Earl of Tullibardine</span> Scottish peer

William Murray, 2nd Earl of Tullibardine was a Scottish landowner and courtier.

Margaret Fleming, Countess of Atholl (1536-1586) was a Scottish courtier and landowner rumoured to be involved in the occult. She served as lady-in-waiting to Mary, Queen of Scots.

Sir John Wishart of Pitarrow was a Scottish lawyer, courtier, comptroller of the exchequer, and rebel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Inglis (tailor)</span> Scottish tailor who served James VI of Scotland

James Inglis was a Scottish tailor who served James VI of Scotland.

Jerome Bowie was a servant of James VI of Scotland as a sommelier and Master of the Wine Cellar, in charge of the purchase and serving of wine.

Marie Ruthven, Countess of Atholl, was a Scottish aristocrat.

References

  1. ↑ Edward Furgol, 'Scottish Itinerary of Mary Queen of Scots, 1542-8 and 1561-8', PSAS, 117 (1987), microfiche, scanned
  2. ↑ George Chalmers, Life of Mary Queen of Scots, vol. 1 (London, 1818), p. 199.
  3. ↑ Julian Goodare, 'Queen Mary's Catholic Interlude', in Mary Stewart Queen in Three Kingdoms: Innes Review, vol. 37 (1987), p. 158: Calendar of State Papers Scotland, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), p. 161 no. 181.
  4. ↑ Peter Anderson, Robert Stewart, Earl of Orkney Lord of Shetland (Edinburgh: John Donald, 1982), p. 47: Gordon Donaldson, Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland, 5:2 (Edinburgh, 1957), pp. 186-7 no. 3014.
  5. ↑ Joseph Bain, Calendar State Papers Scotland: 1563-1569, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), p. 328.
  6. ↑ Calendar State Papers Scotland: 1563-1569, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), pp. 373-4, 376.
  7. ↑ David Reid, Hume of Godscroft's History of the House of Angus, vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 2005), p. 171: Agnes Strickland, Letters of Mary Queen of Scots, vol. 1 (London, 1842), pp. 244-248: Calendar State Papers Scotland: 1563-1569, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), pp. 394-5.
  8. ↑ John Hill Burton, Register of the Privy Council of Scotland: 1545-1569, vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1877), p. 544.
  9. ↑ Steven J. Reid, The Early Life of James VI, A Long Apprenticeship (Edinburgh: John Donald, 2023), p. 58-9.
  10. ↑ John Hill Burton, Register of the Privy Council of Scotland: 1545-1569, vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1877), pp. 547, 559.
  11. ↑ David Masson, Register of the Privy Council of Scotland: 1578-1585, vol. 3 (Edinburgh, 1880), pp. 116-8.
  12. ↑ George Hewitt, Scotland Under Morton (Edinburgh, 1982), pp. 70-1.
  13. ↑ John, 7th Duke of Atholl, Chronicles of the Atholl and Tullibardine families (Edinburgh, 1908), pp. 44-5.
  14. ↑ Keith Brown, Noble Power in Scotland (Edinburgh, 2011), p. 182.
  15. ↑ Gordon Donaldson, Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, vol. 7 (Edinburgh, 1966), pp. 404-5 no. 2470.
  16. ↑ David Stevenson, Scotland's Last Royal Wedding (Edinburgh, 1997), p. 121.
  17. ↑ Register of the Great Seal, 1593-1608, no. 871.
  18. ↑ RPS, 7 (Edinburgh, 1966), p. 366 no. 2221.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.