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2048. Lord John ERSKINE Earl of Mar [image] was born about 1562. He died on 14 Dec 1634 in Stirling. John married Anne DRUMMOND on 1 Nov 1580. [Parents]
"John Erskine of that Ilk, educated under Buchanan with James VI; served heir to his father in toto et integro comitatu de MAR, 3 mar 1572. 7th Earl of Mar with precedence from 1404, having proved his title from Earl Gratney, with reservation to prove an earlier title. Exiled 1583. Governor of Edinburgh Castle. Accompanied James to England. KG. Baron Cardross, 1606, with power of appointment to a son. Purchased BRAE-MAR and built the castle, 1628. + 14 Dec 1634. Ęt 77"
(from the Earls of Mar pedigree)12th Lord Garioch, 19th Earl of Mar, ancient earldom ( Burke's)
K.G.;P.C.; personal and intimate friend of James VI
Lord High Treasurer of Scotland 1616-30
Attainted 1584, restored 1585
Ambassador to England 1603
created Lord Cardross 1610 (with power of nomination), assigned the barony to his second son HenrySir John was educated with King James VI at Stirling castle by George Buchanan, his mother and Sir Alexander Erskine of Gogar. He was only 14 years old when he succeeded his father.
In Aug. 1582 John was one of the people involved in the Raid of Ruthven to get rid of the favourites Lennox and Arran. In Nov. 1585 he and the other banished lords re-entered Scotland and raising a force of 8,000 men took possession of Stirling castle and the King with the unprincipled Arran, stripped of all his titles and estates dropped into obscurity. In Dec. Parliament ratified the pardons and their honors and estates were restored.
When a widower John fell in love with Lady Mary Stewart the daughter of Lennox and cousin of the King.
In 1592 he was appointed governor of the castle at Edinburgh. At this time he held the office of Great Master of the household and was charged with the care of Prince Henry with special instructions from King James.
In the spring of 1595 the Queen insisted that the Prince should be moved from Stirling to Edinburgh castle, but Sir John who had charge of the infant would not allow her to come near him by herself since she might carry him off. In July the King formally entrusted the keeping and education of the Prince to Sir John by a warrant in his own hand. At a meeting held at Holyrood House 10 Dec. 1598 Sir John was sworn one of the council appointed to meet twice per week to assist the King with their advice.
In 1601 Sir John was sent to England as ambassador and was instrumental in making the accession of King James to the English throne smooth.
In 1603 Sir John accompanied the King on his departure for London to take possession of the throne of England. Before reaching York he had to return as the Queen had taken advantage of his absence to go to Stirling with a large group of noblemen and others and demanded that Prince Henry be given to her. The Countess of Mar refused to hand him over without an order in Sir John's own hand. The Duke of Lennox was sent from court to straighten out the affair. He arrived at Stirling castle 19 May 1603 with the King's approval of the proceedings of Sir John and his mother and was told to bring the queen and prince to England. Sir John then returned to London and on 9 July he was made a Knight of the Garter and was sworn a member of the English privy council.
In 1604 John was made Lord Cardross with the power of assigning the barony and title to any of his male heirs. The reason for this unusual privilege as stated in the grant was that he "might be in a better condition to provide for his younger sons, by Lady Mary Stewart, daughter of the Duke of Lennox and a relation of his majesty."
In 1605 Henry IV of France wrote to the Earl wishing to maintain the friendship with King James and sent John a jewel valued at 15,000 levies.
In Dec. 1616 he was appointed Lord High Treasurer of Scotland which he held until 1630. At the opening of Parliament at Edinburgh 25 July 1621 he carried the sceptre as he had often done before. In 1623 he was made a member of a commission to sit at Edinburgh for the redress of grievances, but which never took effect. He was at the proclamation of Charles I as King at the Cross of Edinburgh 31 Mar. 1625.Died on 14th december 1634, after falling over a dog in the house built by his father in Stirling (house now known as "Mar's Wark"). The weather at the time was so cold, with the ground frozen hard, that his funeral had to be postponed until following April.
2049. Anne DRUMMOND died in 1587.
Daughter of David, 2nd Lord Drummond
(from the Earls of Mar pedigree)
3072. Edward WARD was born in 1542. He died in 1583. Edward married Anne HAVERS. [Parents]
3076. Edward SUTTON Baron Dudley died on 23 Jun 1643 and was buried in Dudley. He married Theodosia HARRINGTON. [Parents]
first son by the second wife, succeeded as Baron Dudley