taken from The Duke Who Died Twice by David Inch.a local historian who has travelled all over Scotland and England to research the story of the Drummonds, and in particular James Drummond the 6th Earl.

Chapter 1 :Caledonian Roots are Established

The dawning of the Drummond dynasty in Scotland began in two other countries. In England, following the Norman invasion and usurpation of Harold, an Anglo-Saxon of royal blood, Edgar the Atheling, fled from William the Conqueror. Sometime around 1067 or 1068 Edgar, his mother and his two sisters, Margaret and Isabella set sail for Hungary to escape the invaders. There is some doubt as to whether they actually found refuge in Hungary before later sailing to Scotland, or whether they were driven off course and accidentally entered Scotland via the Firth of Forth. Their actual landing point is called St. Margaret's Hope.

The commander of the vessel in which they reached Scotland is accepted by most historians to have been Maurice, son of George, who was the son of King Andrew of Hungary. It is from this regal Hungarian stock that the great and noble Scottish house of Drummond is descended. There is a delightful little Library at Innerpeffray, by Crieff, in Scotland, right in the heart of Drummond country, and in this Library a detailed pedigree of the Drummonds not only identifies the Scottish starting point but also traces the Royal Hungarian line back to Attila the Hun! These ancient origins, combined with later marriages to Stuart kings of Scotland, provide the Drummonds with links to virtually every royal house in Europe.

Whether by accident or design, Edgar Atheling and his family were warmly welcomed by Canmore, Malcolm III - King of Scotland. Malcolm Canmore married Margaret Atheling, a princess in her own right and destined to be made a saint, some time later. Again, it is unclear whether travelling to Scotland, if it was deliberate on the part of Edgar, was for matrimonial purposes or for sanctuary.

The King of Scots, as a mark of his appreciation to the escort of his bride's family, reputedly made Maurice steward, or thane, of Lennox, a title still held by the Drummond chief. With this honour was bestowed, among others, the lands of Drymen on the Endrick, near to the eastern shores of Loch Lomond. It is from Drymen that the clan name is normally accepted as being derived, with clan chiefs styled in Gaelic'An Drumanach Mor' (The Great Men of Drymen). This origin is the usual genealogical account of the Drummond family and the one most widely used in written histories of the clan.

There is a second, less widely held, view that, without sufficient proof of the Hungarian/Drymen link, it is more probable that the name is derived from 'Druiman' a Celtic word used to describe inhabitants of high ground, or a ridge. This alternative view would have the Drummonds descended from a Doncha Druimanach whose life just pre-dated the Norman invasion of England. One of his descendants, Gilbert de Dromund of Dumbarton (del counte de Dunbrettan), is known to have appeared on the Ragman Roll of Scottish nobleman who submitted to Edward I in 1296. (However, Malcolm de Drummond also swore fealty to Edward at this time and he is believed to be the line of descent from Maurice.)

When coats of arms came into existence, the Drummonds adopted a device of three bars wavy, or and gules. This is said to represent the sunset waves of the North Sea, in commemoration of their ancestor's success in bringing the future Queen Margaret to Scotland. It is clear that the Drummonds themselves believed their origins lay with a Hungarian ship's captain of royal European blood.

Over the ensuing centuries the Drummonds would become one of the premier clans of Scotland. Associated with them would eventually be a number of septs including the names-.

Begg Brewer Cargill Dock Doig Grewar Gruar Gruer MacCrouther MacGrewar MacGrouther MacGruder MacGruer MacGruther MacRobbie MacRobie Mushet Robbie

For the next century and a half the Drummonds appear to have quietly established themselves in the Lennox. Maurice is believed to have been slain in a battle in Northumberland in 1093. His elder son, Malcolm, became the 2nd Thane and after his death in 1130 the rank passed to his son, Maurice, until his death 25 years later. The 4th and 5th Thanes were John and Malcolm, who were each the succeeding generation in direct descent from their father. John died in 1180 and his son, knighted as Sir Malcolm during his lifetime, about 1200.

An early written reference to a Drummond chief arises in 1225 with Malcolm Beg, greatgreat-great-grandson of Maurice, recorded as the Chamberlain, or Seneschal, of Lennox. Malcolm Beg Drummond strengthened the status of his family by marrying Ada, daughter of the Earl of Lennox, whose grandfather was the High Steward of Scotland. Malcolm died some time before 1260.

The next generation saw Malcolm of Drymen, Lord of that ilk, twice captured by the English in the Wars of Independence. During a period when his son, John, was held prisoner by Edward I, Malcolm swore fealty to the English monarch. John was released in 1297, 19 years after his father's death, also having sworn fealty, but the Drummonds were fervent supporters of the cause of Bruce and Scottish independence- This was the start of what was to be a long and loyal association with the Scottish royal line.

History records Sir John Drummond, Thane of Lennox, as a stout defender of Scottish liberty. The status of the Drummonds continued to be elevated when Sir John was summoned to Parliament as one of the kingdom's greatest barons. Sir John married a daughter of the Earl of Menteith and they had a son, Sir Malcolm de Drummond, who was to add yet more esteem to the family within Scotland. Sir Malcolm and his clan fought with Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn and he proved to be eminently useful to his King in that battle. One of Sir Malcolm's uncles, Walter, was Secretary to Bruce in 1323.

It was Malcolm who, seeking a means of compensating for the inequality in numbers between the armies, proposed the use of caltrops against the English at Bannockburn, and successfully scattered them to achieve their intended purpose. Caltrops are pointed pieces of iron formed in such a way that there is always one point sticking upwards, an effective and destructive weapon against cavalry. Bruce rewarded Drummond with certain lands in Perthshire, which resulted in the family removing to this more central area of Scotland from Loch Lomondside. Also arising directly from Sir Malcolms strategy was the inclusion of caltrops as part of the heraldic emblems of the Drummonds and, it is said, this same action led to the family motto adopted by his descendants - 'Gang Warily'. This Drummond leader died in 1329.

The son of Sir Malcolm, a second Sir Malcolm, died at the battle of Durham in 1346, without making the dramatic kind of impact that his father and grandfather had. This can probably be viewed as the 'lull before the storm', however, as there was about to start one of the most significant periods in Drummond history. When it was finished the family would be arguably the most influential and powerful in Scotland, after the Royal house itself. It was also a time of great intrigue and political manoeuvering. And it revolved mainly around the Drummond women.

Chapter 2 : Royal Bloodlines and Deep Intrigues

On the second Sir Malcolm's death in 1346, he was survived by three sons, John, Walter and Maurice and a daughter, Margaret. Sir John, his successor, married Mary, daughter of Sir William de Montifex. She was Sir William's heiress and by this means the Drummond family came into both Stobhall, a home on the Tay, and further large possessions in Perthshire, including Auchterarder, Cargill and Kincardine.

Sir John and Lady Mary had four sons and three daughters. Of their sons, Malcolm married the Countess of Mar but died without family, Dougal became Bishop of Dunblane, William married the heiress of Airth and Cumnock (starting the line of Drummonds of Cumnock and Hawthornden) and John succeeded his father.

The increase in power, influential family alliances by matrimony and estates was continuing. The eldest daughter, Annabella, was, however, to rise to a position of even greater influence. Meantime, Sir John's sister Margaret had married. Twice, in fact. She first married Sir John de Logie but was widowed when he was executed for his part in the Soulis conspiracy against King Robert the Bruce. It would appear that she was the mistress of Robert Bruce's son, David, even before her husband's demise.

In 1363, shortly after the death of Joanna, the wife of her lover, the widow Logie married David II, King of Scotland. Margaret was beautiful; King David was foolishly enamoured by her beauty and sought to do everything she wished. For her part, Margaret was domineering, made expensive pilgrimages to Canterbury and generally took advantage of her royal husband. This brought the house of Drummond firmly into royal favour and one practical benefit of this was the grant of lands at Stobhall, Cargill and Kynloch to Malcolm de Drummond, Margaret's nephew, in 1368.

Four years after her aunt became Queen, Annabella Drummond also married, Her spouse was John Stewart of Kyle, eldest son of Robert the High Steward, who was given the Earldoms of Atholl and Carrick in 1367 and 1368. Robert was the presumptive heir to the throne of Scotland and the double link of Drummond aunt and niece with monarch and potential successor seemed to produce envy or resentment in Margaret. She persuaded King David to throw Robert and his three sons into separate prisons to gain some kind of spiteful satisfaction.

Ultimately, David II tired of his wife's imperious nature and he arranged with the Scottish bishops to divorce her at Lent in 1369/70. The marriage was probably deemed discreditable because of her history as the King's mistress. Margaret appealed against the divorce to the Pope but, if he pronounced on his considerations, the terms of his sentence are unknown. The disowned Queen collected together her wealth and went to live in the Papal Court in Avignon, from where she persisted in making trouble until her death shortly afterwards. The High Steward and his sons were released at the time of the divorce. David's respite from his overbearing spouse lasted only until 1370, at which time he died. Robert the Steward, son of Marjory, the daughter of Bruce, succeeded him as Robert II..

Annabella Drummond was now the daughter in law of the King and Countess of Carrick and her family continued to be in a position of considerable influence and favour. During the reign of his father, Carrick and his Countess appear to have resided in Edinburgh Castle, where he was the salaried keeper and continued a task started in the previous reign, the building of David's Tower.

Robert II was proving to be an inept monarch but his heir was considered to be even less fitted for the duties of king. He was tall and handsome, although lame as a result of being kicked by a horse. More significant, however, was his disposition towards inactivity as a result of which, starting during their father's reign, the reins of government were allowed to fall into the hands of his ambitious brother Walter, Earl of Fife.

In 1384, because of the considered incapacity of his father, Carrick was invested by Parliament with the power to enforce the law. By 1388 the Earl of Fife, already Chamberlain and the keeper of Stirling Castle, had been elected guardian of the kingdom and superseded Carrick. Fife now could act as the king until either Carrick recovered health or his son David, later Duke of Rothesay, reached an appropriate age to govern.

In 1390 Robert II died and was succeeded by Carrick, who forsook his given name and took the throne as Robert III. The day after his coronation Annabella was crowned Queen at Scone. The new Queen had been paid several sums for ward of land during her father-in-law's reign, most likely as her marriage portion. In 1391, as Queen, she was granted an annuity from the counties of Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Perth, Linlithgow, Dundee and Montrose. David, now Earl of Carrick also had a sum settled on him around this time. It is through the marriage of Annabella to Robert III that Drummond blood has run through all the succeeding Monarchs of Scotland and Britain, and most of the crowned heads of Europe.

Robert's kingdom was at peace with England for a number of years at the start of his reign, and his brother, the Earl of Fife, certainly held power as the elected guardian until 1392. It may be after this date that Robert tried to govern - there is no record of Fife's salary as guardian after 1392.

In 1394 Annabella was actively involved in correspondence with Richard II in connection with a proposed marriage between one of Richard's relatives and one of the Scottish royal children, most likely either David or one of his sisters. The marriage did not materialise. David was created Duke of Rothesay in 1398. At the same council meeting Fife was made Duke of Albany. A third matter considered at that meeting was Annabella's complaint of a failure to pay her annuity. Steps were taken to remedy this but since Albany had control of the revenues as Chamberlain this may well indicate the attitude of her brother in law. Finally, because Robert still suffered ill-health, Rothesay was appointed governor of the realm for three years. He was now in his twentieth year and would govern with the advice of a council of which his uncle, Albany, was the principal member.

The Duke of Rothesay married Elizabeth, daughter of Archibald the Grim, Earl of Douglas, in 1400, despite being previously promised earlier to Elizabeth, daughter of the Earl of March. This led to an invasion of Scotland by Henry IV, who reached Edinburgh and then returned home after refusing personal combat with Rothesay. It is believed that Albany supported the March marriage, while Annabella and the council were in favour of an alliance of the heir to the throne with the Earl of Douglas.

Annabella, the Earl of Douglas and the Bishop of St. Andrews all died in 1402. The main players in the attempts to control the power of Albany were gone. Shortly after his mother's death, Rothesay was deposed, imprisoned and murdered. His brother, James, now heir to the throne, was sent to the court of France, but his vessel was captured by Henry IV. Albany became regent, with full power. It is strongly suspected that his hand was involved in Rothesay's murder.

Typically. there was much manoeuvering and struggling for power and prestige during this period of Scottish history. Annabella's eldest brother, Sir Malcolm had married Isabel, sister of the Earl of Douglas, and Countess of Mar. The Drummond chief, with his kinsman, Douglas, fought at Otterburn in 1388. Alexander Stewart, a natural son of the Earl of Buchan and nephew of Annabella's husband, murdered Sir Malcolm in 1403 and forcibly married his widow in order to assume the title Earl of Mar.

Whatever the doubts and uncertainties of this time, the character of Annabella Drummond is presented as praiseworthy -

Dame Annabill, qwene off Scotland

Faire, honorabil, and plesand

Cunnand curtays in hir efferis

Luvand, and large to strangeris

She was celebrated as both beautiful and courteous.

Annabella's son James later ruled as James I. His daughter married the dauphin, later Louis XI of France. Her younger brother, Sir John, was both chief of the Drummond clan and Justiciar of Scotland. The family was enjoying great prosperity.

In 1423 John Drummond was one of those who were delegated to meet his nephew, James, at Durham, when he was released after 20 years in captivity. On Sir John's death, he was succeeded by his son and heir, Sir Walter Drummond, of whom there is little exciting recorded prior to his demise in 1445.

Chapter 3: Royal Romance, Mysterious Deaths, More Intrigue - and a Title!

The line of descent producing leaders of the Drummond clan continued to thrive but had still to reach the summit of its fortunes in terms of political power and influence. The next Drummond chief after Sir John the Justiciar to make his own significant impact was his greatgrandson, another Sir John. Born around 1438, he became a distinguished statesman during the reign of James III. Sir John was the ninth successive knight in the Drummond dynasty. His father, who he succeeded in 1470, was another Sir Malcolm Drummond, of Cargill and Stobhall, and his mother Mariot, eldest daughter of Sir David Murray of Tullibardine. In 1471 he sat in Parliament and two years later became seneschal and coroner for the earldom of Strathearn. Sir John's diplomatic skills were put to good use from 1483 when he was Ambassador Extraordinary to England. This important post involved him in arranging marriages between the Scottish Royal Family and princesses of the House of York. It also required him to act as a commissioner for settling border differences, in accordance with the treaty of Nottingham in 1484.

In 1473, he purchased from Sir Maurice Keir Drummond, most of the latter's lands, with which went the office of Steward of Strathearn. Sir John then moved from Stobhall to Strathearn and gained a special licence from King James IV in 1491 to build the strong Castle Drummond. In 1508 he mortified the collegiate church at Innerpaffray and established it as a family burial place forever.

It was Sir John who took the Drummonds the next great step up the nobility ladder. As a reward for his services he was raised to the Scottish peerage. The records of the Parliament of Scotland state that on the 29th January 1487 John Drummond was made (effectus fuit) a Lord of Parliament, to be in future called Lord Drummond. Shortly afterwards he was appointed as a privy councillor, Justiciary for Scotland and constable of Stirling Castle. This Drummond was the common ancestor of both the earls of Perth and Melfort and the viscounts of Strathallan. He married Elizabeth Lindsay, daughter of the fourth Earl of Crawford, and they had three sons and six daughters. Of their offspring one son died young, another son and three daughters died unnatural deaths and others married into the noble Angus, Montrose and Arran families.

Lord John harboured hopes of seeing his young daughter, Margaret on the throne of Scotland. The King's 16 year old son and heir, the Duke of Rothesay, was extremely attracted to this Drummond girl, who was his distant cousin through Queen Annabella's father, Sir John.

When the prince took up arms against his father, James III, Lord Drummond took his side. James III was defeated at the battle of Sauchieburn and Rothesay took the throne as James IV. Tradition has it that immediately on his accession in 1488, the boy-king lived at Linlithgow Palace with his young mistress in splendour and youthful love. Dances, masked balls, theatrical entertainment's and hunting parties were constantly arranged for the two young lovers, and James showered his sweetheart with splendid gifts.

It is also said that James and Margaret became engaged and, indeed, according to some historians, they actually married privately and waited for a dispensation from the Pope because of their blood relationship before announcing this publicly. All this was believed to have been encouraged by Margaret's father, Lord John.

A poem of the time, possibly written by James IV, called 'Tayis Bank' is believed to refer to Margaret Drummond in the following lines:

This myId, meik, mansuet Mergrit,

This perle polist most quhyt,

Dame Natouris deir dochter discreit,

The dyamant of delyt;

Never forniet was to found on feit

Ane figour more perfyte,

Nor non on mold that did hir meit,

Mycht merk hir wirth and myte.

In spite of the old style of wording it is not difficult to see that this is a very complimentary tribute to a woman who was a 'polished pearl', a 'diamond of delight' and a 'perfect figure'.

Another school of thought believes that the early expenditure of the young king was on another Margaret, his aunt, and that accounts records have mistakenly led to the scenario set out above, The first accounts entries which can be clearly related to Margaret Drummond appear as late as 1496, from when they become frequent. It is argued that there is no evidence of any earlier connection with James IV.

James and Margaret had a daughter, known as Lady Margaret Stewart, in 1496 and their passionate relationship probably continued until her death in 1501. It was carried on against a background of increasing concern on the part of the nobles of Scotland. They could accept Margaret as the king's mistress, so long as it was not a serious association. The birth of a daughter and rumours of a secret marriage alarmed them. These were clear dangers to their wish that James should marry a Tudor princess, and may well have sealed the fate of Margaret Drummond.

Once again, there is some confusion about whether James had bound himself to marry Mary Tudor, still a child, before or after Margaret's death. The king arranged that for many years after her death, regular masses were sung by priests for her soul, and this could suggest the Tudor link arising after she passed away. In any event it is believed that the Scottish King was inconsolable for the best part of a year, although he did recover enough to take another mistress shortly before making a dutiful wife of the 12 year old sister of the future Henry VIII.

One version of events does suggest that James had contracted a marriage to Mary Tudor when she was only seven years old as a means of settling the constant border feuding with England. Before she reached puberty, however, he met and fell in love with Margaret Drummond. It was only when preparations for the Tudor princess to be sent north at the age of 11 in 1501 were being finalised that Margaret Drummond and her sisters were found dead at breakfast one morning.

Regardless of this, the manner of Margaret's departure aroused great suspicion, both of cause and perpetrator(s). The widely accepted story is that she was served a poisoned dish for breakfast, which she and her sisters, Eupheme and Sybilla, ate. All three died within a few hours, although it has largely been assumed that the other sisters only happened to be at the table with her and were not the targets of the poison. Another tradition is that the poison was administered to them at a morning holy communion celebration.

The authorship of the murders is unknown but several theories have survived over the years. The concern of his courtiers over James' marriage prospects has already been mentioned. Some suggestion arose that Lord Drummond himself was responsible, or at least connived in the act, but, other than pressure from other noblemen, there was no obvious reason for him to do so. The incident was reputed to have taken place at the new mansion he was building at Concraig, in Strathearn, which came to be known as Drummond Castle, and this may be the reason for suggesting his implication

It is possible that Eupheme Drummond may not have been the innocent victim, as is widely assumed. Many years later, Mary Tudor, now the wife of James, made an interesting aside in a letter she wrote to Lord Surrey. It was to the effect that it was well known in Scotland that Lord Fleming, Eupheme's husband, 'for evil will he had towards his wife' had caused the poisoning of the three sisters.

Premature death was not confined to Lord John's daughters- His eldest son, Malcolm, died before him, unmarried. Another son William - Master of Drummond, was involved in a dark incident that led to his death. The Drummonds wished to create a barony burgh in their name and set up a market cross beside the Town House in Crieff with this in mind. The Murrays of Auchtertyre had similar plans and also set up a cross in Crieff. The rivalry generated by these actions grew into a feud in 1490 when the Bishop of Inchaffry commissioned the Murrays to recover a debt owed him by the Drummonds by poinding some of their cattle William Drummond raised the clan with the intention of avenging the insult. Reinforced by a number of Campbells, he caught up with the Murrays at a little hill called Knockmary and put them to flight. The Murrays took refuge in Monivaird (or Monzievaird) Church and Drummond either did not find them or was respecting the right of sanctuary. His clan were on the point of returning to their own lands when a Murray shot an arrow from the kirk and killed one of the Campbells. This ill-advised action produced a swift and angry response from the Campbell clansmen. Brushwood was heaped against the thatched church and set ablaze. The little church and the 'eight score' Murrays concealed there were burned to ashes.

In spite of his father's standing and great influence, and the fact that the deed was more of the Campbell's doing than his own, the Master of Drummond was arrested and tried in Edinburgh. He was executed in 1511 for what was considered to be an outrageous crime. (ironically, two and a half centuries later a Murray of Auchtertyre was to take part in an abuse of highland hospitality, in an attempt to arrest the hero of our story - but more of that later.) His son Walter became Master of Drummond but also pre-deceased Lord John- Lord John's life was always eventful. Before and after the losses of so many of his offspring, he constantly played a part in Scottish history. Prior to Flodden, James IV sent him to the English Court as ambassador, where he managed a suitable delay to enable his king to prepare for the fight.

James, who Drummond had hoped would be his son-in-law and who he had faithfully served, was killed at Flodden in 1515. After the fall of James, Lord John, together with the Earls of Huntly and Marischal, strongly supported the party of the Queen Regent Margaret and her husband, the Earl of Angus, as opponents of the Earl of Arran and his supporters.

In 1514, in promoting the marriage of Alexander, the Red Earl of Angus, to Margaret, the dowager-queen, he upset many nobles. The Lord Lyon, King of Arms, was sent to Angus to summon him to appear before a council. Lord John Drummond, grandfather of Angus, was present and, believing that Lyon had slighted his grandson and been disrespectful, he struck the herald on the chest. The year after this incident, the Duke of Albany was elected as regent against the known wishes of Lord John. Albany used the allegation of Drummond's violence towards the King of Arms to effect an arrest and imprisoned Lord John in Blackness Castle. He was tried, found guilty and his estates were forfeited.

While still in prison he signed a refusal to Henry VIII who advised removing Albany, and later removed his support from the Queen's party. Whether by conviction or expediency, these actions appear to have been instrumental in his release from both prison and forfeiture in 1516,

A third son of Lord John is worthy of mention in passing. Sir John Drummond of Innerpeffray became a soldier of fortune in the service of Henry II of France as a captain of the Scots Guards. Lord Darnley, husband of Mary Queen of Scots, was descended from him through the marriage of his second daughter into the House of Angus. This is another Drummond line that links to all the monarchs of Britain after Mary's time.

Lord John died at Drummond Castle in 1519. His successor, the second Lord Drummond, was his great grandson David, son of the deceased Walter. David was another Drummond who had marital links with Scottish Royalty. His first marriage was to the grand-daughter of King James II, Margaret, daughter of the Duke of Albany, and a Scottish princess. There this royal link ends, however, as they had no children. David, Lord Drummond took up arms for Queen Mary, as loyal to the Scottish throne as were his ancestors and his descendants.

It was his second marriage, to Lilias, dayghter of Lord Ruthven, that produced heirs. They had two sons, the elder of whom, Patrick, became the third Lord Drummond. His younger brother, James, was created Lord Maderty in 1609. From this branch also came the Drummonds who set up as Bankers in London.

James was educated with the future James VI, and remained in his favour throughout his life. It was probably during Patrick's time that another bloodthirsty incident visited a lesser member of the Drummond clan. Around 1588 Lord Drummond held the appointment as King's forester in Glenartnie. Drummondernach, another clansman, acting as his deputy attempted to punish a group of MacDonalds he found poaching deer. Some of the MacDonalds attacked Drummond, killing him and cutting off his head. The head, after being callously shown to Drummond's wife, was taken to the altar of the church at Balquidder. Here, the whole group swore to protect the murderers. They also persuaded some MacGregors, normally on friendly terms with the Drummonds, to take the same vow. The Drummonds later descended on the unfortunate MacGregors and punished the whole clan for this act by a few of its more lawless members.

Patrick married Elizabeth Lindsay, daughter of the Earl of Crawford. Her grandfather was a Campbell Thane of Calder. So, although the times of David and Patrick's leaderships do not appear to have produced the same level of interest and incident of their predecessor, the process of consolidation and inter-marriage in Scottish nobility continued. Once again, however, significant advancement was not too far away - within the next generation, in fact.

Chapter 4: Lord to Earl to Duke - The Final Rise; the Start of the Fall

Patrick's successor, the fourth Lord Drummond, was the first of several clan leaders to bear the name James. He had a distinguished career, including acting as James VI's ambassador to the important Spanish Court. On 11th February, 1605, Lord Drummond was elevated to an earldom and became the first Earl of Perth. The earldom thereafter operated by descent to male heirs whatsoever, although a patent specifying this was never formally enrolled. The Earl of Dunfermline and the Earl of Home were created at the same time, by a letter under the seal of King James and personally signed by him. It is taken from this that it was the King's intention that all three Earldoms be granted in like manner. On 4th March 1605 the patent granting the Earldom of Dunfermline was enrolled and it specifies heirs male.

The first Earl of Perth died within a few years of the creation of the Earldom and the principle of male heir, in accordance with the then law and usage of Scotland, determined the succession to the Earldom.

Its first heir was James' brother John, in 1611. He was an officer in the Royalist cause in the campaign of the Marquess of Montrose, a century before the final Jacobite uprising. Like so many of his clan, John was an active supporter of the Stuart monarchs, in his case Charles I and Charles II.

John married into yet another noble Scottish family, His wife, Lady Jean Ker, was the daughter of the first Earl of Roxburghe- One of his sons succeeded to that title and was the ancestor of the first three Drummond Dukes of Roxburghe. The third of these Dukes became famous as a book collector, and had a form of book-binding named after him

When he died, John was succeeded by his son James, third Earl of Perth. James had also been involved in the Marquess of Montrose's campaign and was a prisoner for a while after being captured at the battle of Philiphaugh in September 1645. He married Lady Anne Gordon, eldest daughter of the second Marquess of Huntly. His younger brother was Sir John Drummond of Logiealmond, a branch of the clan we shall visit at a later point in the story.

By comparison with other periods in the family history, the rule of the third earl appears to have seen at least a slowing down, and possibly a diminution, in the family's position. On his death in 1675 his son, James, became fourth Earl of Perth and he certainly regarded the Drummond status to be in decay.

Educated at St. Andrews, and believed to have travelled in both France and Russia, the fourth earl was ready to follow whatever path was necessary to restore the family's power and influence. In 1677 he wrote to Lauderdale, the governor of Scotland, and volunteered to assist in the Highland 'invasion' of the western shires. The bishops of Scotland arranged to add the Earl to the committee of council which accompanied this army in dragooning the covenanters, and he was also made a privy councillor in 1678. The actions of Lauderdale are poorly regarded by many historians.

Apparently dissatisfied with this return to honours, the fourth earl later joined Hamilton in his opposition to Lauderdale, the chief cause of which was the acts in which Drummond had been involved. Among others, Perth took his opposition to London and by this stage Lauderdale was receiving reports describing his former ally as busy, spiteful and an inflammatory opponent. James' conflict with the governor continued throughout 1678. Campbell's lands had been plundered from him and granted to Perth's brother, John Drummond, Viscount Melfort.

Melfort had not been idle in gaining power. He was made deputy governor of Edinburgh Castle in 1679, master of the

The next few years saw the Drummonds reach the pinnacle of their status and influence. James sat as a commissioner for the trial of the mint in Scotland in 1682 and took part in the prosecution of Lauderdale's brother for embezzlement. The previous year he was involved, as a partner of William Penn, in the settlement of East New Jersey.

In late 1682 he was made Justice-General and extraordinary Lord of Session, presiding over the trial for treason of Sir Hugh Campbell of Chesnock. Once again, there were devious machinations at work to try to confiscate Campbell's estates in order to give them to an illegitimate child of the king. Perth couldn't get a guilty verdict from the jury. By 1686, however, some of

ordnances and a lieutenant-general in 1680 and treasurerdepute for Scotland in 1681.

In 1684 the two brothers supported the Duke of Queensberry, a kinsman, against the then Lord Chancellor, Aberdeen. When Aberdeen was dismissed, Perth became Lord Chancellor of Scotland and his brother Secretary of State. Thus, the Drummond brothers came to hold two of the most powerful positions in Scotland - but events were to make their success shine brightly for a while and then fade.

James, Earl of Perth, also held the positions of Sheriff Principal to the county of Edinburgh and Governor of the Bass. In spite of showing no previous inclination for cruelty, Perth became infamous for his callousness. He even introduced the thumbscrew as a means of extracting confessions, in addition to other existing instruments of torture.

The Earl of Perth had, in fact, previously been in correspondence with Archbishop Ancroft expressing a deep interest in the Church of England and describing it as the most holy of churches. He also stated his concern that, although his appointment had continued after Charles II was succeeded by James II, he was 'least acceptable where I study most to please.' There seems little doubt that he had cause for concern in 1685. Around this time, Perth and his former patron, Queensberry, who was Lord Treasurer of Scotland, quarreled and the Treasurer brought the problem before King James. The king had made up his mind to dismiss James Drummond, and perhaps John Drummond was in danger as well.

The Drummonds were saved by an action that was either cynical or fortuitous. James II supported the Catholic religion and had recently publicised papers found in a box of Charles II as proof that Charles had always been a Catholic. Perth and Melfort both declared themselves convinced by this documentation and converted to Catholicism. The practical result of this was to make them the recipients of the king's confidence, at the same time causing Queensberry, a staunch Protestant, to be relegated to merely having a seat on the treasury commission,

It is difficult to tell whether there was anything genuine about Perth's own conversion, although it seems to have been generally recognised that his brother's character was such that there would be doubt on any of his professed religious or political beliefs. Perth is sometimes described as having prevailed on his brother to convert, and that Melfort was reluctant to do so, but John Drummond was so unscrupulous that it is more likely that he would have devised the scheme in the first place. Whatever the cause or motivation, James Drummond does appear to have remained sincere and faithful thereafter. In fairness to him and his brother it should be pointed out that Lady Anne Gordon, their mother, was Catholic, which makes the sudden conversion just a little less surprising.

James, Earl of Perth, was originally married to Lady Jane Douglas, daughter of the first Marquis of Douglas, who died. He then married the daughter of his namesake, Sir James Drummond of Machany, Lilias, and they had four children. Lilias died in 1685 and Perth had married for a third time within weeks of her demise. His bride was a full cousin, Lady Mary Gordon, with whom he has been said to have had a long standing relationship prior to his wife's death. Their marriage took place without waiting for the dispensation of the Pope, as was normal in cases of close blood ties. The pontiff gave the dispensation reluctantly, pointing out that it was a strange convert who broke the church's laws as his first act. James and Lady Mary had three children.

So for the next three years the two brothers effectively ruled Scotland and enjoyed the king's favour. In 1687 Perth was the first recipient of the revived Order of the Thistle and Melfort received another of the early awards. James Drummond resigned the earldom of Perth that same year, in favour of his son and his son's heir. Perhaps he was aware of the clouds gathering on the horizon.

Not everything went smoothly and Perth experienced the kind of backlash that was ultimately to see James II deposed. The earl had created a private chapel in his Edinburgh home, another example of his apparent sincerity, and had a cargo of Catholic items brought into Leith. This caused an anti-Catholic mob to attack his home and, in the process, to insult his wife. Troops fired at the mob, some ringleaders were captured and subsequently hanged. Perth believed that Queensberry had instigated this act but could get no proof.

Perth was active at the centre of James II.'s process of introducing Catholicism into government but he did help to ensure that more extreme measures were not introduced, and carried out negotiations with the Presbyterian church. Unfortunately, the king's actions were enough to offend a large number of non-Catholics, particularly among those who exercised power and influence - and their response was to seek the help of William of Orange. The decline of the Drummonds was about to start.

Melfort was in London when William landed and immediately proposed the seizing of leading Whigs. Unsuccessful in his plotting, and probably realising the potential implications in the situation, he resigned his estates to the crown and had them regranted to his wife, with remainder to his son. Still supporting James, he escaped to France before the end of 1688, where he was joined by his family. His Edinburgh home was pillaged by a mob, who destroyed many of his papers. In 1693 his paintings, some believed to be masterpieces, were sold in Whitehall amid great interest among the nobility, in order to pay his creditors. Two years later he was attainted as a Jacobite refugee and his arms publicly destroyed at Edinburgh market cross.

In exile, John Drummond exercised great influence over his king, but was unpopular because of his arrogance, scheming and self-interest. That he had enemies among influential Stuart supporters is shown by a secret promise given by King James to James Montgomerie of Skelmorlie and other Scottish sympathisers that he would never again employ Melfort. At that time Melfort was in a kind of honourable exile as ambassador to Rome, but he was later recalled to the court of the king. On his becoming chief minister at Saint-Germain in December 1691, Montgomerie knew that he would never forgive his attempt to exclude him.

He upset so many leading nobles and royalty that he was eventually banished to Angers. He never saw the king again but James did order his recall, on his death bed in 1701, as well as confirm the earlier and secret conferral of a dukedom. Whilst there can be no doubt that Melfort was an unscrupulous person, there is more reason to question suggestions of his eventual treachery to the Jacobite cause. One suggestion came from a prisoner in the Bastille called Simpson, who was able to convince a number of French officials that John Drummond was not just unreliable but a traitor. He does appear to have been committed to his Stuart monarchs, albeit in a much more manipulative way than other Drummond nobles.

Early in the days of exile, in fact, both the Drummond brothers were even able to affect the non-political life of the king. The court employed painters to produce portraits of the royal family and its leading courtiers. They did not find favour with Perth and Melfort and they persuaded James to replace them. The level of regard for the Duke of Perth is shown in the award to him by the king of the Order of the Garter as a reward for his services as a governor to the king's son. King James only gave this honour once. It has been suggested, however, that part of the reason may have been to counter accusations that Scots were treated poorly at his court.

It was to Melfort's line that the earldoms of both Perth and Melfort were restored after the attainders were lifted - but that is a later part of the story. This divergence from the main Drummond line is intended to both demonstrate the height of influence achieved by the family and to provide a link to events in the nineteenth century.

What of the Earl of Perth himself ? Having unwisely disbanded troops in Edinburgh he was faced with a rising among the citizens there when James II retreated before William. His previous cruelties and his Catholicism made him an obvious target for the anger of the rising and he fled with an escort to Drummond Castle. Shortly afterwards, realising he was still not safe, he fled to Burntisland and boarded a ship there that was about to leave for France. As fate would have it he was recognised and the boat was pursued and overtaken in the mouth of the Forth. Drummond was found in the hold disguised in women's clothing, stripped of all he had and imprisoned in a rough jail in Kirkcaldy.

Afterwards transferred to Stirling Castle he was kept there until 28th June1693, almost four years later, and then released on a bond to leave the kingdom by 15th August following, under sufferance of a severe financial penalty. Perth left for the Continent proceeding through Holland and Germany into Italy and on to Rome where he stayed for two years before joining his monarch at St. Germain. James gave him the Order of the Garter and official court duties and issued letters patent by which he purported to create the earl Duke of Perth and Marquis of Drummond.

Those titles were at all times afterwards borne by the fourth earl and his male heirs until the extinction of his male issue in 1760. James Drummond and his male heirs were respectively received and accepted as Dukes of Perth at the court of France. He and his brother, created Duke of Melfort by James, impressed their French hosts so much that their Duchesses were accorded the jealously guarded right to remain seated in the presence of French royalty. James Drummond, described as very proud, a good story-teller and of middle stature and a brown complexion, died in France on 1th May 1716.

The second duke and fifth earl was James, the eldest son of the fourth earl by his first wife. He joined Melfort, his uncle, in France shortly after James II was deposed and started studies at the Scotch College in Paris. When King James left Brest in 1689 for his expedition to Ireland the second Duke was with him and he involved in actions at Limerick, Londonderry and other places. His personal activity has been described as resolute resistance to the king's enemies but eventually he realised that the planned restoration of his monarch was utterly defeated and he may have returned to Scotland in 1692. If he did he was allowed to live there without any problems, despite his father's incarceration at the same time. At some stage Perth returned to his studies and then travelled in France and Italy. While in Europe he was appointed Master of the Horse to Mary of Modena, the Dowager Queen to James II On his father's release from Stirling Castle he met him at Antwerp, after five years apart. The older Perth was pleased at his son's development, although he later chided him for being melancholy.

The second duke was allowed to go back to Scotland again in 1695, and returned to a country in turmoil. Public disputes and differences about politics in general and the rights to the throne in particular were argued with great passions. Twelve years later he was among those Jacobites who was in contact with the Pretender's envoy. He had retained the Catholic religion of his father but also believed that there should be security for the Protestant religion, and made this clear to the envoy. The following year, anticipating the arrival of his king, Perth gathered two hundred of his men at Blair Atholl. As a result he was summoned to Edinburgh and then jailed for a period in the Tower of London. Again, perhaps like his father sensing the way the wind was starting to blow, he made over his estates to his infant son in 1713.

The 1715 Rising saw him actively involved in the Stuart cause. An unsuccessful attempt to surprise the castle at Edinburgh with 200 clansmen and some Jacobite supporters from the city was followed by command of the cavalry at Sheriffmuir. In February 1716 he was among the party that escaped with the Pretender from Montrose, and, five days later, and for the second time in his life, found himself in exile in France. He stayed with the Pretender in Spain and Rome and died in Paris in 1720 His wife was Jane, daughter of the Marquis of Huntly. She was to play her part, as Dowager Duchess, in the Rising of 1745. In 1715 Perth was attainted and, as a result of this, the dignity of Earl of Perth was considered dormant by the Hanoverians on the demise of his father in 1716,

I ... and so we reach the time of the main character in this tale,- James Drummond who became sixth Earl and third Jacobite Duke of Perth- His origins and influences are set out in this section to enable the reader to understand the noble and powerful background he came from, and thereby appreciate the tragedies of his personal story, extended to his descendants, more easily.

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