William Maxwell, 5th Lord Herries of Terregles
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William Maxwell, 5th Lord Herries of Terregles | |
|---|---|
| Died | 1603 |
| Occupation(s) | Politician and landowner |
William Maxwell, 5th Lord Herries of Terregles (died 1603) was a Scottish politician and landowner.
Biography
Maxwell was the eldest son of
warden of the Avest march
(ib. iv. 188). On 31 January following he was, however, denounced a rebel for not entering before the council certain of his dependents charged with oppression and depredations (ib. p. 244), and on 5 February was again summoned to appear before the council on 5 March (ib. p. 248). On the 20th the general assembly also handed in a complaint against him and others for attending mass in Dumfries (Calderwood, iv. 657) ; but already on 16 February he had made his submission to the king (ib. p. 677). On 3 March he was therefore released from the horn (Rey. P. C. Scotl. iv. 258) ; and on the 5th he came under an obligation neither to hear nor suffer mass to be said within his wardening, and also to repair to the kirk of Dumfries for the hearing of the sermons (ib. p. 259). On 1 Aug. 1588 he was appointed a commissioner for executing the act against the Spanish Armada.
About 14 October 1595 Herries, to avenge the slaughter of
castle of Lochmaben
was given to him (ib. p. 128) ; but on 13 August the wardency was conferred on Sir James Johnstone (ib. p. 155). This provoked the jealousy of the Maxwells, and on 20 May 1601 Herries was charged to answer for 'a new design against Johnstone (ib. p. 240). On 20 November he and others in Dumfries were denounced for contravening the acts of parliament 'against saying and hearing mass and entertaining priests,' and were summoned before the council on 17 December (ib. p. 312), with which summons they complied (ib. p. 327). On his appearance he was, however, warded in Edinburgh Castle for not entering James Murray to answer for the slaughter of Sir James Carmichael (ib. p. 316), but on 8 Jan. he was released on giving surety to repair to the burgh of Edinburgh and there remain during the king's pleasure (ib. p. 712). On 9 February he appeared, and bound himself not to harbour John Hamilton and other Jesuits, and to defend and support the minister of Dumfries in his office and in the discipline of the kirk (ib. p. 352). On the 28th he came under an obligation not to assist Lord Maxwell and his rebellious accomplices (ib. p. 355). In May 1602 the assembly of the kirk decided that he should be placed in charge of a minister for his better instruction and confirmation in the truth, in case he repaired to Edinburgh; but it was reported in November that he had stayed only a short time in Edinburgh (Calderwood, vi. 163, 166). He died on 11 October of the following year. By his wife, Catherine Ker, sister of Mark, first earl of Lothian, he had five sons John, sixth lord Herries, Sir William of Gribton, Sir Robert of Sweetheart, Edward, and James and two daughters : Elizabeth, lady Urchell, and Margaret, lady Parton.
References
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Henderson, Thomas Finlayson (1894). "Maxwell, William (d.1603)". In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 37. London: Smith, Elder & Co.