Barbara Ruthven

Barbara Ruthven (died 1625) was a Scottish courtier and favourite of Anne of Denmark, expelled from court after the death of her brother.

Barbara Ruthven was a daughter of William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie and Dorothea Stewart, the oldest daughter of Henry Stewart, 1st Lord Methven and Janet Stewart, daughter of John Stewart, 2nd Earl of Atholl.

She was a maid of honour to Anne of Denmark with her sister Beatrix. Beatrix had a prominent role at the christening of Princess Elizabeth in November 1596, for which the queen bought her a gown of figured black velvet with white sleeves and a yellow damask skirt. Christene Ruthven, another gentlewoman listed in the queen's household may have been another sister.

James Hudson noted Barbara having a secret conversation with the Scottish ambassador Robert Crichton, 8th Lord Crichton of Sanquhar in May 1597.

The Earl of Gowrie and one of his brothers were killed in a struggle with James VI of Scotland on 5 August 1600 at Gowrie House in Perth. After this, his sisters were protected by Anne of Denmark even though James wished them to be excluded from his presence, and had ordered them to be 'thrust out' of Falkland Palace. On 1 November 1600 Dorothea Stewart, who was staying at Dirleton Castle, hoped that the king could be persuaded to support her daughters, "quhais estait is verie desolait" and she could not help them herself.

Two younger brothers went to Berwick-upon-Tweed and lived in hiding for a month, until the Marshall of the town Sir John Carey helped them travel to Durham and Cambridge. Sir Robert Cecil, who was in the confidence of Anne of Denmark, helped Barbara travel to London.

Sir Robert Cecil understood that Anne of Denmark and Queen Elizabeth were agreed that Barbara should come to London in August 1602. In September Roger Aston told James VI that Beatrix Ruthven was in England. However, an agent of Elizabeth told James that she would not have any dealings with the Gowrie sisters. Cecil wrote a letter, probably to the Master of Gray, explaining the delicate and flammable situation of Elizabeth receiving letters asking for the relief of 'that house which is touched with the infamy of attempting the king's blood'.

Barbara was in London when on 25 December 1602 her sister Beatrix Ruthven was smuggled into the apartments of Anne of Denmark posing as a gentlewoman servant to Lady Paisley or Lady Angus, at the queen's request. There was a rumour in February 1603 that Barbara Ruthven had returned to Scotland by boat.

Roger Aston discussed with Anne of Denmark how her support for the Gowrie brothers and sisters and a suspected plot against King James may have dented her reputation in England. Early in 1603 Barbara came to London again from Cambridge (where her brothers were) and had new clothes made for her. James Hudson wrote to Sir Robert Cecil saying there were rumours she came to join Elizabeth's household or seek favours for her brothers.

Ruthven's appearance seemed striking and her speech foreign to the lawyer John Manningham who wrote, 'I sawe this afternoone a Scottishe Lady at Mr. Fleetes in Loathebury; shee was sister to Earl Gowre, a gallant tall gentlewoman, somewhat long visage, a lisping fumbling language. Peter Saltingstone came to visit hir' and 'was with the Lady Barbara, Shee saith the King will not swear, but he will curse and ban at hunting, and wish the divel goe with them all'.

In May 1603 Cecil organised an exchequer payment to his steward Roger Houghton for £300 spent on Barbara Ruthven's relief, and she was later given a yearly pension of £200. She wrote to the Privy Council on 19 June accepting the king's wish that she should leave London, and that she would live at Mr Scott's house in the country, where she had previously lodged.

Later in 1603 Sir William Ingleby (1546–1618) of Ripley Castle captured one of the fugitive brothers of the Earl of Gowrie at Kirkby Malzeard. He was recognised at an inn kept by Christopher Mawlam, by Francis Wandesford, who had seen him before at Durham. At first he pretended to be from "Wutton" in County Durham, but his lack of local knowledge revealed him. Next day Ingleby received him as a prisoner. He had with him a satchel stuffed with books and some apothecary confections, according to Wandesford's letter to Robert Cecil.

In Scotland early in 1604, the Earl of Mar heard an unlikely rumour that Cecil would marry Barbara Ruthven. She was granted a royal pension of £200 yearly.

In May 1606 King James wrote to his advocate Thomas Hamilton to draw up an act to rehabilitate Mistress Beatrix, excepting any family inheritance.

In 1622 Barbara Ruthven was the administrator of the will of Sir John Kennedy, appointed because his daughter Dorothy was too young to be executrix.

Barbara was buried at Greenwich on 29 December 1625.

Beatrix married Sir James Home of Coldenknowes and died in Scotland. Their son was Sir James Home of Whitriggs, who married Anne Home, daughter of George Home, 1st Earl of Dunbar and Elizabeth Gordon, daughter of Alexander Gordon of Gight and Agnes Beaton, daughter of Cardinal David Beaton, Archbishop of St. Andrews, and Marion Ogilvy. James and Anne Home's son was James Home, 3rd Earl of Home.

There has been some confusion with "Lady Ruthin", Elizabeth Talbot Grey, Countess of Kent, who became first lady of the bedchamber to Anne of Denmark in 1617.