Unfortunate duke

Innes Duffus continues his piece about the Duchess of Monmouth and says: “Anna’s mother was Lady Margaret Leslie, sister of the Duke of Rothes and then wife of David, Second Erle of Wemyss. In the diary of the latter, he relates the circumstances under which Lady Anna Scott’s marriage to the Duke of Monmouth took place: ‘On the 20th day of April 1663, this James Scotte, Duke of Monmuth, was married at Whitehall on Anna, Countas of Buccluch, who was earis to the House of Buccluche worth 10,000 ponds starling Zeirly. The King and the Duke of York was present att the mariadge when the Bishope of Lundon then called Sheldounne married them. I David Erle of Wemyss hed the honour to deliver hir to hir husband, Duke of Monmouth that day. The king commanded I deliver hir to him for I maried hir mother the Dauger of Buccleuch. L. M. Leslie was also present and my Lord Erle Rothes and diverse other Lords (I was as his father then). They did not stay together being young he of 13 ziers and shou of 12 ziers then in November. Thereafter, her mother left her, by the King’s directions shoe was delivered to the caire of the Countess of Marshall, doughter to Ro., Earle of Mortoune.’

“On the day of their marriage, King Charles created her husband Duke of Buccleuch, Erle of Dalkeith and Lord Scotte. This unfortunate northerner was the son of Charles II by Lucy Walters and was born at Rotterdam in 1649.

“By the will of Francis Earl of Buccleuch, he had to assume the name of Scott on his marriage. This accounts for the son of a King of Great Britain, bearing the family name of Scott.”

“His romantic career is a matter of history. He maintained that his mother had been lawfully married to Charles II. He claimed the crown on the death of his father and raised war against his uncle, James II, with the assistance of the Marquis of Argyll.

“He was defeated and taken prisoner at the Battle of Sedgemoor and was ultimately executed on July 16 1685. His own titles then became extinct, but his widow was Countess of Buccleuch in her own right and from her eldest son the present Duke of Buccleuch is lineally descended.”