July 22nd 1545

A Provostship retained

At the elections of 1544 Patrick, Master of Ruthven, was chosen as Provost of Perth. Patrick was a supporter of the Reformation and already, earlier that year, Cardinal Beaton had made very plain to the people of Perth his attitude towards those who challenged the authority of the Church of Rome.

He used his very considerable influence to have the election quashed and the Provostship confirmed on John Charteris of Kinfauns. This decision was highly unpopular with the townspeople and it became obvious that Kinfauns would not be able to claim the Provostship except by force.

The Master of Ruthven had already taken up residence in Perth so that Kinfauns and his friends, Lord Gray and Norman Leslie, son of the Earl of Rothes, and their adherents decided to attack the town. It was to be a two pronged affair with the main force under Gray and Kinfauns storming the bridge while at the same time Norman Leslie and his forces were to come up the Tay by boat and batter the South Port.

Not altogether surprisingly, news of the planned assault reached the people of Perth and with Ruthven at their head they quietly took up positions in the closes around the two Ports in the early morning of St Mary Magdalene’s Day.

At the Bridge Port the drawbridge was up but deliberately left unguarded so that, lulled by the apparent lack of defences within the town, Lord Gray and his forces decided to attack before the other force under Leslie appeared. The drawbridge was let down and his men advanced down Fish Street. Suddenly, Ruthven and his supporters issued forth from all sides. The result was total victory for the people of Perth. The invaders were put to flight and in the disorder many were trodden to death in their attempts to escape. It was estimated that some three score persons were killed.

Lord Gray and Charteris of Kinfauns escaped but it was the end of their attempt to take the town and the Master of Ruthven carried on as Provost for the remainder of his term.