Patrick Ruthven, 3rd Lord Ruthven (c. 1520 – 13 June 1566) played an important part in the political intrigues of the 16th century Scotland. He succeeded to the lordship in December 1552. The Ruthven lordship encompassed the offices of Provost and Constable of Perth, and Sheriff of Strathearn. Life Patrick was the son of William Ruthven, 2nd Lord Ruthven and Janet Haliburton, heiress of the Haliburtons of Dirleton Castle. Quest for wealth and advancement During the war of the Rough Wooing, Patrick, Master of Ruthven, aided the English cause. In 1548 the English commander Grey of Wilton noted that he had been at the English-held Yester Castle with his servants in their "jacks" wearing red scarves. He wanted to profit by delivering Perth to the English. His father was provost of the town, and Patrick offered it to Sir Andrew Dudley, a brother of the Duke of Northumberland, who occupied Broughty Castle. After the war with England was concluded, in March 1551 he was in Paris and wrote to Mary of Guise asking for money she had promised him. Her financial officer Bartholomew de Villemore had tried to pay him with deprecated coinage. Patrick also asked for political preferment: I haif evir bene and salbe at your grace commandment. Fordir, pleis your grace, I think I have bene ane futtman lang aneuch, bot quhene it pless your grace ye will mak me ane hors man amangis utheris, ... I shall jeopard my lyfe in your service farder nor thame that giffis yow fairer wordis and gettis mair of your geir. I have ever been and shall be at your grace's commandment. Further, please your grace, I think I have been a footman long enough; but when it please you grace, you will make me a horseman, among others,... I shall jeopardize my life in your service farther than any who gives you fairer words and gets more of your gear. Religious and political stance However, as a strong Protestant and a supporter of the Lords of the Congregation, Patrick signed the Treaty of Berwick in 1560, and sent his son Archibald as a hostage to England and Westminster School. Ruthven wrote to William Cecil from Huntingtower Castle reminding him of their previous meetings in England during the time of Edward VI, and approving of Cecil's, "forth-setting of the union of these realms in greater amity than in times bypast has