of his honors were forfeited. Following his execution, his lands were divided among the king's favourites, but the honours were restored to his son James in 1586. His widow, Dorothea Stewart came to the opening of Parliament on 22 August 1584 and kneeled on the Royal Mile crying to the king for grace for her children. James Stewart, Earl of Arran pushed her away, and she fainted and was left on the street. A letter produced in the posthumous trial of Robert Logan of Restalrig in 1609 referred to William Ruthven as Greysteil, a character in a popular poem of his time noted for his strength and sinister powers, enthralled to a powerful woman. Marriage and children William Ruthven was married to Dorothea Stewart, the oldest daughter of Henry Stewart, 1st Lord Methven and Janet Stewart, daughter of John Stewart, 2nd Earl of Atholl. Scots Peerage lists 14 children of William and Dorothea, ten daughters and four sons: James Ruthven, 2nd Earl of Gowrie (died 1588) John Ruthven, 3rd Earl of Gowrie (c. 15775 August 1600) Alexander Ruthven (12 January 15805 August 1600) William Ruthven, died in France prior to 1622 Patrick Ruthven, imprisoned for 19 years in the Tower of London. Father of Mary Ruthven, who married the painter Anthony van Dyck. Mary Ruthven, married to John Stewart, 5th Earl of Atholl, and then after his death married John Stewart, 1st Earl of Atholl (1566–1603) Margaret Ruthven, married to John Graham, 4th Earl of Montrose, mother of James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose Sophia Ruthven (died May 1592), first wife of Ludovic Stewart, 2nd Duke of Lennox Jean Ruthven, mother of James Ogilvy, 1st Earl of Airlie Elizabeth "Isabel" Ruthven, who married Robert Gordon of Lochinvar, and was mother of John Gordon, 1st Viscount of Kenmure Beatrix Ruthven, lady in waiting to Anne of Denmark, wife of John Home of Cowdenknowes Lilias, about whom little is known, the English ambassador wrote she was "dead also with sorrow" after her father's execution in May 1584. Dorothea, who married John Wemyss of Pittencrieff Barbara Ruthven, lady in waiting to Anne of Denmark Another source, Paterson's History of the Counties of Ayr and Wigton lists another daughter named Elizabeth, explicitly called "Elizabeth (Not Isabel)": Elizabeth Ruthven (died 1617), second wife of Sir Hugh Campbell of Loudon (died 1622). There were plans in 1591 for Dorothea Stewart, Countess of Gowrie to marry William