Robert Richardson (Lord Treasurer) - King's Man and Lord High Treasurer

King's Man and Lord High Treasurer

Richardson supported the overthrow of Mary, Queen of Scots; he attended the coronation of the infant James VI in 1567, and was present at Mary's defeat at the battle of Langside in May 1568 on the side of her half-brother and opponent, James Stuart, 1st Earl of Moray. In 1569 he voted to refuse Mary, Queen of Scots' divorce from Bothwell. His support for the new regime is also evidenced by a loan of £3000 to the Earl of Moray, now the Regent of Scotland, on 17 September 1567, secured on the royal jewels. In the following year, as he was ˜greitlie superexpendit as treasurer and unable to pay his creditors", Moray gave him the revenue arising from wards and marriages and vacant benefices. In January 1571 the lease of the mint which he had held since 1566 was renewed for three years, half the profits to be applied to paying off his ˜superexpenses as treasurer. According to a contemporary source, John Cunningham of Drumquhassle had been made "half thesaurer, with Mr Robert Ritchartsone that wes thesaurer of befoir" in July 1570, but Richardson remained in sole charge until 24 June 1571, when he was replaced by William, Lord Ruthven. He retained control of the mint until March 1573, his share of the profits amounting to more than £5400 Scots. Thereafter he continued to receive money from the mint to redeem the royal jewels that had been pledged to him, further payments being made to his sons after his death, which probably took place between May and November 1578.