Arthur Erskine of Blackgrange

Arthur Erskine of Blackgrange (died 1571) was a Scottish courtier. Career He was a son of John Erskine, 5th Lord Erskine and Margaret Campbell. Erskine became an equerry or master of the stable to Mary, Queen of Scots, first serving her as a cup bearer or éschanson in France. John Knox noted that he accompanied her during her formal Entry to Edinburgh in September 1561. Knox says the queen was given a Bible during the pageant, and quickly passed it to Erskine, who was a Catholic. In 1562 he married Magdalen Livingstone, a lady in waiting to Queen Mary, and daughter of Alexander Livingston, 5th Lord Livingston and Agnes Douglas. Mary bought him a horse for £40 in April 1562. In December 1566 she gave him £60 Scots, from her income known as the "Thirds of Benefices". The escape from Holyrood Palace After the murder of David Rizzio on 9 March 1566, Mary escaped from Holyrood Palace the next day at midnight and rode behind Arthur Erskine to Seton Palace and then to safety at Dunbar Castle. The description of the murder of Rizzio made by the Earl of Bedford and Thomas Randolph says that Lord Robert Stewart and Arthur Erskine tried to resist the murderers when they entered the queen's chamber.