Patrick Gray, 6th Lord Gray

In 1584 he was sent to England with William Keith of Delny and Robert Melville to intercede for the life of Mary, Queen of Scots. Their speeches and manner of mediation were said to have been counter-productive.[4]

On 20 July 1585 the Master of Gray married Lady Mary Stewart, daughter of Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of Orkney and cousin to King James. The marriage was attended by most people at court except the followers of the Earl of Arran.[5] Mary, Mistress of Gray, was a friend of Jean Stewart, Countess of Argyll, who left her a gown of cloth of gold, a black velvet gown with gold trim, and scented 'must' beads in 1588.[6]

On Monday 3 May 1598 the Duke of Holstein, brother of Anne of Denmark, came to Fowlis Castle for dinner during his progress, escorted by William Schaw. Lord Gray was ordered by James VI to meet him six miles from the castle.[7]

In November 1598 the Master of Gray was travelling in Picardy then visited the Earl of Gowrie at Orléans. He spoke to Esmé Stewart's widow, Catherine de Balsac, at Aubigny-sur-Nère, who feared her son, Ludovic Stewart, 2nd Duke of Lennox was plotting with Henry Kier, (a Catholic agent). Gray was trying to secure Lennox's inheritance. He had an audience with the King of France who was waiting for James VI to send him Scottish hunting hounds.[8]

In May 1601, the John Erskine, Earl of Mar and Edward Bruce, Commendator of Kinloss returned from an embassy to London. Although they had reached an understanding on the succession of James VI to the throne of England, it was kept secret. The apparent lack of achievement was seen as an opportunity for Mar's political opponents to supplant him, and the Master of Grey attempted, without success, to gain the confidence of Robert Cecil in England. Cecil however did not even tell Gray of his secret correspondence with the Scottish King.

In the domestic arena, Gray also was involved in a coalition of Anne of Denmark and the Duke of Lennox against Mar.[9] In September 1602 Anne of Denmark and Gray entertained Anne de Gondi, the wife of French ambassador the Baron de Tour, at Falkland Palace, while he went on a progress with the king.[10] Lord Henry Howard noted that Gray had spent this time with Queen Anne and it affected the conceit in his writing style.[11]

Patrick became 6th Lord Gray, on his father's death in 1609, three years before his own death in 1612. He was succeeded by his son Andrew Gray, 7th Lord Gray.[1]

An undated letter from the Master of Gray requested some purchases in London including; a sword and a dagger with "black guards not long", a black panache for a woman, gold and silver thread of the greates sort, for gentlewomen to sew with, tapestry to hang two chambers, and a Venice hat for his wife. Gray asked for a silver basin and jug, the lightest (and cheapest) and gilded only on the borders. His correspondent was to bring home the jewels if they were ready and Gray would reimburse him for everything.[12]