Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Maule, Patrick
MAULE, PATRICK, first Earl of Panmure (d. 1661), was the son of Patrick Maule of Panmure, Forfarshire, and Margaret, daughter of John Erskine of Dun, the reformer. He succeeded to the estate on the death of his father in 1605, but before that time had made his appearance at court, and accompanied James I to London in 1603, being then appointed a gentleman of the bedchamber. He had charters of the barony and teinds of Panmure in 1610 and 1619. After the death of James I, in 1625, he was continued in his office as gentleman of the bedchamber, and was made keeper of the palace and park of Eltham, and sheriff of Forfarshire. He gained the confidence of Charles I during his long term of service at the court, and became one of that monarch's special favourites. There is ample evidence afforded by his letters to his nephew, Alexander Erskine of Dun, that Maule did his best to bring about a reconciliation between the king and the covenanters. Throughout the troubles in which Charles I was involved Maule adhered to him with unshaken fidelity, and he espoused the cause of Charles II, fighting bravely in his defence. His faithfulness was recognised by his being raised to the peerage on 2 Aug. 1646, with the title of Baron Maule of Brechin and Navar and Earl of Panmure. His loyalty provoked the resentment of Cromwell, and by the Act of Grace and Pardon he was fined in the exorbitant sum of 10,000l. sterling (afterwards reduced to 4,000l.), while his son, Henry Maule, was mulcted in the penalty of 2,500l. These fines were paid in 1655. Maule died on 22 Dec. 1661, and was buried in the family vault at Panbride, Forfarshire. He was thrice married, his first wife being Frances, daughter of Sir Edward Stanhope of Grimston, Yorkshire, who was the mother of his two sons, George, second earl of Panmure, and Henry Maule of Balmakelly, Kincardineshire. His two daughters by this wife were Jean, married to the second Earl of Northesk, and Elizabeth, married to the second Earl of Kinghorne, and ancestress of the Earls of Strathmore. His second wife was Mary Waldrum, maid of honour to Queen Henrietta Maria; and his third wife was Lady Mary Erskine, daughter of John, earl of Mar, and widow of William, sixth earl Marischal, but by neither of these had he issue.
[Millar's Roll of Eminent Burgesses of Dundee, p. 144; Registrum de Panmure; Taylor's Great Historic Families of Scotland, ii. 300; Hist. MSS. Comm. 5th Rep. p. 637; Nichols's Progresses of James I, i. 597, 600, ii. 440, 610.]