In March 1596, he married, secondly, Marie Ruthven, the widow of John Stewart, 5th Earl of Atholl, and a friend of Anne of Denmark.
He was newly created Earl of Atholl at Holyrood Palace on 25 March, after Marie Ruthven had bought back the rights to the earldom for £10,000 Scots.
[6] Around this time he and his followers attacked Andrew Spalding at Ashintully Castle in Strathardle, bringing great guns, hagbuts, and pistols and raising fire at his house.
[7] Marie Ruthven and Atholl arrested Agnes McCawis and Bessie Ireland as suspected witches.
[8] According to the Chronicle of Perth, Bessie Ireland, Jonet Robertson, and Marion McCauss were burnt on the South Inch on 9 September 1597.