Alexander Durham

Last updated

Alexander Durham (died 1584) was a Scottish courtier and administrator. [1]

Contents

His appointments included, clerk in the Exchequer, administrator of John Stewart of Coldingham, and Master of the Wardrobe to King James VI. [2] He was also known as "Sandy Durhame" or "Durame". Another member of the family, "Andrew" or Alexander Durham, worked in the spice house of the kitchen of Mary of Guise, [3] and Michael Durham was the king's physician. [4]

Durham was argentier or "argentar" to Mary of Guise and Mary, Queen of Scots. This role included taking receipt of an income funding the royal household called the "thirds of benefices" derived from teinds. The money was collected by men working for the exchequer, like George Wishart of Drymme. [5] From 1 October 1565 up to 2 January 1568 he received £4833-6s-8d on top of £23,351-13-4d already paid to him from the Thirds, for the expenses of the houses and "avery" (horse fodder) of Queen Mary and James VI of Scotland. [6]

In August 1564 Durham took up a contribution of £124-10s-8d from Coupar Angus Abbey towards the expenses of the queen's hunting trip in Atholl and Glen Tilt and her journey to Inverness. [7]

He died in 1584 and was buried at the Holy Rude Kirk in Stirling. [8]

Alexander Durham, Lord Darnley's page

His son Alexander, also known as "Sandy Durham" was present at the Scottish court, a page to Lord Darnley. According to the confession of Nicolas Hubert alias French Paris, Mary wanted Gilbert Curle in her service to replace "Sande Duram" shortly before the murder of Lord Darnley. According to French Paris, Mary distrusted Durham. [9] As a former servant of Lord Darnley in 1568, who was ready to work for James VI, being "of good mind to be employed to be employed in his minute and small affairs". [10] He was made master of wardrobe of Prince James on 15 February 1567. [11] Described as the late king's page, Alexander Durham was imprisoned in Edinburgh's tolbooth by Regent Moray in September 1567 on suspicion of involvement in Darnley's murder. [12]

He became the "provisour" of the household of Regent Moray and of the king's household at Stirling Castle in the 1570s, and made a burgess of Stirling. [13] Durham worked for Regent Moray in 1568, providing for his household. [14] He made payments for Regent Moray, including a dowry or "tocher" given to Robert Porterfield when he married one the women appointed to rock the King's cradle at Stirling Castle. [15]

In March 1572 Durham paid for cloth to make gown and smocks for six children, an Easter ceremony. The number of gowns matched the age of James VI. [16] He arranged for harpers to play for James VI at Stirling Castle in June 1579. [17] The family came to own and rebuild Duntarvie Castle.

Family

Alexander Durham married Elizabeth Murray: Their children included:

The main branch of the Durham family lived at the Grange of Monifieth (near Dundee). Eufame Durham (died 1580) was the wife of John Strachan or Strathauchin, the builder of Claypotts Castle. She was a sister of Robert Durham of the Grange of Monifeith. [23]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton</span> Regent of Scotland during the minority of King James VI

James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton was a Scottish nobleman. He played a leading role in the murders of Queen Mary's confidant, David Rizzio, and king consort Henry Darnley. He was the last of the four regents of Scotland during the minority of James VI. He was in some ways the most successful of the four since he won the civil war that had been dragging on with the supporters of the exiled Mary, Queen of Scots. However, he came to an unfortunate end, executed by means of the Maiden, a predecessor of the guillotine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray</span> Regent for King James VI of Scotland from 1567–1570

James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray was a member of the House of Stewart as the illegitimate son of King James V of Scotland. At times a supporter of his half-sister Mary, Queen of Scots, he was the regent of Scotland for his half-nephew, the infant King James VI, from 1567 until his assassination in 1570. He was the first head of government to be assassinated with a firearm.

John Stewart, 4th Earl of Atholl, called the Fair, was a Scottish nobleman and courtier. He was favoured by Mary, Queen of Scots, but later turned against her.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Erskine, Earl of Mar (died 1572)</span> Scottish noble (died 1572)

John Erskine, 1st Earl of Mar was a Scottish aristocrat and politician. He was the custodian of the infant James VI of Scotland and Regent of Scotland.

George Gordon, 5th Earl of Huntly, was Lord Chancellor of Scotland and major conspirator of his time.

Anne Hamilton, Countess of Huntly, was a Scottish noblewoman and a member of the powerful Hamilton family which had a strong claim to the Scottish crown. Her father James Hamilton, Duke of Châtellerault, 2nd Earl of Arran was heir presumptive to the throne of Scotland after Mary, Queen of Scots prior to the birth of the latter's son Prince James in 1566. Anne was the wife of George Gordon, 5th Earl of Huntly, Lord Chancellor of Scotland and a chief conspirator during the reign of Queen Mary.

William MacDowall or McDougall(died 1580) was a Scottish priest and Master of Works to Mary, Queen of Scots, her mother Mary of Guise, and James VI of Scotland. The title 'sir' was used in Scotland by a priest without a master's degree. The name appears variously as McDowgall, McDougall, McDowall etc., in printed records, he signed accounts MAKDOUELL.

Patrick Lindsay, 6th Lord Lindsay of the Byres, (1521–1589), Scottish courtier and Confederate lord.

Servais de Condé or Condez was a French servant at the court of Mary Queen of Scots, in charge of her wardrobe and the costume for masques performed at the Scottish royal court.

Annabell Murray, Countess of Mar (1536–1603), was a Scottish landowner, courtier and royal servant, the keeper of the infant James VI and his son Prince Henry at Stirling Castle.

Margaret Beaton, Lady Reres was a Scottish courtier and companion of Mary of Guise and Mary, Queen of Scots. She was blamed by the enemies of Mary, Queen of Scots, for her involvement in alleged immorality at court.

Timothy Cagnioli was an Italian merchant and banker in Scotland. Cagnioli was active in Edinburgh during the Regency of Mary of Guise and the personal reign of Mary, Queen of Scots. As a merchant he supplied luxury fabrics used in costume and interior decoration. He was able to lend large sums of money and issue letters of credit needed by travellers abroad.

Robert Anstruther was a Scottish soldier in the service of Mary of Guise and Mary, Queen of Scots.

Sir John Wishart of Pitarrow was a Scottish lawyer, courtier, comptroller of the exchequer, and rebel.

Robert Abercromby or Abircrumby was a Scottish leatherworker serving the Scottish monarchy in the 16th century.

The baptism of James VI was celebrated at Stirling Castle in December 1566 with a masque, fireworks, and a staged assault on a mock fortress. The entertainment was devised by George Buchanan and Bastian Pagez.

William Murray of Tullibardine (1510–1562) was a Scottish landowner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Food and the Scottish royal household</span> Expenses made to feed the Scottish royal household

Records survive of the expenses made to feed the Scottish royal household in the sixteenth century, and the remains of royal kitchens can be seen in the ruins of palaces and castles. Archaeologists can recover evidence of diet from deposits including waste from meals and food preparation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helen Littil</span> Scottish nurse of King James VI and I

Helen Littil was a Scottish courtier, the nurse of King James VI and I.

The Book of Articles is a list of allegations against Mary, Queen of Scots and James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell. The document was produced for the Westminster Conference in December 1568. The manuscript, held by the British Library, was written by Alexander Hay of Easter Kennett, and is sometimes known as Hay's Articles. The material resembles George Buchanan's published Detection and his Indictment of Mary. The text was published by John Hosack in 1869.

References

  1. ↑ John G. Harrison, 'The Royal Court and the Community of Stirling', Forth Naturalist and Historian, 30 (2007), p. 40.
  2. ↑ Gordon Donaldson, Thirds of Benefices (Edinburgh: SHS, 1949), p. 193.
  3. ↑ Rosalind K. Marshall, Mary of Guise (London: Collins, 1978), p. 71.
  4. ↑ Andrea Thomas, Princelie Majestie, p. 241: James Balfour Paul, Accounts of the Treasurer, vol. 7 (Edinburgh, 1907), p. 131: The royal household accounts show that he was in Edinburgh Castle with Mary of Guise in 1560.
  5. ↑ John Hill Burton, Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, 1545-1569, vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1877), pp. 497-8.
  6. ↑ Gordon Donaldson, Thirds of Benefices (Edinburgh: SHS, 1949), p. 190.
  7. ↑ Charles Rogers, Rental Book of the Cistercian Abbey of Cupar-Angus Abbey, vol. 2 (London, 1880), p. 281.
  8. ↑ John G. Harrison, 'The Royal Court and the Community of Stirling', Forth Naturalist and Historian, 30 (2007), p. 41.
  9. ↑ Joseph Bain, Calendar of State Papers Scotland, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), p. 667 no. 1117.
  10. ↑ Gordon Donaldson, Thirds of Benefices (Edinburgh: SHS, 1949), p. 193.
  11. ↑ Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland, vol. 5:2 (Edinburgh, 1957), p. 280 no. 3254.
  12. ↑ Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), p. 393 no. 617.
  13. ↑ Exchequer Rolls, vol. 20 (Edinburgh, 1899), pp. 31, 430.
  14. ↑ Charles Thorpe McInnes, Accounts of the Treasurer, vol. 12 (Edinburgh, 1970), p. 117.
  15. ↑ HMC 6th Report: Earl of Moray (London, 1877), p. 647
  16. ↑ Charles Thorpe McInnes, Accounts of the Treasurer, vol. 12 (Edinburgh, 1970), p. 303.
  17. ↑ Charles Thorpe McInnes, Accounts of the Treasurer, vol. 13 (Edinburgh, 1978), p. 267.
  18. ↑ Accounts of the Treasurer, vol. 11, p. 457.
  19. ↑ Agnes Strickland, Lives of the Queens of Scotland, vol. (London, 1854), p. 152.
  20. ↑ David Moysie, Memoirs of the Affairs of Scotland (Edinburgh, 1755), p. 181.
  21. ↑ HMC 5th Report: M. E. Stirling (London, 1879), p. 648.
  22. ↑ Maureen Meikle, 'Anna of Denmark's Coronation and Entry', Julian Goodare & Alasdair A. MacDonald, Sixteenth-Century Scotland (Brill, 2008), p. 284.
  23. ↑ Michael R. Apted, Claypotts, Angus (Edinburgh: HMSO, 1957), p. 12.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.