James Cockburn of Skirling

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James Cockburn of Skirling was a Scottish landowner, captain of Edinburgh Castle, and supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots. His castle at Skirling was demolished by Regent Moray. [1]

Contents

Career

He was a son of William Cockburn of Skirling and Marion Somerville, perhaps a daughter of Lord Somerville. [2] [3] William Cockburn was involved in gold mining at Crawford Muir in the time of Regent Albany. [4] James Cockburn became laird of Skirling when his older brother William Cockburn died in 1551. [5] The estate included lands at Letham and a fulling mill near Haddington. [6] James Cockburn leased some lands from the nuns at Haddington. [7]

When Mary, Queen of Scots anticipated travelling to York to meet Elizabeth I in July 1562, a number of lairds including James Cockburn of Skirling were invited to convene in Edinburgh to form her escort. [8] She visited Skirling while on progress on 26 August 1563. [9] James Cockburn and his brother-in-law Lord Herries were cautioners for the Earl of Huntly from 3 August 1565 to 17 April 1566. [10]

James Cockburn seems to have been an adherent of the Earl of Bothwell, [5] and signed a document concerning Bothwell's property transactions on 26 October 1566 during Mary's visit to Jedburgh. James Balfour, who succeeded Skirling as keeper of Edinburgh Castle, also signed the document, an undertaking that Bothwell would buy the mills of Melrose from Alexander Balfour of Denmylne. [11]

Edinburgh Castle

James Cockburn first appears in public affairs when he was appointed Captain of Edinburgh Castle in March and April 1567. [12] [13] French Paris said that Queen Mary had asked him to deliver a coffer of her jewels to the laird of Skirling at Edinburgh Castle. [14] [15] Cockburn was a witness to some of the papers in the divorce of Bothwell and Lady Jean Gordon and one of his associates Thomas Craigwalls gave evidence. [16] According to the Diurnal of Occurrents, the cannon of Edinburgh Castle saluted Mary and Bothwell on their return from Dunbar Castle on 6 May and Skirling gave the castle keys to his successor James Balfour on 8 May. On 12 May, when Bothwell was made Duke of Orkney and Shetland, Skirling's cousin James Cockburn of Langtoun was knighted. [17]

Mary, Queen of Scots signs abdication papers at Lochleven Castle P450 Mary Stuart about to sign her resingnation at Lochleven Castle.jpg
Mary, Queen of Scots signs abdication papers at Lochleven Castle

Comptroller

Cockburn signed his name as "Skirling, knight" or "Skirling, comptroller" after a financial office briefly held for Queen Mary. According to the Diurnal he was proclaimed comptroller at the cross of Edinburgh on 9 June 1567, displacing William Murray of Tullibardine. [18] He received £350 Scots as comptroller from the treasurer in June for the receipts from church feus. [19]

After the battle of Carberry Hill, on 7 July 1567 the Privy Council ordered that crown income including the thirds of benefices used to fund the royal household should not be paid to Cockburn, as he was a suspect in the murder of Lord Darnley and had been appointed only while Mary was in her "schameful thraldome in the Earl of Bothwell's company". [20] [21]

Trial

James Cockburn, Patrick Hepburn of Riccarton, and William Edmeston (a son of the parson of Fala) appeared in person in court at Edinburgh's tolbooth on 22 August 1567 to be charged with "art and part" in the murder of Lord Darnley, but the case was dismissed or continued to a later date. [22] The English diplomat Nicholas Throckmorton wrote that Skirling and Riccarton came to the hearing "well attended" with followers. [23]

Mary in exile

Cockburn was a signatory to a band in support of Queen Mary made on 29 June 1567 at Dumbarton Castle, and another on 8 May 1568. [24] According to Robert Lindsay of Pitscottie, he fought at the battle of Langside. [25] James Cockburn accompanied Queen Mary to England in May 1568 and was included in a list of her attendants at Carlisle Castle. [26] Skirling and Lord Claude Hamilton and others were lodged outside the castle. They visited Mary in the castle outwith meal times. [27]

Regent Moray's diplomat Nicolas Elphinstone, who had recently sold Mary's pearls to Elizabeth I, came to Carlisle on 1 June. Skirling complained about his presence as a traitor to Mary and hinted at violence and possible clashes in the town. [28] Mary sent Cockburn to Scotland on 13 July, and he returned to her at Bolton on 6 August. [29] Mary mentioned the return of "lerd Squerlin" in a letter to Elizabeth I. [30]

Skirling castle demolished

Carving of a piper said to have come from Skirling castle A Skirling piper - geograph.org.uk - 2904363.jpg
Carving of a piper said to have come from Skirling castle

Regent Moray and Lord Home demolished the Place of Skirling on 12 June 1568, [31] [32] [33] who brought 2,000 men, with artillery and gunpowder from Edinburgh Castle. [5] [34] The laird of Skirling was "at the horn", effectively barred from credit and commerce. Moray confiscated wool belonging to Cockburn in July, selling it for £56 Scots, and the Earl of Morton took Cockburn's cattle from his brother's house in August. [35]

A declaration composed in Mary's name in 1568 mentions that Skirling and Kenmure had been "blawin up". [36] The destruction of the castle is mentioned in a contemporary political poem, Tom Truth's Rhime in Defence of the Queen of Scots. [37] The site at Skirling includes a low mound with a former moat and has been excavated by archaeologists, finds including a woman's leather shoe with pinking and slashing suggest occupation in the 15th- and 16th-centuries. [38] A stone carving of a piper set on a nearby house is said to have come from the castle.

Conference at York

In September 1568, James Cockburn attended the conference at York as one of Mary's commissioners, [39] where Regent Moray produced the Casket letters. [40] [41] [42] He signed a statement made by his brother-in-law Lord Herries, a narrative of recent events, known as the "Book of Complaints". [43] On 16 October he signed as "Scarling, knycht" a reply made by Mary's commissioners which stated that she had resigned the crown of Scotland after taking the advice of the Earl of Atholl, William Murray of Tullibardine, and William Maitland of Lethington, who had sent Robert Melville to her at Lochleven with a ring and tokens to persuade her to sign to avoid her "present death" and without prejudice "in na sort" to her future rights. Lord Lindsay, according to the commissioners, brought the papers to Mary which she signed "with many tears, never looking what was in the writings". Skirling returned to Bolton from York. [44]

In November he may have attended meetings at Westminster. Mary sent him from Bolton to Scotland in December 1568 with "three of her tallest servants", according to Francis Knollys he was sent to stir up trouble against Moray and strengthen Dumbarton Castle while Moray was in England. [45] After Moray's assassination, Skirling attended a meeting of Mary's supporters in Glasgow. [46]

Family

In 1552, James Cockburn married Jonet or Jeanne, a daughter of William Herries, 3rd Lord Herries of Terregles. His brother-in-law, Lord Herries organised Queen Mary's journey to England in 1568. In 1586, James Cockburn made over some of his lands to his son William and his wife Helen Carmichael. [47] In 1592, after the death of James Cockburn, the lands of Skirling were recognised as a free barony for his son William. A daughter, Agnes Cockburn married James Hamilton of Libberton (Lanarkshire) and secondly John Keith of Ravenscraig. "Dame Jeane Hereis, Lady Skirling" died in Edinburgh's Canongate in December 1612. [48]

References

  1. ↑ Thomas Cockburn-Hood, The house of Cockburn of that ilk (Edinburgh, 1888), pp. 241–248.
  2. ↑ Thomas Cockburn-Hood, The house of Cockburn of that ilk (Edinburgh, 1888), pp. 233–234.
  3. ↑ James Buchan & Henry Paton, A History of Peeblesshire (Glasgow, 1927), p. 217.
  4. ↑ M. Livingstone, Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland, 1 (Edinburgh, 1908), p. 417 no. 2705.
  5. 1 2 3 Robert Cockburn, The records of the Cockburn family (Edinburgh, 1913), p. 141.
  6. ↑ John Maitland Thomson, Register of the Great Seal, 1580–1593 (Edinburgh, 1888), pp. 152 no. 497, 329 no. 1005.
  7. ↑ Kim Curran, "Looking for nuns; a prosopographical study of nuns in the later middle ages", Scottish Church History Society, 35:1 (June 2005), p. 51. doi : 10.3366/sch.2005.35.1.3
  8. ↑ Accounts of the Treasurer, 11 (Edinburgh, 1913), p. 170.
  9. ↑ David Hay Fleming, Mary Queen of Scots (London: 1897), p. 524.
  10. ↑ John Hill Burton, Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, 1 (Edinburgh, 1877), pp. 348, 454.
  11. ↑ Sotheby's: Autograph Letters and Historical Documents, the property of Charles Fairfax Murray, and an Important Collection of Documents Relating to Mary Queen of Scots (London, 1920), pp. 32–34: Charles Romanes, Selections from the records of the regality of Melrose (Edinburgh: SHS, 1915), p. 322, for Bothwell and other abbey lands.
  12. ↑ Gordon Donaldson, The first trial of Mary, Queen of Scots (New York: Stein and Day, 1969), p. 110: Henry Paton, HMC Mar & Kellie, 2 (London, 1930), p. 26: Thomas Thomson, Collection of Inventories (Edinburgh, 1815), p. 176.
  13. ↑ Thomas Thomson, Diurnal of Occurrents (Edinburgh, 1833), p. 133.
  14. ↑ James Anderson, Collections relating to the History of Mary Queen of Scots, 2, pp. 202–203.
  15. ↑ Teulet, Lettres de Marie Stuart (Paris, 1859), pp. 102–103.
  16. ↑ HMC Calendar of the Manuscripts of the Earl of Salisbury, Addenda, 13 (London, 1915), pp. 74, 80.
  17. ↑ Thomas Thomson, Diurnal of Occurrents (Edinburgh, 1833), pp. 132–133.
  18. ↑ Thomas Thomson, Diurnal of Occurrents (Edinburgh, 1833), p. 112.
  19. ↑ Charles Thorpe McInness, Accounts of the Treasurer, 12 (Edinburgh: HMSO, 1970), p. 67.
  20. ↑ John Parker Lawson, History of the Affairs of Church and State in Scotland by Robert Keith, 2 (Edinburgh: 1845), p. 665.
  21. ↑ John Hill Burton, Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, 1 (Edinburgh, 1877), pp. 526–527.
  22. ↑ Thomas Thomson, History of the Kirk of Scotland by David Calderwood, 2 (Edinburgh: Wodrow Society, 1842), p. 385.
  23. ↑ Joseph Bain, Calendar State Papers Scotland, 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), p. 387 no. 607.
  24. ↑ Joseph Bain, Calendar State Papers Scotland, 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), pp. 339 no. 536, 403 no. 650: Thomas Thomson, Memoirs of his own life by Sir James Melville (Edinburgh, 1827), pp. 195–196.
  25. ↑ Aeneas Mackay, Historie and Cronicles of Scotland, by Robert Lindesay of Pitscottie, vol. 2 (Edinburgh: STS, 1899), p. 203.
  26. ↑ Agnes Strickland, Letters of Mary Queen of Scots, 1 (London, 1845), pp. 71–72.
  27. ↑ Joseph Bain, Calendar State Papers Scotland, 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), p. 422 no. 685.
  28. ↑ Joseph Bain, Calendar State Papers Scotland, 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), p. 422 no. 684.
  29. ↑ Agnes Strickland, Lives of the Queens of Scotland: Mary Stuart, pp. 134–135.
  30. ↑ Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), p. 706.
  31. ↑ Joseph Stevenson, The history of Mary Stewart by Claude Nau (Edinburgh, 1883), p. ccvi.
  32. ↑ Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), pp. 444–445.
  33. ↑ Thomas Thomson, Diurnal of Occurrents (Edinburgh, 1833), p. 133.
  34. ↑ Historical Works of James Balfour, 1 (Edinburgh, 1824), p. 345.
  35. ↑ Charles Thorpe McInnes, Accounts of the Treasurer, 12 (Edinburgh, 1970), pp. 108, 135: Thomas Wright, Queen Elizabeth and her times, 1 (London: Colburn, 1838), p. 292.
  36. ↑ William Fraser, The Lennox, 2 (Edinburgh, 1874), p. 442.
  37. ↑ James Cranstoun, Satirical poems of the time of the Reformation, 1 (Edinburgh: Blackwood: STS, 1891): Steven May & Alan Bryson, Verse Libel in Renaissance England and Scotland (Oxford, 2016), p. 246.
  38. ↑ John G. Dunbar, "Excavations at Skirling Castle, Peeblesshire; 1962–3", Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 96 (1965), pp. 237–246. doi : 10.9750/PSAS.096.237.246
  39. ↑ Retha M. Warnicke, Mary Queen of Scots (Routledge, 2006), p. 173: "The Boyd Papers", Archaeological and Historical Collections Relating to Ayrshire & Galloway, 3 (Edinburgh, 1882), p. 186.
  40. ↑ Gordon Donaldson, The first trial of Mary, Queen of Scots (New York: Stein and Day, 1969), p. 109.
  41. ↑ Stephen Alford, The Early Elizabethan Polity: William Cecil and the British Succession (Cambridge, 1998), p. 172: Thomas Cockburn-Hood, The house of Cockburn of that ilk (Edinburgh, 1888), pp. 243–244.
  42. ↑ John Hosack, Mary Queen of Scots and her Accusers, 1 (Edinburgh: Blackwood, 1869), p. 393: Haynes (1740), p. 476.
  43. ↑ Gordon Donaldson, The first trial of Mary, Queen of Scots (New York: Stein and Day, 1969), p. 114.
  44. ↑ Joseph Bain, Calendar State Papers Scotland, 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), pp. 531–532 no. 859, 535 no. 865.
  45. ↑ Joseph Bain, Calendar State Papers Scotland, 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), p. 578 no. 917.
  46. ↑ Thomas Thomson, Diurnal of Occurrents (Edinburgh, 1833), p. 160.
  47. ↑ John Maitland Thomson, Register of the Great Seal, 1580–1593 (Edinburgh, 1888), p. 329 no. 1005.
  48. ↑ Robert Cockburn, The records of the Cockburn family (Edinburgh, 1913), p. 142.
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