Robert Gibb or Gib (1490-1558) was a Scottish landowner and courtier.
Contents
Robert Gibb or Gib (1490-1558) was a Scottish landowner and courtier.
His home and lands were at Carribber Castle near Linlithgow in West Lothian. The estate was on the banks of the River Avon next to Woodcockdale. [1] Robert Gibb inherited these lands from his father, also Robert Gibb who assigned him a reversion of the lands before witnesses at Linlithgow Palace in June 1541. [2]
He was appointed a Stirrup-man to James V of Scotland on 6 September 1524, [3] and became Esquire of the Stable in 1538. [4] [5] A Latin record of 1538 and 1540 calls him "scutifero, alias lie 'squyer' stabuli domini regis". [6]
In May 1528 James V joined his mother Margaret Tudor at Stirling Castle, escaping from the Douglas family. Traditionally, as described by Robert Lindsay of Pitscottie, the king rode to Stirling early in the morning from Falkland Palace before the household was awake. Pitscottie's chronicle names the king's helpers in the stable as Jockie Hairt and Zacharie Harcar. [7] The details are uncertain, an English report mentions the king rode from Edinburgh in disguise with six horses. [8] [9] It is supposed that Robert Gibb facilitated this escape. [10]
Robert Gibb's work at court was concerned with the management of the royal stable, the king's horses, and his travel. Records of the royal court mention that he was a bought a "great coffer" for the horse harness and the horses' caparison cloths. He kept the accounts of payments to the blacksmith Thomas Sprotty, the metal worker Andrew Lorimer who made horse bits and stirrups, and for sharpening and refurbishing the king's swords and polearms called "Jedburgh staves", and for the horse and jousting armour made for the king by William Smeberd. [11]
He was with Mary of Guise and Mary, Queen of Scots at Stirling Castle in June 1544. [12]
Robert Gibb died in 1558.
A more recent tradition has identified him as one of the king's fools, but there is no evidence for this. This identification was promoted by Walter Scott in a story which includes an old saying or proverb, first published in 1721, "Rob Gibb's contract: stark love and kindness." No further context for this saying or its connection to the historical courtier is known, apart from that supplied by Walter Scott. [13]
The idea of "Rob Gib" and firm loyalty, seems to have become an ideal in Scotland, and his name appeared with an image of clasped hands on objects such as snuff boxes. [14] MacDonald of Kingsburgh gave a "Rob Gib" snuff box to Bonnie Prince Charlie. [15]
A recess in the corner of the roofless great hall at Linlithgow Palace was known as "Rob Gibb's chair", in connection with stories of the local laird and courtier. [16]
Robert Gibb married Elizabeth Schaw. Their children included: [17]
James V was King of Scotland from 9 September 1513 until his death in 1542. He was crowned on 21 September 1513 at the age of seventeen months. James was the son of King James IV and Margaret Tudor, daughter of Henry VII of England. During his childhood Scotland was governed by regents, firstly by his mother until she remarried, and then by his first cousin once removed, John Stewart, Duke of Albany. James's personal rule began in 1528 when he finally escaped the custody of his stepfather, Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus. His first action was to exile Angus and confiscate the lands of the Douglases.
The ruins of Linlithgow Palace are located in the town of Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland, 15 miles (24 km) west of Edinburgh. The palace was one of the principal residences of the monarchs of Scotland in the 15th and 16th centuries. Although maintained after Scotland's monarchs left for England in 1603, the palace was little used, and was burned out in 1746. It is now a visitor attraction in the care of Historic Environment Scotland.
Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus was a Scottish nobleman active during the reigns of James V and Mary, Queen of Scots. He was the son of George, Master of Angus, who was killed at the Battle of Flodden, and succeeded as Earl of Angus on the death of his grandfather, Archibald.
The Battle of Sauchieburn was fought on 11 June 1488, at the side of Sauchie Burn, a stream about two miles (3 km) south of Stirling, Scotland. The battle was fought between the followers of King James III of Scotland and a large group of rebellious Scottish nobles including the future Alexander Home, 2nd Lord Home, who were nominally led by the king's 15-year-old son, James, Duke of Rothesay. James III was killed in the battle, and his son succeeded him as James IV.
Sir James Hamilton of Finnart was a Scottish nobleman and architect, the illegitimate son of James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran, and Marion Boyd of Bonshaw. Although legitimated in 1512 while still a minor, he continued to be known as the "Bastard of Arran". As a key member of the Hamilton family, and second cousin of James V, King of Scotland, he became a prominent member of Scottish society.
John Maitland, 1st Lord Maitland of Thirlestane, of Lethington, Knight (1581), was Lord Chancellor of Scotland.
William Schaw was Master of Works to James VI of Scotland for building castles and palaces, and is claimed to have been an important figure in the development of Freemasonry in Scotland.
The Secret Bond was a document drawn up by Cardinal Beaton and signed at Linlithgow by a number of Scottish peers and lairds on 24 July 1543. They agreed to prevent the marriage of Mary, Queen of Scots, to Prince Edward of England. The document is sometimes called the "Linlithgow Bond". After an agreement was reached with the Governor of Scotland, Regent Arran, Mary moved from Linlithgow Palace to Stirling Castle.
Sir Archibald Douglas of Kilspindie, also known as Greysteil, was a Scottish nobleman and courtier, who served as Treasurer of Scotland, and was three times Provost of Edinburgh.
Sir Peter Young (1544–1628) was a Scottish diplomat, Master Almoner, and tutor to James VI of Scotland.
Helenor Hay, Countess of Linlithgow was a Scottish courtier and writer.
George Young was a Scottish churchman, courtier, member of the Privy Council of Scotland, diplomat, and secretary depute.
Andrew Keith, Lord Dingwall was a Scottish landowner, soldier, and diplomat.
Sir William Keith of Delny was a Scottish courtier and Master of the Royal Wardrobe. He also served as ambassador for James VI to various countries. He was an important intermediary between George Keith, 5th Earl Marischal and the king, the king and courtiers, and the king and foreign governments.
Alexander Barclay was an apothecary in Edinburgh.
John Gibb of Knock and Carribber (c.1550–1628) was a Scottish landowner and courtier.
Elizabeth or Elspeth Gibb was a Scottish courtier.
Queen Elizabeth I of England paid a subsidy to King James VI of Scotland from 1586 to 1602. This enabled her to influence James by delaying or deferring payments to his diplomats in London. Records survive of the yearly amounts, and details of the expenditure in some years. A large proportion of the money was spent on the royal wardrobe of James and Anne of Denmark. Some royal expenses were met by Anne of Denmark's dowry, which was known as the "tocher". The regular incomes of the Scottish crown were feudal rents, customs, and "compositions" charged on grants of land. Accounts for royal incomes and payments survive as the exchequer rolls and lord treasurer's accounts and have been published as historical sources.
Sir Henry Gibb, 1st Baronet was a Scottish courtier.
Carribber Castle, also known as Carriber Castle or Rob Gibb's Castle, is a ruined castle located near Linlithgow in West Lothian, Scotland.