Thomas Erskine of Haltoun

Last updated

Sir Thomas Erskine of Haltoun and Brechin was the royal secretary to James V of Scotland from 1524.

Contents

Family

A royal charter of 8 February 1543 noted Thomas as the uncle of the reformer John Erskine of Dun, who was married to a French lady-in waiting of Mary of Guise, Barbara Berlay. [1] Thomas's sister Isabella married James Cramond of Auldbar by 1527. [2]

Thomas Erskine married Elizabeth Scrymgeour. [3] Their son, Thomas, (later styled younger of Haltoun), was married to Agnes Ogilvy by 1541. [4] He had license to travel abroad in April 1542, with his cousin John Erskine of Dun, and John Lamby of Duncany. [5]

Career

He was first appointed secretary by Margaret Tudor and James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran in 1524. [6] In September 1526 he was made a gentleman and squire in the king's household. He was allowed food for himself, three horses, and two servants. [7]

As a reward for his services at home and abroad, in August 1531 Thomas was given the important task of keeping, repairing, and garrisoning Tantallon Castle, which James V of Scotland had obtained from the exiled Earl of Angus. [8] He was at Tantallon in July 1533. [9] As a further reward for his services he was granted the lands and lordship of Brechin and Navar on 4 February 1534. He had been the chamberlain of these lands since 1527. The charter described him as Sir Thomas Erskine of Kirkbuddo. Some of the yearly fees due to the crown for these lands were used for the wages of the garrison of Stirling Castle. [10]

It has been suggested that Erskine was a founder of the College of Justice, and he may have been educated at Pavia. [11] Later he came under the king's suspicion for communicating with the banished Douglas family. [12] Erskine witnessed king James's will on the Salamander at Leith on 12 June 1540 before his voyage to Orkney and the Western Isles. [13] In 1548, Erskine travelled to mainland Europe to rescue one of his sons from captivity. [14]

Royal wedding planner

James V was destined for a French marriage by the Treaty of Rouen of 1517, which aimed to secure the Auld Alliance. Erskine travelled to France, Rome, and England regarding James's marriage, notionally to Madeleine of Valois daughter of Francis I of France [15] Erskine was sent to France as a diplomat to contract this marriage in April 1530. He was joined in this commission with John Stewart, Duke of Albany. [16] However, at this time James V's advisors and the Duke of Albany hoped to gain political advantage by contracting the King's marriage to Catherine de' Medici the young Duchess of Urbino. On his way to Rome to meet Albany in December 1531 to further the Urbino marriage with Pope Clement VI, [17] Erskine was shipwrecked on the French coast. When Erskine arrived in Rome in the spring of 1531 he dined with the Spanish ambassador Mai, who may have been a fellow student at Pavia. Erskine's instructions may have included asking Albany to press Clement VI to allow James V to tax the church in Scotland. The historian Robert Kerr Hannay argued that the resultant 'tax of the three teinds' was part of the process of the formation of the College of Justice. [18]

The marriage plan changed, and in February 1533, two French ambassadors, William du Bellay, sieur de Langes and Etienne de Laigue, sieur de Beauvais, who had just been in Scotland, told the Venetian ambassador in London that James was thinking of marrying Christina of Denmark. [19]

Two years later, Erskine was in France with David Beaton still trying to secure the King's marriage to Princess Madeleine. He had letters of recommendation from James V to Eleanor of France, the Queen of Navarre, Madame Aubigny and Robert Stuart, sieur d'Aubigny, the Chancellor Antoine Duprat Cardinal of Sens, the Admiral Philippe de Chabot, the Grand Master Anne de Montmorency, and the French Secretary Jean le Breton, sieur de Villandry. Erskine and Beaton were instructed to arrange for Madeleine to come to Scotland next summer, when she was fourteen, or in July 1535. [20]

Initially, Francis I organised a substitute bride: Erskine was at Cremieu on 6 March 1536 when the contract was made for James V to marry Mary of Bourbon, daughter of the Duke of Vendôme. [21]

Further reading

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Register of the Great Seal of Scotland 1513–1546 (HM General Register House: Edinburgh, 1883), pp. 596–7, nos. 2598–99 ; & pp. 694–5, no. 2966: West, Erskine, E., 'Gamnecourt in Picardy; Barbara de Bierle; Erskine of Dun,' Notes and Queries (25 February 1911), s11-III: 152–153.
  2. ↑ Register of the Great Seal, (1883), no. 2439.
  3. ↑ Register of the Great Seal (Edinburgh, 1883), nos. 308, 1132, 1149, 1180.
  4. ↑ Register of the Great Seal (Edinburgh, 1883), nos. 2432–3.
  5. ↑ HMC 5th Report: Erskine (London, 1876), p. 639.
  6. ↑ 'Pittodrie Papers', Spalding Club Miscellany, vol. 2 (Aberdeen, 1842), p. 178.
  7. ↑ Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland, vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1908), p. 532 no. 3514.
  8. ↑ Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, 1513–46 (Edinburgh, 1883), p. 230 no. 1049.
  9. ↑ James Balfour Paul, Accounts of the Treasurer: 1531–1538, vol. 6 (Edinburgh, 1905), p. 137.
  10. ↑ Miscellany of the Spalding Club (Aberdeen, 1842), pp. 188–9.
  11. ↑ Hannay, Robert Kerr, The College of Justice (Edinburgh, 1933), p. 63.
  12. ↑ 'Pittrodrie Papers' (1842), p. 193.
  13. ↑ HMC 60 16th Report Mar & Kellie Manuscripts (London, 1904), p. 15.
  14. ↑ 'Pittodrie Papers', Miscellany of the Spalding Club (Aberdeen, 1842), 205.
  15. ↑ Spalding Club, (1842), 180–181, 186–7. (Latin).
  16. ↑ Spalding Club Miscellany, vol. 2 (1842), 180–181 (Latin).
  17. ↑ Spalding Miscellany, vol. 2 (1842), 190–192 (text of Erskine's instructions n.d.)
  18. ↑ Hannay, Robert Kerr, 'On the Foundation of the College of Justice',' in The Scottish Historical Review, vol. 15, no.57 (Oct. 1917), p. 35 citing CSP Spain & L&P, vol. 5, p. 125.
  19. ↑ Calendar of State Papers Venice, vol. 4 (London, 1871), no. 861.
  20. ↑ Hay, Denys, ed., The Letters of James V (HMSO, 1954), pp. 172, 182, 189, 254–259.
  21. ↑ Cameron, Jamie, James V (Tuckwell: East Linton, 1998), p. 131.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James V of Scotland</span> King of Scotland from 1513 to 1542

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray</span> Regent for King James VI of Scotland from 1567–70

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Forman</span> Scottish diplomat

Andrew Forman was a Scottish diplomat and prelate who became Bishop of Moray in 1501, Archbishop of Bourges in France, in 1513, Archbishop of St Andrews in 1514 as well as being Commendator of several monasteries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ludovic Stewart, 2nd Duke of Lennox</span> Scottish nobleman and politician (1574–1624)

Ludovic Stewart, 2nd Duke of Lennox and 1st Duke of Richmond, lord of the Manor of Cobham, Kent, was a Scottish nobleman who through their paternal lines was a second cousin of King James VI of Scotland and I of England. He was involved in the Plantation of Ulster in Ireland and the colonization of Maine in New England. Richmond's Island and Cape Richmond as well as Richmond, Maine, are named after him. His magnificent monument with effigies survives in Westminster Abbey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tantallon Castle</span> Castle in Scotland

Tantallon Castle is a ruined mid-14th-century fortress, located 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) east of North Berwick, in East Lothian, Scotland. It sits atop a promontory opposite the Bass Rock, looking out onto the Firth of Forth. The last medieval curtain wall castle to be constructed in Scotland, Tantallon comprises a single wall blocking off the headland, with the other three sides naturally protected by sea cliffs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Hamilton of Finnart</span> Scottish nobleman and architect

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.

George de Lawedreof Haltoun was a Burgess and Provost of Edinburgh in the early 15th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Erskine, 1st Earl of Kellie</span> Scottish peer

Thomas Erskine, 1st Earl of Kellie was a Scottish peer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary of Bourbon</span>

Mary of Bourbon or Marie de Bourbon was a daughter of Charles, Duke of Vendôme, and Françoise d'Alençon, daughter of René, Duke of Alençon. Mary was the subject of marriage negotiations of James V of Scotland. He visited her in France, but subsequently married Madeleine of Valois. Mary died two years later.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antoine d'Arces</span> French nobleman

Antoine d'Arcy, sieur de la Bastie-sur-Meylan and of Lissieu, was a French nobleman involved in the government of Scotland.

John Drummond of Milnab was a 16th-century Scottish carpenter in charge of the woodwork of the palaces, castles and guns of James IV of Scotland and James V of Scotland.

John Stuart LLD (1813–1877) was a Scottish genealogist.

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.

Alexander Crichton of Brunstane,, was a Scottish Protestant laird who advocated the murder of Cardinal David Beaton and supported the plan for the marriage of Mary, Queen of Scots and Prince Edward of England. In contemporary letters and documents Alexander is known by variant spellings of "Brunstane," his territorial designation. The original House of Brunstane was near Penicuik, and another Crichton estate at Gilberstoun near Portobello, Edinburgh later became known as Brunstane.

Adam Gordon of Auchindoun (1545–1580) was a Scottish knight, younger brother of the Earl of Huntly and military leader during the Marian civil war on behalf of Mary, Queen of Scots in north west Scotland. In Scottish ballad lore, Adam became known as Edom o'Gordon.

Sir Robert Douglas of Lochleven was a Scottish courtier and landowner.

Michael Gardiner was a Scottish artilleryman based at Stirling Castle. The surname also appears as Gardner and Gardenar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Danielstoun</span>

William Danielstoun or Dennestoun was keeper of Linlithgow Palace for James V of Scotland.

Adam Erskine, Commendator of Cambuskenneth, was a Scottish landowner and courtier.

John Campbell of Lundy or Lundie was a Scottish lawyer and courtier.

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.