Thomas Ewyn

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Thomas Ewyn (died 1569) was a Scottish goldsmith working in Edinburgh.

Contents

Career

Thomas Ewyn was Deacon of the Goldsmiths. He copied and wrote some of the craft statutes into a minute book. The original is lost, but a later copy survives. One of the craft records originally included by Ewyn has a list of materials used by goldsmiths in the 16th century, giving some idea of their use of technology and technique, "hanmilling of all cuilouris [enamel] to be sett under the staines of ringis, subleim argiston, antemonium sublimatum, tent, sandesier, haloume [alum], caperowes [copperas], salpeiter [saltpetre], verdegris, aqua fortus [acid], symound [solder], winstaine, brounstaine [brimstone], saigbanis, croithes, quicksilver, hormalaye." [1]

In May 1555, there were discussions in Parliament and the Convention of Royal Burghs about the role of Craft Deacons in burgh councils. This was controversial, [2] [3] and Ewyn made a protest to Edinburgh's council on behalf of the Craft Deacons. [4]

Ewyn was involved in planning the civic celebrations in Edinburgh for the return of Mary, Queen of Scots to Scotland in 1561. Ewyn, speaking on behalf of the Deacons of the Crafts, discussed finances for the event at a meeting of the burgh council on 27 August 1561. [5]

On 24 September 1561, Ewyn presented candidates for election to the council, including his fellow goldsmith Michael Gilbert, a skinner Michael Turnet, the mason Thomas Jackson, blacksmith Nicol Purves, and the carpenter David Schang. The council argued with Ewyn that there should be 12 candidates for the two places allotted to the Crafts. Ewyn produced documents including an Act of Parliament of James III and a grant made by Mary of Guise which he contended showed how the Crafts should be involved in the council elections. [6]

On 8 October 1561 Queen Mary disputed the election of the council. Ewyn wanted it put on record that he had voted for Thomas McCalzean as Provost of Edinburgh, on account of his ability and qualifications, and would otherwise have according to the queen's direction, if she had preferred a candidate. McCalzean was made Provost. [7]

Robert Ewyn

His brother was the chaplain and scribe, Robert Ewyn, who was clerk for the Edinburgh incorporation of Masons and Wrights and other building crafts. [8] In 1548, Ewyn produced a manuscript copy of a key Scottish legal text, the Regiam Maiestatem, now kept at the University of St Andrews. [9] Robert Ewyn also did legal work for the Edinburgh Skinner craft. As a graduate he used the title "sir" or "schir". [10]

Death and will

Thomas Ewyn died on 10 May 1569. His will mentions that he had loaned goldsmith's files and a quantity of salammoniac, used to refine gold and silver, to another goldsmith, Alexander Gilbert. His daughter Barbara was the wife of the glazier Stevin Loch. His executors included the scribe Robert Ewyn and the goldsmith James Mosman. Unusually, the will includes a measure to avoid Thomas Ewyn's widow from continuing his business, as she was "ane woman of na schift", meaning she was not thought to have suitable initiative, and, perhaps because of her status and upbringing, was reluctant to become a businesswoman as a widow. [11]

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References

  1. ↑ Jean Munro & Henry Steuart Fotheringham, Edinburgh Goldsmith's Minutes: 1525–1700 (Edinburgh: SRS, 2006), pp. 214–215, C30.
  2. ↑ Michael Lynch, Edinburgh and the Reformation (John Donald, 2003), p. 71: Michael Lynch, "The Crown and the Burgh", The Early Modern Town in Scotland (Croom Helm, 1987) pp. 60–61.
  3. ↑ Mary Verschuur, "Merchants and Craftsmen in Sixteenth-Century Perth", The Early Modern Town in Scotland (Croom Helm, 1987) pp. 46–47.
  4. ↑ James David Marwick, Extracts from the Records of Edinburgh, 1528-1557 (Edinburgh, 1871), p. 217
  5. ↑ James David Marwick, Extracts from the Records of Edinburgh, 1557-1561 (Edinburgh, 1875), pp. 120–121.
  6. ↑ James David Marwick, Extracts from the Records of Edinburgh, 1557-1561 (Edinburgh, 1875), pp. 122–125.
  7. ↑ James David Marwick, Extracts from the Records of Edinburgh, 1557-1561 (Edinburgh, 1875), pp. 126, 302.
  8. ↑ Michael Pearce, "A French Furniture Maker and the 'Courtly Style' in Sixteenth-Century Scotland", Regional Furniture vol. XXXII (2018), p. 127.
  9. ↑ Margaret Connolly & Rachel Hart, "Writing the Law in Late Medieval and Early Modern Scotland: Regiam maiestatem, the Marchmont Manuscript (now St Andrews MS 39000), and its Scribe Robert Ewyn, Notary", Scottish Historical Review, 103:2 (2024), pp. 203-235. doi : 10.3366/shr.2024.0669
  10. ↑ William Angus, "Incorporated Trade of the Skinners of Edinburgh", Book of the Old Edinburgh Club (1913), pp. 82, 87
  11. ↑ Margaret Connolly & Rachel Hart, "Writing the Law in Late Medieval and Early Modern Scotland: Regiam maiestatem, the Marchmont Manuscript (now St Andrews MS 39000), and its Scribe Robert Ewyn, Notary", Scottish Historical Review, 103:2 (2024), pp. 203-235 at 228. doi : 10.3366/shr.2024.0669
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