Thomas Musgrave, Captain of Bewcastle was an English landowner and soldier involved in Scottish border politics. He was keeper of Bewcastle Castle for Elizabeth I.
He was a younger son of Sir Simon Musgrave of Hartley and Edenhall (died 1597) and his wife Julian, a daughter of William Ellerker of Ellerker. [1] He was also known as Musgrave of Cumcatch. His father was Constable of Bewcastle and made Thomas his depute as Captain of Bewcastle. [2]
In 1582 his brother Christopher Musgrave captured some members of the Scottish Armstrong family, who were subsequently executed, adding to a cross-border feud and leading to raids on Bewcastle. The Graham and Carleton families joined in, targeting Thomas Musgrave after he killed Arthur Graham in Scotland and stole his cattle. The English border wardens were reluctant to send more troops to reinforce the garrison at Bewcastle in case this escalated tension on the border. In 1583 Thomas Musgrave wrote a description of the Scottish border and family networks on both sides for William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley. In June 1586 his father had to write to the Council in favour of Thomas continuing in the role of his depute as Captain of Bewcastle, and he was allowed to keep his place. [3]
Musgrave was a friend of the Scottish rebel Francis Stewart, 5th Earl of Bothwell. He supplied a list of the names of Bothwell's followers who besieged James VI of Scotland and Anne of Denmark at Raid of Falkland and was present at Falkland, accused with the English border reiver Richie Graham of Brackenhill and his companions of sacking Falkland town, taking horses, clothing, and money. Musgrave was said to have stolen the king's own horse, "Gray Valentine". He allowed Bothwell to stay with him at Bewcastle after the Raid and during his exile in 1593. [4] Musgrave and other Englishmen were "filed" as border offenders with a large financial penalty for their part in the Raid. He was imprisoned in England for while and continued to correspond with Bothwell, sending his servant John Watson to the Earl. Bothwell hoped Musgrave would be able to secure an interview for one of his agents with Elizabeth I. [5]
The English diplomat in Edinburgh, Robert Bowes, spoke to James VI on Musgrave's behalf, asking that he would write to Elizabeth I for his release. Musgrave was having a difficult time and his wife had recently died. James VI was still angry and expressed some doubt about the demise of Musgrave's wife. He had also heard that one of Musgrave's brothers continued to entertain Bothwell at Bewcastle. [6] In July 1593 the Scottish diplomat Robert Melvile of Murdocairny was instructed to press for the rendition of Musgrave and Cuthbert Armourer, a Northumbrian gentlemen who frequently came to Scotland for the hunting and had also hosted Bothwell in England. [7] Musgrave continued to act as a border warden and upset his commander Lord Scrope by releasing a Scottish reiver called Bungell. Scrope felt Musgrave's actions undermined his authority. [8]
In July 1596 Musgrave was captured, despite trying to find refuge at Brackenhill, [9] and taken into Scotland by Kinmont Willie Armstrong and transferred to royal custody at Hawick. James VI was said to be pleased because Musgrave was a lawful prisoner in comparison with Armstrong's recent detention at Carlisle Castle. [10] He was returned to England after a couple of weeks, during which he met the Laird of Buccleuch, who was unrepentant for his actions in springing Kinmont Willie from Carlisle. [11] Musgrave was released only "on band" and the veteran Scottish border warden Sir John Carmichael requested his return. [12] The incident seems to be part of the basis of a ballad, Jamie Telfer of the Fair Dodhead. In May 1599 Musgrave organised a football match at Bewcastle with six players on each side, England versus Scotland. [13]
Despite the King's anger in 1593, Musgrave came to enjoy a good relationship with James VI of Scotland. An English diplomat George Nicholson reported that he shared "merry cracks" with the king at Stirling Castle in September 1601, and after drinking together in the cellar Musgrave joked about jousting with James if he opposed Elizabeth. They watched Prince Henry dance and wield a pike. [14] Musgrave was in Scotland to deliver a message from Lord Scrope about border issues and his assault of Mangerton Tower. Scrope found the king's response disappointing. [15]
On 8 April 1602 Musgrave was set to fight in a duel or judicial combat with Lancelot Carleton of Askerton at Canonby Holme. [16] Carleton had accused Musgrave of treason, alleging to the Privy Council of England that he had offered the use of Bewcastle to James VI of Scotland and the place was the resort of thieves and border rebels. The outcome is unknown. It seems that instead of fighting, Musgrave was summoned to London to meet Sir Robert Cecil. [17] The rumour of Musgrave receiving thieves at Bewcastle in breach of his promises came to James again in November, and he declared he would ride to Bewcastle and personally hang Musgrave on the wall of the castle. [18]
Musgrave had possession of lands at Plumpton Park in Hesket in the Forest of Inglewood, formerly regarded as part of Debatable Lands between Scotland and England. After the Union of the Crowns, in May 1605, King James granted these lands to his Scottish favourite John Murray of bedchamber, and Musgrave protested. [19]
Musgrave married Ursula, a daughter of Sir Reginald Carnaby, widow of Sir Edward Widdrington, and mother of Sir Henry Widdrington. She died in 1592 while Musgrave was imprisoned for his part in the Raid of Falkland. [20] His second wife was Scottish, [21] and her first name is recorded as Susanna. [22]
Susanna's daughter Catherine, described as an heiress of Cumcatch, married Sir Richard Graham (died 1653), son of Fergus Graham of Plump or Plumpton in Cumbria. [23] who was master of horse at court to King James and Charles I, and accompanied Charles and Buckingham during the Spanish Match. [24]
It was rumoured (in 1599) that Musgrave had a daughter who had married a Scottish laird, Sym Armstrong of Whithaugh. [25]
Falkland Palace, in Falkland, Fife, Scotland, is a royal palace of the Scottish Kings. It was one of the favourite places of Mary, Queen of Scots, who took refuge there from political and religious turmoil of her times.
William Armstrong of Kinmont or Kinmont Willie was a Scottish border reiver and outlaw active in the Anglo-Scottish Border country in the last decades of the 16th century.
Walter Scott, 5th of Buccleuch, 1st Lord Scott of Buccleuch was a Scottish nobleman and famous border reiver, known as the "Bold Buccleuch" and leader of Kinmont Willie's Raid.
Alexander Home, 1st Earl of Home and 6th Lord Home, was a Scottish nobleman and Lord Warden-general of all the March. He succeeded as the 6th Lord Home, a Lord of Parliament in the Peerage of Scotland, in 1575, and he was created Earl of Home in the Peerage of Scotland in 1605.
Francis Stewart, 5th Earl of Bothwell, was Commendator of Kelso Abbey and Coldingham Priory, a Privy Counsellor and Lord High Admiral of Scotland. He was a notorious conspirator who led several uprisings against his first cousin, King James VI, all of which ultimately failed, and he died in poverty in Italy after being banished from Scotland. Francis's maternal uncle, the 4th Earl of Bothwell, was the chief suspect in the murder of James VI's father, Lord Darnley.
Sir John Carmichael was a Scottish soldier, the Keeper of Liddesdale, a diplomat, and owner of Fenton Tower at Kingston, East Lothian.
Robert Bowes (1535?–1597) was an English diplomat, stationed as permanent ambassador to Scotland from 1577 to 1583.
Richie Graham of Brackenhill (1555-1606) was a prominent Reiver active in late sixteenth century Great Britain.
Sir Richard Cockburn of Clerkington, Lord Clerkintoun (1565–1627) was a senior government official in Scotland serving as Lord Privy Seal of Scotland during the reign of James VI.
Sir Roger Aston of Cranford, Middlesex, was an English courtier and favourite of James VI of Scotland.
William Selby, was an English member of parliament and soldier at Berwick upon Tweed.
Jacob Kroger, was a German goldsmith who worked for Anne of Denmark in Scotland and stole her jewels.
Sir James Sandilands was a courtier to King James VI and I and captain of Blackness Castle
George Nicholson or Nicolson, was an English diplomat in Scotland.
James Scott of Balwearie was a Scottish landowner and supporter of the rebel earls.
Margaret Douglas, Countess of Bothwell was a Scottish aristocrat and courtier.
Archibald Wauchope of Niddrie Scottish landowner and rebel.
James Douglas of Spott was a Scottish landowner and conspirator.
The Raid of Holyrood was an attack on Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh on 27 December 1591 by Francis Stewart, 5th Earl of Bothwell in order to gain the favour of King James VI of Scotland. Bothwell subsequently staged a raid at Falkland Palace, and in July 1593 made another attempt at Holyrood.
Mangerton Tower is a ruined Scottish tower castle house formerly belonging to the Armstrong family.