William Murray was a Scottish courtier, a household servant of James VI of Scotland as a "valet of the king's chamber".
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William Murray was a Scottish courtier, a household servant of James VI of Scotland as a "valet of the king's chamber".
According to the register of privy seal letters, he was a son of James Murray, who had been the barber of James V. Mary, Queen of Scots mentions William Murray as a barber who practiced surgery. He had served her husband Lord Darnley and was travelling to France in July 1571. [1]
William Murray served the young James VI at Stirling Castle as a valet. The royal household was managed by Annabell Murray, Countess of Mar. Another servant, William Broig, was the king's barber. [2] Murray was sometimes described as a "cubicular", a Latinate word for a bedchamber servant. [3] A valet since 1569, in 1577 he was given a second appointment as a "varlet of the wardrobe". [4]
In 1571, William Murray brought tapestry from Stirling Castle to decorate Stirling Tolbooth for the Parliament. [5] There are several records of purchases made for James VI by Murray. In July and August 1574 he organised the decoration of the king's study or cabinet in the palace at Stirling with green paint, copper tacks, and broad green woollen cloth. In 1576 he bought bird seed for the king's parrots, supervised the construction of a bird cage from wire for the king's chamber, bought cord to hang up bird cages, and bought tennis rackets. [6] Murray brought clothes made by the king's tailors in Edinburgh to the king at Stirling. [7]
For New Year's Day 1579, Murray bought 24 gold rings for James VI to distribute as gifts. [8] Records of his purchases for the court show that he must have been one of the chief household servants at this time. [9] The varlets slept in beds the King's chamber or bed chamber. [10]
In 1591 the four valets were William Murray, William Stewart, John Gibb, and John Stewart of Rosland. [11]
It was said that during the Earl of Bothwell's Raid of Holyrood in July 1593, James VI was surprised emerging from the privy with William Murray and unable to reach safety in the Queen's chamber had to confront the Earl. [12] Possibly the same William Murray appears in financial records connected with the household of Prince Henry at Stirling Castle, named in receipts in 1595 for silverware used by the Prince, including candlesticks and a trencher plate with salt cellar in 1595. [13]
Another William Murray was Master of Carriage to James VI, in charge of transporting the king's luggage. [14] His wife Christian Lindsay baked the king's shortbread and oatcakes and may have been a poet. [15]
Master William Murray, a son of William Murray of Tullibardine (died 1583) and a nephew of Annabell, Countess of Mar, was made a gentleman in the king's bedchamber or "forechamber" in June 1580. [16] [17]
A third, and younger William Murray, a son of Catherine Murray, Lady Abercairny, a sister of the Countess of Mar, was a schoolroom companion of James VI at Stirling. He became a Master of Horse to Anne of Denmark. [18]
Thomas Hudson, was a musician and poet from the north of England present at the Scottish court of King James VI at the end of the 16th century. Both he and his brother Robert Hudson were members of the Castalian Band, a group of court poets and musicians headed by the King in the 1580s and 1590s.
Alexander Erskine of Gogar was a Scottish landowner and keeper of James VI of Scotland at Stirling Castle.
John Murray, 1st Earl of Tullibardine was a Scottish courtier and leader of the Clan Murray.
Annabell Murray, Countess of Mar (1536–1603), was a Scottish landowner, courtier and royal servant, the keeper of the infant James VI and his son Prince Henry at Stirling Castle.
William Murray of Tullibardine was a Scottish courtier and leader of the Clan Murray.
William Stewart of Monkton and Carstairs was a Scottish landowner and courtier.
Margaret Fleming, Countess of Atholl (1536-1586) was a Scottish courtier and landowner rumoured to be involved in the occult. She served as lady-in-waiting to Mary, Queen of Scots.
John Gibb of Knock and Carribber (c.1550–1628) was a Scottish landowner and courtier.
William Stewart was a Scottish courtier.
Magdalen Livingstone was a Scottish courtier. She was a favoured lady-in-waiting to Mary, Queen of Scots, and later belonged to the household of Prince Henry.
James Inglis was a Scottish tailor who served James VI of Scotland.
Jerome Bowie was a servant of James VI of Scotland as a sommelier and Master of the Wine Cellar, in charge of the purchase and serving of wine.
Adam Erskine, Commendator of Cambuskenneth, was a Scottish landowner and courtier.
William Stewart of Caverston and Traquair, was a Scottish landowner and Captain of Dumbarton Castle.
Alexander Durham was a Scottish courtier and administrator.
John Stewart was a Scottish soldier and Constable of Stirling Castle for James VI of Scotland.
Catherine Murray was a Scottish aristocrat and courtier.
Helen Littil was a Scottish courtier, the nurse of King James VI and I.
George Auchinleck of Balmanno was a Scottish courtier and servant of Regent Morton in the 1570s.
Mungo Brady or Brydie or Brand was an Edinburgh goldsmith, regarded as a King's man in the civil war, he was appointed goldsmith to James VI of Scotland.