John Workman or Warkman was a prominent artist in Edinburgh. He painted scenes for the Royal Entry of Anna of Denmark in May 1590 and decorated her coach in 1603 when she left for England, and he made and painted a board for the game of the goose for James VI. John Workman died of…
One Latin household books survives from the reign of James IV, (National Records of Scotland, E32/1). It covers dates from 1511 to 1512, giving daily expenses of food for the households of James IV and that of Margaret Tudor. The accountant was the Bishop of Caithness. Like the later Scottish household books, it includes entries…
When Mary of Guise went to Dumbarton to put her daughter on a boat to France in August 1548, it was thought she would sail with Mary, Queen of Scots to Whithorn. The Master of Ruthven wrote to the English commander, Lord Grey of Wilton, that "For newes, the Queenes grace of Scotlande taketh shyppeborde…
A few details of Mary's household and her travels in 1564 are known from an account of payments made by George Wishart of Drymme, which was published for the first time by the Scottish History Society in 2025.1 Mary's trip to the north of Scotland included hunting in Glentilt, (4 July).2 Wishart's account includes payments…
George Crawford was hired in London by the Earl of Moray in 1646 to paint at Moray House in Edinburgh's Canongate and at Donibristle House in Fife. The Earl also hired English plasterers and joiners to work on new interiors at Donibristle in a wing built by the Scottish architect John Milne. Moray bought furnishings…
James Murray (died 1613) was a younger brother of the laird of Polmaise near Stirling. In 1568 he was a friend of Regent Moray and William Kirkcaldy of Grange, and looked after the keys of the coffer in Edinburgh Castle where the jewels of Mary, Queen of Scots, were kept. He seems to have been…
Hugh Paterson was a lawyer, joint deputy-keeper of the signet, and builder of Bannockburn House. He was made a baronet in 1686, apparently by the influence of Alexander Stuart, 5th Earl of Moray. Paterson had worked for the earl’s mother Margaret Home, Countess of Moray. She bequeathed him a small necklace of pearls, bracelets, and…
Margaret Home, Countess of Moray, died in 1683. Her son, Alexander Stuart, Earl of Moray, and Secretary of State for Scotland, was in London. His son, Charles Stuart, was in Edinburgh and Fife in May 1683, settling her affairs with their factor Hugh Paterson of Bannockburn. They made inventories, discovered a cache of silver plate…
Clothes and jewellery in a will of Annabell Murray, Countess of Mar A will of Annabell Murray, Countess of Mar (died 1603), dated 16 November 1602 is held by the National Library of Scotland.1 Various bequests detail her magnificent jewellery and costume. Annabell was the keeper of Prince Henry at Stirling Castle, and took part…
Jane Savage Paulet, Marchioness of Winchester, by Gilbert Jackson Mary Fane, Countess of Westmorland, wrote to her daughter, Grace, Countess of Home, on 22 April 1631 with news of the death of Lady Jane Savage. She had died following treatment for an infection in her mouth: '... your cosen the Lady Marquis of Winchester is dead,…
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