Thomas Erskine of Haltoun
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Erskine of Haltoun and Brechin was the royal secretary to James V of Scotland
from 1524.
, who was married to a French lady-in waiting of Mary of Guise
, Barbara Berlay. Thomas's sister Isabella married James Cramond of Auldbar by 1527. Thomas himself married Elizabeth Scrymgeour. Their son, Thomas, (later styled younger of Haltoun), was married to Agnes Ogilvy by 1541.
and James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran
in 1524. As a 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. These services included keeping and repairing Tantallon Castle
after the siege of 1528. Some of the yearly fees due to the crown for these lands were used for the wages of the garrison of Stirling Castle
.
It has been suggested that Erskine was a founder of the College of Justice
, and he may have been educated at Pavia
. Later he came under the king’s suspicion for communicating with the banished Douglas family. Erskine witnessed king James's will on the Salamander
at Leith on 12 June 1540 before his voyage to Orkney and the Western Isles.
In 1548, Erskine travelled to mainland Europe to rescue one of his sons from captivity.
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
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. 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
, 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.
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
.
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.
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.
James V of Scotland
James V was King of Scots from 9 September 1513 until his death, which followed the Scottish defeat at the Battle of Solway Moss...
from 1524.
Family
A royal charter of 8 February 1543 noted Thomas as the uncle of the reformer John Erskine of DunJohn Erskine of Dun
-Biography:The son of Sir John Erskine, Laird of Dun, he was educated at King's College, University of Aberdeen. At the age of twenty-one Erskine was the cause — probably by accident — of a priest's death, and was forced to go abroad, where he came under the influence of the new learning...
, who was married to a French lady-in waiting of Mary of Guise
Mary of Guise
Mary of Guise was a queen consort of Scotland as the second spouse of King James V. She was the mother of Mary, Queen of Scots, and served as regent of Scotland in her daughter's name from 1554 to 1560...
, Barbara Berlay. Thomas's sister Isabella married James Cramond of Auldbar by 1527. Thomas himself married Elizabeth Scrymgeour. Their son, Thomas, (later styled younger of Haltoun), was married to Agnes Ogilvy by 1541.
Career
He was first appointed secretary by Margaret TudorMargaret Tudor
Margaret Tudor was the elder of the two surviving daughters of Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York, and the elder sister of Henry VIII. In 1503, she married James IV, King of Scots. James died in 1513, and their son became King James V. She married secondly Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of...
and James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran
James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran
James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran and 2nd Lord Hamilton was a Scottish nobleman and first cousin of James IV of Scotland.-Biography:...
in 1524. As a reward for his services he was granted the lands and lordship of Brechin
Brechin
Brechin is a former royal burgh in Angus, Scotland. Traditionally Brechin is often described as a city because of its cathedral and its status as the seat of a pre-Reformation Roman Catholic diocese , but that status has not been officially recognised in the modern era...
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. These services included keeping and repairing Tantallon Castle
Tantallon Castle
Tantallon Castle is a mid-14th-century fortress, located east of North Berwick, in East Lothian, Scotland. It sits atop a promontory opposite the Bass Rock, looking out onto the Firth of Forth...
after the siege of 1528. Some of the yearly fees due to the crown for these lands were used for the wages of the garrison of Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle, located in Stirling, is one of the largest and most important castles, both historically and architecturally, in Scotland. The castle sits atop Castle Hill, an intrusive crag, which forms part of the Stirling Sill geological formation. It is surrounded on three sides by steep...
.
It has been suggested that Erskine was a founder of the College of Justice
College of Justice
The College of Justice is a term used to describe the Supreme Courts of Scotland, and its associated bodies.The constituent bodies of the supreme courts of Scotland are the Court of Session, the High Court of Justiciary, and the Accountant of Court's Office...
, and he may have been educated at Pavia
Pavia
Pavia , the ancient Ticinum, is a town and comune of south-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 35 km south of Milan on the lower Ticino river near its confluence with the Po. It is the capital of the province of Pavia. It has a population of c. 71,000...
. Later he came under the king’s suspicion for communicating with the banished Douglas family. Erskine witnessed king James's will on the Salamander
Salamander of Leith
Salamander of Leith was a warship of the 16th-century Royal Scots Navy. She was a wedding present from Francis I of France to James V of Scotland....
at Leith on 12 June 1540 before his voyage to Orkney and the Western Isles.
In 1548, Erskine travelled to mainland Europe to rescue one of his sons from captivity.
Royal wedding planner
James V was destined for a French marriage by the Treaty of RouenTreaty of Rouen
The Treaty of Rouen was signed on August 26, 1517 between France and Scotland. The treaty provided the renewal of the Auld Alliance in terms of mutual military assistance and reciprocal aid...
of 1517, which aimed to secure the Auld Alliance
Auld Alliance
The Auld Alliance was an alliance between the kingdoms of Scotland and France. It played a significant role in the relations between Scotland, France and England from its beginning in 1295 until the 1560 Treaty of Edinburgh. The alliance was renewed by all the French and Scottish monarchs of that...
. Erskine travelled to France, Rome, and England regarding James’s marriage, notionally to Madeleine of Valois daughter of Francis I of France
Francis I of France
Francis I was King of France from 1515 until his death. During his reign, huge cultural changes took place in France and he has been called France's original Renaissance monarch...
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. 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
Catherine de' Medici
Catherine de' Medici was an Italian noblewoman who was Queen consort of France from 1547 until 1559, as the wife of King Henry II of France....
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
Pope Clement VI
Pope Clement VI , bornPierre Roger, the fourth of the Avignon Popes, was pope from May 1342 until his death in December of 1352...
, 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.
The marriage plan changed, and in February 1533, two French ambassadors, William du Bellay, sieur de Langes
Guillaume du Bellay
Guillaume du Bellay, seigneur de Langey , from a notable Angevin family was a French diplomat and general under King Francis I....
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
Christina of Denmark
Christina of Denmark was a Danish princess who became Duchess-consort of Milan, then Duchess-consort of Lorraine...
.
Two years later, Erskine was in France with David Beaton
David Beaton
The Most Rev. Dr. David Cardinal Beaton was Archbishop of St Andrews and the last Scottish Cardinal prior to the Reformation.-Career:...
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
Marguerite de Navarre
Marguerite de Navarre , also known as Marguerite of Angoulême and Margaret of Navarre, was the queen consort of Henry II of Navarre...
, Madame Aubigny and Robert Stuart, sieur d'Aubigny, the Chancellor Antoine Duprat Cardinal of Sens
Antoine Duprat
Antoine Duprat was a French Cardinal and politician, who was chancellor of France.-Life:Duprat was born in Issoire in Auvergne. Educated for the law, he won a high position in his profession and in 1507 became first president of the Parlement of Paris...
, the Admiral Philippe de Chabot
Philippe de Chabot
Philippe de Chabot, Seigneur De Brion, Count of Charny and Buzançois , also known as Admiral De Brion, was an admiral of France.- Biography :...
, the Grand Master Anne de Montmorency
Anne de Montmorency
Anne de Montmorency, duc de Montmorency, Honorary Knight of the Garter was a French soldier, statesman and diplomat. He became Marshal of France and Constable of France.-Early life:...
, and the French Secretary Jean le Breton, sieur de Villandry
Château de Villandry
The Château de Villandry is a castle-palace located in Villandry, in the département of Indre-et-Loire, France.The lands where an ancient fortress once stood were known as Colombier until the 17th century...
. Erskine and Beaton were instructed to arrange for Madeleine to come to Scotland next summer, when she was fourteen, or in July 1535.
Initially, Francis I organised a substitute bride: Erskine was at Cremieu
Crémieu
Crémieu is a commune in the Isère department in south-eastern France.It is located near Bourgoin-Jallieu, about 25 miles east of Lyon.-Early history:...
on 6 March 1536 when the contract was made for James V to marry Mary of Bourbon
Mary of Bourbon
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 the Princess Madeleine...
, daughter of the Duke of Vendôme.
Further reading
- Cameron, Jamie, James V, the personal rule, 1528-1542, Tuckwell, (1998)
- Hay, Denys, ed., The Letters of James V, HMSO (1954)
- Stuart, John ed., The Miscellany of the Spalding Club, 'Pittodrie Papers', vol. 2, Aberdeen (1842) pp. 75–208.