Ambassadors from Brunswick (BRU)
BRU-SC_01.
Adam Krause, Ambassador.
c.2/8/1594-c.10/9/1594
MISSION: To attend Prince Henry’s baptism.
NOTES: Attended the baptism of Prince Henry at Stirling on 6 September. Because they had not been informed directly, Krause refused to travel with the Danish ambassador from Leith and had to be conveyed separately to Edinburgh. His report on the event does not survive but the German accounts note that he was given 900 guilders for expenses.
SELECTED REFERENCES: Moysie, Memoirs, p.119; David Stevenson, Scotland’s Last Royal Wedding: The Marriage of James VI and Anne of Denmark (Edinburgh, 1996), p.126; William Fowler, A True Reportarie of the Most Triumphant, and Royal Accomplishment of the Baptisme of the Most Excellent, Right High, and Mightie Prince, Frederik Henry …, EEBO STC (2nd ed.) / 11214.6 (Edinburgh, 1594), f.2r; Calderwood, vol.5 pp.342-6; Staatsarchiv Wolfenbüttel, signature 17 III Alt Nr. 64 a, f.139; Niedersächsisches Landesarchiv Hannover, Cal. Br. 24 Nr. 7388.
Ambassadors from Denmark-Norway (DN)
DN-SC_01.
Manderup Parsberg, Special Ambassador.
Nicholaus Theophilus (Doctor), Special Ambassador. Henrik Below, Special Ambassador.
12/6/1585-12/8/1585
MISSION: To treat for custody of the Orkney and Shetland Islands and propose a marriage alliance.
SELECTED REFERENCES: Moysie, Memoirs, p.53; Melville, James. Memoirs of Sir James Melville of Halhill, 1535-1617. Edited by A. Francis Steuart. (London, 1929) p.295; Melville, Sir James. Memoirs of His Own Life. Edited by T. Thomson. (Edinburgh, 1827), pp.335-6.
DN-SC_02. ? ?, Agent.
27/5/1589-
MISSION: To discover if the Scots were still interested in marriage alliance.
NOTES: Arrived at Leith on or just before 27 May. There is no record of his name or when he departed. The Earl Marishal’s mission to Denmark-Norway to conclude negotiations were confirms soon after this ambassador’s arrival.
SELECTED REFERENCES: TNA, SP 52/44 f.34; University of St Andrews Special Collections, ms30447.
DN-SC_03.
Hendrik Gyldenstierne, Ambassador. Breide Rantzau, Ambassador.
Steen Brahe (Chancellor of Denmark), Ambassador. Peter Munk (Admiral of Denmark-Norway), Ambassador. Stephen Bua (Captain of Elsinore), Ambassador.
Bochastle (Captain), Ambassador.
Nicholus Theophilus (Doctor of Law), Ambassador. William Vandervant, Ambassador.
1/5/1590-26/5/1590
MISSION: To serve as part of the Danish wedding party.
NOTES: The named ambassadors plus 40 others were adorned in gold chains. In total 223 people accompanied James and Anna to Scotland; ambassadors were banqueted each day at 1200 merks per diem. The Danish ambassadors inspected Anna’s lordships in second week of their stay. 17 May was the coronation and the ambassadors were seated to Annals left Pageantry into Edinburgh on 19th. They left with 13-14,000 crowns worth of gold and jewels.
SELECTED REFERENCES: Moysie, Memoirs, pp.83, 158; RPCS vol.4 pp.479-80, 484, 634-6, 678; Melville, James. Memoirs of Sir James Melville of Halhill, 1535-1617. Edited by A. Francis Steuart. (London, 1929), p.331; David Stevenson, Scotland’s Last Royal Wedding: The Marriage of James VI and Anne of Denmark (Edinburgh, 1996), pp.57-62, 100-22.
DN-SC_04.
? Craik (Doctor), Ambassador. Steen Billie, Ambassador.
c.28/4/1593- <7/1593
MISSION: To ensure Anna was receiving her dowry.
NOTES: Investigation of Queen Anna’s rights to certain lands under marriage settlement. Thirlestane and others with contrary claims were forced to yield.
SELECTED REFERENCES: David Stevenson, Scotland’s Last Royal Wedding: The Marriage of James VI and Anne of Denmark (Edinburgh, 1996), p.65; Melville, Sir James. Memoirs of His Own Life. Edited by T. Thomson. (Edinburg, 1827) pp.413-4; Moysie, Memoirs, pp.102,162.
DN-SC_05.
Steen Bille, Ambassador.
Christian Barnekow, Ambassador.
c.1/8/1594-10/9/1594
MISSION: To attend Prince Henry’s baptism.
NOTES: Attended the baptism of Prince Henry at Stirling on 6 September to represent Denmark-Norway. Steen Bille was the uncle to the famous Tycho Brahe.
SELECTED REFERENCES: Moysie, Memoirs, p.119; David Stevenson, Scotland’s Last Royal Wedding: The Marriage of James VI and Anne of Denmark (Edinburgh, 1996), p.126; William Fowler, A True Reportarie of the Most Triumphant, and Royal Accomplishment of the Baptisme of the Most Excellent, Right High, and Mightie Prince, Frederik Henry …, EEBO STC (2nd ed.) / 11214.6 (Edinburgh, 1594), f.2r; Calderwood, vol.5 pp.342-6.
DN-SC_06.
Steen Bille, Ambassador.
13/6/1596-c. 22/6/1596
MISSION: To invite James to the coronation of Christian IV.
NOTES: The English ambassador, Robert Bowes, spelt his name Steven Beale in his correspondence.
SELECTED REFERENCES: TNA, SP 52/58 f.105; SP 52/58 f.110; RA TKUA Skotland 75-1/75-2.
DN-SC_07.
Ulrick Oldenburg (Duke of Holstein, Prince-Bishop of Schwerin), Royal visit.
14/3/1598-c. 11/6/1598
MISSION: Royal visit to his sister Anna and brother-in-law James.
NOTES: When he returns home Colonel Stewart and another gentleman accompany him. They return to Scotland c. 25 July.
SELECTED REFERENCES: TNA, SP 52/62 f.9; Thomas Riis, Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot: Scottish-Danish Relations, C. 1450-1707, 2 vol. (Odense, 1988), vol.2 p.296; Moysie, Memoirs, p.137; RA TKUA Skotland A/I/2 Anne to Christian IV, 22-3-1598 and James VI to Christian IV, 31/5/1598.
Ambassadors from England (EN)
EN-SC_01.
William Davison [Davidson], Special Ambassador.
24/4/1584-16/9/1584
MISSION: To help Hudson with the fallout from the failure of the Ruthven Regime and repair Anglo-Scottish relations.
NOTES: Davison’s instructions are dated 30 April 1584. His audience with James was on 5 June 1584.
SELECTED REFERENCES: Gary Bell, A Handlist of British Diplomatic Representatives, 1509-1688 (London, 1990), p.247; TNA, SP 52/34 ff.39, 43-4, 58-9, 81, 85; TNA, SP 52/35 f.6; TNA, SP 52/36 ff.58, 61; BL, Cotton Caligula C:VII ff.20, 76, 127, 139; BL, Harley 286 f.48; Patrick Gray, Letters and Papers Relating to Patrick Master of Gray: Afterwards Seventh Lord Gray, ed. by Thomas Thomson (Edinburgh, 1835), pp.4-5; James Melville, Memoirs of Sir James Melville of Halhill, 1535-1617, ed. by A. Francis Steuart (London, 1929), p.287.
EN-SC_02.
Henry Carey (Lord/Baron Hudson), Agent.
c. 6/1584-c. 2/1585
MISSION: To discuss an Anglo-Scottish friendship and the kind treatment of the Ruthven Regime leaders.
NOTES: Sent to treat with the new Scottish favourite, James Hamilton, third Earl of Arran regarding friendship. He was also supposed to demand the return home of the Ruthven Raiders and relay Elizabeth’s terms to repair the diplomatic damage done by James since his disbanding of the Ruthven regime. Hudson was the Lord Governor of Berwick.
SELECTED REFERENCES: G. P. V Akrigg, ed., Letters of King James VI & I (Berkeley, 1984), pp.57-8; Calderwood, vol.4, p.176; Moysie, Memoirs, p.52; TNA, SP 52/34 f.22, 52/35 f.60i; BL, Cotton Caligula C/VII f.94; TNA, SP 52/35 f.58, 52/35 f.60; James Melville, Memoirs of Sir James Melville of Halhill, 1535-1617, ed. by A. Francis Steuart (London, 1929), p.294.
EN-SC_03.
Edward Wotton (first Baron Wotton of Marley), Special Ambassador.
MISSION: To treat for an Anglo-Scottish peace, the Treaty of Berwick.
SELECTED REFERENCES: Gary Bell, A Handlist of British Diplomatic Representatives, 1509-1688 (London, 1990), p.247; Bain, Joseph, ed. The Hamilton Papers... 2 vols. (Edinburgh, 1890) vol.2 p.661; Calderwood, vol.4 pp.380-1; TNA, SP 52-37 f. 32; CSP Spain vol.16 pp.542-3, 545-6.
EN-SC_04.
Nicholas Dawtrey (Captain), Envoy.
8/6/1585-1/9/1585
MISSION: To discuss trade disputes and piracy complaints from Ireland.
NOTES: Came from Ireland following letter from James VI to Lord Perrot on 25 April 1585. He was also to try and stop James from sending Scots to Northern Ireland.
SELECTED REFERENCES: John Prendergast, “Calendar of the Irish Council Book, 1581-1586.” Edited by David Quinn. Analecta Hibernica no.24 (January 1967), p.164.
EN-SC_05.
William Knollys (first Earl of Banbury), Special Ambassador.
22/11/1585-c. 12/1585
MISSION: To discuss the banished lords.
NOTES: His fist audience was on 23 November.
SELECTED REFERENCES: Gary Bell, A Handlist of British Diplomatic Representatives, 1509-1688 (London, 1990), p.247; TNA, SP 52/38 ff.99, 101
EN-SC_06.
Thomas Randolph, Special Ambassador.
28/1/1586-15/8/1586
MISSION: To negotiate for an Anglo-Scottish League, primarily in Berwick.
NOTES: Meant to counter the influence of the French ambassador (FR-SC_03).
SELECTED REFERENCES: Gary Bell, A Handlist of British Diplomatic Representatives, 1509-1688 (London, 1990), p.248; Moysie, Memoirs, p.57; James Melville, Memoirs of Sir James Melville of Halhill, 1535-1617, ed. by A. Francis Steuart (London, 1929), pp.314-5; RPCS, vol.4 p.501n.
EN-SC_07.
Robert Carey (Baron Carey of Leppington, first Earl Monmoth), Special Ambassador.
MISSION: To explain the execution Mary Queen of Scots. NOTES: Refused entry into Scotland, stopped at Berwick.
SELECTED REFERENCES: Gary Bell, A Handlist of British Diplomatic Representatives, 1509-1688 (London, 1990), p.248; Moysie, Memoirs, pp.59-61; Hatfield House CP 15/99; TNA SP 52/42 f.34.
EN-SC_08.
Thomas Fowler, Ambassador.
1588-1589
MISSION: To report on Scottish-Danish match developments.
SELECTED REFERENCES: David Stevenson, Scotland’s Last Royal Wedding: The Marriage of James VI and Anne of Denmark (Edinburgh, 1996), pp.16,29.
EN-SC_09.