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William MacDowall
William MacDowall or McDougall (died 1580) was a Scottish priest and Master of Works to Mary, Queen of Scots, her mother Mary of Guise, and James VI of Scotland. The title 'sir' was used in Scotland by a priest without a master's degree. The name appears variously as McDowgall, McDougall, McDowall etc., in printed records, he signed accounts MAKDOUELL. Career He was first employed by John Scrimgeour of Myres in 1535, managing the stone quarry during the building of Holyroodhouse. During the Rough Wooings he was involved in the fabrication of arms at Edinburgh Castle. Later he worked on the building of fortifications against the English for Mary of Guise, 1554–56, and collecting taxes to fund these defensive works. In 1558, MacDowall worked on repairs to the forewall of Edinburgh Castle and the parapet of David's Tower, and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. From August to October 1558 he was busy directing works on the Island of Inchkeith, including the construction of a munition h ...
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Mary, Queen Of Scots
Mary, Queen of Scots (8 December 1542 – 8 February 1587), also known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, was List of Scottish monarchs, Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced abdication in 1567. The only surviving legitimate child of James V of Scotland, Mary was six days old when her father died and she inherited the throne. During her childhood, Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland was governed by regents, first by the heir to the throne, James Hamilton, Earl of Arran, and then by her mother, Mary of Guise. In 1548, she was betrothed to Francis II of France, Francis, the Dauphin of France, and was sent to be brought up in Kingdom of France, France, where she would be safe from invading Kingdom of England, English forces during the Rough Wooing. Mary Wedding of Mary, Queen of Scots, and Francis, Dauphin of France, married Francis in 1558, becoming queen consort of France from his accession in 1559 until his death in December 1560. Widowed, Mary Entry of Mary, Q ...
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Robert Anstruther (soldier)
Robert Anstruther (floruit 1550–1580) was a Scottish soldier in the service of Mary of Guise and Mary, Queen of Scots. Career Robert Anstruther was probably a son of John Anstruther of Anstruther in Fife and his second wife, Elizabeth Spens. James Anstruther of that Ilk was his nephew. He wrote a letter to Mary of Guise regarding the service of two soldiers and a recommended promotion. The letter is not dated, but probably was written during her Regency between 1554 and 1560. In July 1561 Mary, Queen of Scots, who was at Méru near Beauvais and north of the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, gave orders that Anstruther should receive Dunbar Castle from its French keeper, Corbeyran de Cardaillac Sarlabous, with its cannon and ammunition according to an inventory made by Robert Hamilton of Briggis. He was also to take command of the fortress on the Island of Inchkeith from Captain Lussaignet. The letters were made by Secretary Raulet (d. 1574), whose wife was later Mary's se ...
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Whithorn
Whithorn (; ), is a royal burgh in the historic county of Wigtownshire in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, about south of Wigtown. The town was the location of the first recorded Christian church in Scotland, "White/Shining House", built by Saint Ninian about 397 CE. Toponymy There is a tradition that St Ninian built a church of stone and lime nearby in the late 4th century; it was called , 'White/Shining House'. "Whithorn" is a modern form of the Anglo-Saxon version of this name, or , 'White House'. In Gallovidian Gaelic, it was called , or , the latter a version of the Anglo-Saxon name (Gaelic has no sound corresponding to English ''wh''). Ninian dedicated the church to his master Martin of Tours, and when he died (probably in 432) Ninian was buried in the church. Early history A monastery and diocese of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria was founded on the site in the 8th century, possibly originating with a 6th-century , or monastery of Rosnat. It was the ...
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Benefice
A benefice () or living is a reward received in exchange for services rendered and as a retainer for future services. The Roman Empire used the Latin term as a benefit to an individual from the Empire for services rendered. Its use was adopted by the Western Church in the Carolingian era as a benefit bestowed by the crown or church officials. A benefice specifically from a church is called a precaria (pl. ''precariae''), such as a stipend, and one from a monarch or nobleman is usually called a fief. A benefice is distinct from an allod, in that an allod is property owned outright, not bestowed by a higher authority. Catholic Church Roman imperial origins In ancient Rome a ''benefice'' was a gift of land ( precaria) for life as a reward for services rendered, originally, to the state. The word comes from the Latin noun ''beneficium'', meaning "benefit". Carolingian era In the 8th century, using their position as Mayor of the Palace, Charles Martel, Carloman I and Pepin ...
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Gordon Donaldson
Gordon Donaldson (13 April 1913 – 16 March 1993) was a Scottish historian. Life He was born in a tenement at 140 McDonald RoadEdinburgh and Leith Post Office Directory, 1912 off Leith Walk in northern Edinburgh on 13 April 1913 the son of Rachel Swan and Magnus Donaldson. He was of Shetland descent. Donaldson attended Broughton Elementary School (adjacent to his home) and then the Royal High School of Edinburgh (1921–31), before being awarded a scholarship to study at the University of Edinburgh. He also supplemented his income by undertaking some tutoring. After graduating in 1935 with a first-class Honours Degree in History ( MA), he gained his PhD in 1938 at the Institute of Historical Research in London, where he also won the David Berry Prize from the Royal Historical Society. Donaldson also has a DLitt degree. After working as an archivist at the General Register Office for Scotland 1938–1947, he was appointed to a lectureship in Scottish History at the ...
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James David Marwick
Sir James David Marwick FRSE (15 July 1826 – 24 March 1908) was a Scottish lawyer, historian and town clerk. He served as Town Clerk of Glasgow for thirty-one years, during which time the entire city was transformed. Its powers and amenities were improved by by-laws and Acts of Parliament, and Marwick directed the city of Glasgow's development for much of the second half of the 19th century. Biography A son of William Marwick, a merchant from Kirkwall, Orkney, and his wife, Margaret Garioch, James was born at 95 Kirkgate in central Leith, where his father then worked as a baker. James was educated in Kirkwall Grammar School and then studied law at the University of Edinburgh. He was then apprenticed to James B Watt solicitor at 9 York Place in Edinburgh. He was admitted a procurator at Dundee in 1852, and became a solicitor before the Supreme Courts six years later. In 1855 he founded the Edinburgh legal firm of Watt & Marwick. As the address of this firm is also 9 York Pla ...
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Robert Drummond Of Carnock
Sir Robert Drummond of Carnock (died 1592) was Master of Work to the Crown of Scotland from 1579 to 1583. This was the responsibility for building and repair of palaces and castles. His appointment was made to be "as Sir James Hamilton of Finnart had it." Life Robert Drummond was the eldest son of Alexander Drummond, of Carnock and Arnmore (Ernmore), and Marjory Bruce of Auchinbowie. Arnmore is a location at Kippen, Stirlingshire, neighbouring Broich, the home of William Schaw, his successor as Master of Work who is regarded as a founder of Freemasonry. Alexander Drummond had been a supporter of the Earl of Angus and went with him to exile to England in 1529. Carnock, the location, is to the east of Stirling. Robert built up the Carnock lands into a holding recognised as a free barony. Robert's first wife, Agnes (or Margaret), was a sister of Sir William Kirkcaldy of Grange. With Robert's permission, Agnes Kirkcaldy sold a tenement in Dysart called the "Slate House" in 1540. ...
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Running At The Ring
Running at the ring, riding at the ring or tilting at the ring is an equestrian tournament activity originally practiced at European royal courts and likely derived from other lance games like Quintain (jousting), quintain. It gained new popularity at Natural Chimneys near Mount Solon, Virginia, possibly as early as the 1820s, and since 1962, has been the state sport of Maryland. A similar contest, the ''corrida de sortija'', is held in Argentina where it is considered a gaucho sport derived from the Spanish tradition of medieval tournaments. Description Participants rode at full speed to thrust the point of the lance through a ring or to hook a ring and carry it off. A performer was allowed three attempts. The French author and riding master Antoine de Pluvinel published descriptions and the rules. The lance was shorter than those used for jousting, and had no protective vamplate. Costumed court festival This version of a Hastilude, lance game or Quintain (jousting), quintain cou ...
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Entry Of James VI Into Edinburgh
A royal entry into Edinburgh marked the coming of age of King James VI of Scotland as an adult ruler on 19 October 1579. The 13-year-old king came to Edinburgh to begin his adult rule, having spent his childhood at Stirling Castle. A royal entry was the usual way across Europe of marking a new monarch, or one making his first visit to a city. A representation of the astrologer Ptolemy signalled the transition of James to adulthood, and he was given a sword and sceptre, symbols of kingship, known as the Honours of Scotland. Events According to David Moysie, James VI left Stirling on 29 September 1579 despite a storm. He had lunch at Dunipace and dinner at Linlithgow Palace where he stayed the night, and came to Holyroodhouse the next evening. The town lined the road with men in armour and a salute was fired from Edinburgh Castle. James arrived from Dalkeith Palace. The processional route went from the West Port, to the Overbow, to the Tolbooth, to St Giles Cathedral, St Giles Kir ...
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Walter Binning
Walter Binning, or Bynning was a painter in 16th-century Edinburgh. There were several painters and glaziers called "Binning" working in Edinburgh and for the royal court in 16th-century Scotland. It has been speculatively suggested that there was some family connection with the Flemish miniature painter Simon Bening. Career In January 1540 with two colleagues Walter Binning painted 49 guns at Edinburgh Castle with red lead, including their breech loading chambers, slots and bands, and painted the ropes binding the guns on their stocks with tar, and 50 bass guns. He was paid by the guild of the Hammermen of Edinburgh for painting cloths and a religious image. He worked for Regent Arran in Edinburgh, Hamilton, and Linlithgow. In February 1549 he painted the roof or ceiling of the governor's lodging in Edinburgh, which was then located in Chambers Street. This was for the wedding of Barbara Hamilton and Lord Gordon. In October 1551 he was working at Hamilton and was provided with ...
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Regent Morton
James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton (c. 1516 – 2 June 1581) was a Scottish nobleman. He played a leading role in the murders of Queen Mary's confidant, David Rizzio, and king consort Henry Darnley. He was the last of the four regents of Scotland during the minority of James VI. He was in some ways the most successful of the four since he won the civil war that had been dragging on with the supporters of the exiled Mary, Queen of Scots. However, he came to an unfortunate end, executed by means of the Maiden, a predecessor of the guillotine. Biography Early life James Douglas was the second son of Sir George Douglas of Pittendreich, Master of Angus, and Elizabeth Douglas, daughter of David Douglas of Pittendreich. He wrote that he was over 61 years old in March 1578, so was probably born around 1516. Before 1543, he married Elizabeth, daughter of James Douglas, 3rd Earl of Morton, and became known as the "Master of Morton". In 1553, James Douglas succeeded to the title ...
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Blackness Castle
Blackness Castle is a 15th-century fortress, near the village of Blackness, Falkirk, Blackness, Scotland, on the south shore of the Firth of Forth. It was built, probably on the site of an earlier fort, by George Crichton, 1st Earl of Caithness, Sir George Crichton in the 1440s. At this time, Blackness was the main port serving the Royal Burgh of Linlithgow, one of the main residences of the Scottish monarch. The castle, together with the Crichton lands, passed to James II of Scotland in 1453, and the castle has been crown property ever since.MacIvor, p. 6. It served as a state prison, holding such prisoners as David Beaton, Cardinal Beaton and the Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus, 6th Earl of Angus.MacIvor, p. 20. Strengthened by James Hamilton of Finnart, Sir James Hamilton of Finnart in the mid-16th century, the castle became one of the most advanced artillery fortifications of its time in Scotland. A century later, these defences were not enough to prevent Blackness fall ...
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