Sir James Anstruther of Anstruther (died 1606), was a Scottish landowner and courtier.

Family background

He was a son of John Anstruther and Margaret Clephane, daughter of George Clephane of Carslogie. His second wife was Margaret Learmonth, daughter of James Learmonth of

Dairsie Dairsie, or Osnaburgh, is a village and parish in north-east Fife, Scotland. It is south-southwest of Leuchars Junction, and east-northeast of Cupar on the A91 Stirling to St Andrews road. The village grew out of two smaller settlements (call ...

and

Balcomie The Crail Golfing Society is a Scottish golf club established in February 1786 in the Golf Hotel, Crail, Fife. The society is the seventh oldest golf club in the world. Its oldest course, Balcomie, was formally laid out by Old Tom Morris in 18 ...

. James Anstruther married Jean Scott.

Career at court

In February 1584, James VI appointed John Anstruther of that Ilk, and his son James Anstruther "feuar" of Anstruther, to be searchers of the customs of

Anstruther Anstruther ( ; ) is a coastal town in Fife, Scotland, situated on the north-shore of the Firth of Forth and south-southeast of St Andrews. The town comprises two settlements, Anstruther Easter and Anstruther Wester, which are divided by a st ...

. James Anstruther served as carver (or cupbearer) and subsequently Master of Household to

Anne of Denmark Anne of Denmark (; 12 December 1574 – 2 March 1619) was the wife of King James VI and I. She was List of Scottish royal consorts, Queen of Scotland from their marriage on 20 August 1589 and List of English royal consorts, Queen of Engl ...

, the wife of

James VI of Scotland James VI and I (James Charles Stuart; 19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625) was King of Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the Scottish and English crowns on 24 March 1603 until ...

. Apart from ceremonial duties and attendance, the role involved accounting for the food and allowances of servants and courtiers appointed to the royal household, and an overview of the finances of the household. Amongst the recorded expenses of the household, he paid the queen's Danish servants £600 Scots for their fees and wages for the Whitsunday term of 1593, but the Martinmas bill was only £400. Anstruther was commended by James VI for his efforts to reduce the costs of his queen's household on 17 May 1595, and given the office for life. The role was shared in turn by Harry Lindsay of Kinfauns,

Patrick Hume of Polwarth Sir Patrick Hume, of Polwarth and Redbraes (about 1550– 20 May 1609) was a Scottish landowner, courtier and makar ( court poet). Origins Born about 1550, he was the eldest son and heir of Sir Patrick Hume (died 20 May 1599), of Polwarth and ...

, and David Beaton of Melgund. In September 1594, Anstruther was arrested and questioned, suspected with

John Wemyss of Logie John Wemyss younger of Logie, (1569-1597), was a Scottish courtier, spy, and subject of the ballad "The Laird o Logie", beheaded for plotting to blow up a fortification at Veere in the Netherlands. Life John Wemyss was a son of Andrew Wemyss, L ...

of aiding the rebel

Francis Stewart, 5th Earl of Bothwell Francis Stewart, 5th Earl of Bothwell (c. December 1562 – November 1612), was Commendator of Kelso Abbey and Coldingham Priory, a Privy Counsellor and Lord High Admiral of Scotland. He was a notorious conspirator who led several uprisings aga ...

. In March 1595, Anstruther was involved in a struggle in Edinburgh with the Provost, Alexander Home of North Berwick and the laird of Ferniehirst, Thomas Kerr. One of gardeners at

Holyrood Palace The Palace of Holyroodhouse ( or ), commonly known as Holyrood Palace, is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland. Located at the bottom of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, at the opposite end to Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood has s ...

John Morrison had injured a servant of Ferniehirst. He imprisoned the gardener in his wife's lodging in Edinburgh in Thomas Craig's house on the

Royal Mile The Royal Mile () is the nickname of a series of streets forming the main thoroughfare of the Old Town, Edinburgh, Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland. The term originated in the early 20th century and has since entered popular usage. The Royal ...

. Anne of Denmark sent Anstruther to rescue Morrison, and he brought sledgehammers (called "foir-hammers") to break into the house. The Provost intervened and imprisoned the gardener in the

Tolbooth A tolbooth or town house was the main municipal building of a Scotland, Scottish burgh, from medieval times until the 19th century. The tolbooth usually provided a council meeting chamber, a court house and a jail. The tolbooth was one of th ...

. Anne of Denmark sent to James VI at

Stirling Castle Stirling Castle, located in Stirling, is one of the largest and most historically and architecturally important castles in Scotland. The castle sits atop an Intrusive rock, intrusive Crag and tail, crag, which forms part of the Stirling Sill ge ...

to enlist his support and the Edinburgh baillies

John MacMorran Baillie John MacMorran (1553-1595), a merchant and Baillie of Edinburgh, was killed during a riot at Edinburgh High School. His house at Riddle's Court is a valued monument on Edinburgh's Lawnmarket. Career John MacMorran was a merchant involv ...

and William Hamilton also rode to Stirling to give their side of the story. In 1598, he joined a plan to resettle the

Isle of Lewis The Isle of Lewis () or simply Lewis () is the northern part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island of the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides archipelago in Scotland. The two parts are frequently referred to as if they were separate islands. The t ...

with a group known as the Gentlemen Adventurers of Fife. In 1601, he was Master of Household to James VI. Anstruther died in 1606. His heir was William Anstruther. Sir Robert Anstruther, the diplomat, was his second son. A portrait of James Anstruther gives his age as 36 in 1591. The picture seems to be a copy of a portrait in the style of Adrian Vanson.Duncan Thomson, ''Painting in Scotland, 1570-1650'' (Edinburgh, 1975), p. 57.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anstruther, James Court of James VI and I Household of Anne of Denmark 16th-century Scottish people 17th-century Scottish people

James James may refer to: People * James (given name) * James (surname) * James (musician), aka Faruq Mahfuz Anam James, (born 1964), Bollywood musician * James, brother of Jesus * King James (disambiguation), various kings named James * Prince Ja ...

Masters of the Scottish royal household 17th-century Scottish farmers 17th-century Scottish landowners 16th-century Scottish farmers