Timothy Cagnioli
Timothy Cagnioli (floruit 1540–1590) was an Italian merchant and banker in Scotland. Cagnioli was active in Edinburgh during the Regency of Mary of Guise and the personal reign of Mary, Queen of Scots. As a merchant he supplied luxury fabrics used in costume and interior decoration.[1] He was able to lend large sums of money and issue letters of credit needed by travellers abroad.
Career in Scotland
He wrote to Mary of Guise from Edinburgh in July 1552, sending three pounds weight of crimson silk, gold and silver thread, and 24 ells of golden gauze. He had ordered more gold and silver gauze to be made in Paris.[2] An account of textiles provided in 1553 includes black velvet, black satin, black damask, taffeta, silk chamlet, and more silver gauze, and crimson, gold, and silver thread. The fabrics were delivered to her at Stirling Castle and recorded in her wardrobe book.[3]
Around this time, the French ambassador in London, Antoine de Noailles, mentioned that "Thymothée Camodey" an associate of Mary of Guise's diplomat Henri Cleutin, kept an account of the expenses of French soldiers garrisoned in Scotland.[4]
The burgh council of Edinburgh allowed him to sell whole "sticks" or lengths of silks which he had imported in September 1557, as a wholesaler, but not cut and sell fabrics to customers as free merchants or burgesses of the town could.[5]
In February 1558 he provided finance for Mary's half-brother,
His cook, Ninian McCrechan, was censured by the town council for slandering the kirk minister
Cagnioli received £500
On 17 February 1565, at Wemyss Castle, Mary made Cagnioli her "argentar", in charge of her personal expenses. She met Lord Darnley for the first time on the same day. On 23 February he was made a burgess of Edinburgh, and had customs exemptions granted by Mary. He was allowed to be a burgess because his wife Jonet Curle was from Edinburgh.[12] In October 1565 he was involved in a contract for mining lead ore at Leadhills granted by Mary and Lord Darnley.[13]
Joseph Riccio, a brother of Mary's servant David Rizzio ran away from Edinburgh towards England in January 1566, taking money belonging to courtiers including Cagnioli.[14]
James Stewart, now Regent Moray, granted him a pension of £100 yearly on 17 May 1569.[15]
In June 1574 he had a legal dispute with Marie Pieris, Lady Seton.[16]
References
- ^ Michael Pearce, The Dolls of Mary Queen of Scots: Edinburgh Castle Research Reports (Edinburgh, Historic Environment Scotland, 2018), p. 20
- ^ Marguerite Wood, Balcarres Papers, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1925), pp. lix, 119-120.
- ^ Rosalind K. Marshall, 'Hir Rob Ryall: the Costume of Mary of Guise', Costume, 12:1 (1978), pp. 1-12: National Library of Scotland, Balcarres Papers 5, Adv. MS 29.2.5: National Records of Scotland E34/19.
- ^ René Aubert de Vertot, Ambassades de Messieurs de Noailles en Angleterre, vol. 2 (Leyden, 1763), pp. 290–291
- ^ Marguerite Wood, 'Domestic Affairs of the Burgh, 1554-1589', Book of the Old Edinburgh Club, 15 (Edinburgh, 1927), p. 20.
- ^ Annie I. Cameron, Scottish Correspondence of Mary of Lorraine (Edinburgh, 1927), pp. 411-3.
- ^ David Masson, Register of the Privy Council of Scotland: 1585–1592, vol. 4 (Edinburgh, 1881), p. 66.
- ^ James David Marwick, Extracts from the Records of Edinburgh, 1557-1561 (Edinburgh, 1875), p. 132.
- ^ Gordon Donaldson, Thirds of Benefices (SHS, Edinburgh, 1949), p. 170.
- ^ James Balfour Paul, Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer, vol. 11 (Edinburgh, 1916), p. 66.
- ^ Joseph Bain, Calendar of State Papers, Scotland: 1547-1563, vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1898), pp. 628, 630.
- ^ James Beveridge & Gordon Donaldson, Register of the Privy Seal: 1556-1567, 5:1 (Edinburgh, 1957), p. 542 no. 1928.
- ^ Robert William Cochran-Patrick, Early Records Relating to Mining in Scotland (Edinburgh, 1878), p. 10.
- ^ Joseph Bain, Calendar State Papers Scotland: 1563-1569, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), p. 311.
- ^ Gordon Donaldson, Register of the Privy Seal: 1567-1574 (Edinburgh, 1963), p. 126 no. 618.
- ^ Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, vol. 2, p. 377.