William Schaw
William Schaw (c. 1550–1602) was
Biography
William Schaw was the second son of John Schaw of Broich, and grandson of Sir James Schaw of Sauchie. Broich is now called Arngomery, a place at Kippen in Stirlingshire. The Schaw family had links to the Royal Court, principally through being keepers of the King's wine cellar. The Broich family was involved in a scandal in 1560, when John Schaw was accused of murdering the servant of another laird. William's father was denounced as a rebel and his property forfeited when he and his family failed to appear at court, but the family were soon re-instated. At this time William may have been a page at the court of Mary of Guise, as a page of that name received an outfit of black mourning cloth when Mary of Guise died. William the page would have been in Edinburgh Castle with the Regent's court during the siege of Leith, while the Master of Work, William MacDowall, was strengthening the castle's defences.[1]
The name "William Schaw" appears again in a 1580 note about courtiers made by an informant or spy at the royal court, the letter was sent to England. Schaw was described as the "clock-keeper" amongst followers of the King's favourite Esmé Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox, while another man John Hume was the keeper of "ratches", an old word meaning a kind of tenacious hunting scent hound.[2]
Schaw signed the negative confession whereby courtiers pledged allegiance to the Scottish Reformation. On 11 April 1581, he was given a valuable gift of rights over the lands in Kippen belonging to the Grahams of Fintry.[3] In May 1583, he was in Paris at the death of the exiled Esmé Stewart and it was said that he took Esmé's heart back to Scotland.[4]
Great Master of Work
On 21 December 1583,
'Grit maister of wark of all and sindrie his hienes palaceis, biggingis and reparationis, – and greit oversear, directour and commander of quhatsumevir police devysit or to be devysit for our soverane lordis behuif and plessur.' or, in modern spelling; 'Great master of work of all and sundry his highness' palaces, building works and repairs, – and great overseer, director and commander of whatsoever policy devised or to be devised for our sovereign lord's behalf and pleasure.'[7]
In November 1583 Schaw travelled on a diplomatic trip to France with
In September 1591
In May 1596 an English paper listing reasons to suspect James VI of being himself a Roman Catholic, included the appointment of known Catholics to household offices, noting Schaw as 'Praefectum Architecturae,' his friend Alexander Seton as President of Council, and Lord Hume as the King's body guard.[13] By this time he had acquired the barony of Sauchie.
Some payments for Schaw's building work, at Falkland Palace and Stirling Castle are documented by exchequer vouchers in the National Records of Scotland.[14] A record of the building work at the Palace of Holyroodhouse he supervised in 1599 survives. The works involved masons, slaters, plumbers, and joiners making repairs to the court and the king's kitchens, the steeple and clock, and the King's billiard table, and other alterations to the palace. Schaw signed off the account weekly with his name, or as "Maistir of Wark".[15] On 8 July 1601, James VI sent William to consult with Master John Gordon on the construction of a monument to the King's rescue from the Gowrie House conspiracy the previous year. James VI wrote to Gordon that William would "conferre with yow thairanent, that ye maye agree upon the forme, devyse, and superscriptionis."[16]
Arrival of Anne of Denmark in Scotland
In March 1589, Schaw was granted £1000 Scots of tax money to begin repairs at Holyroodhouse in advance of the reception of the bride of James V,
David Moysie, a contemporary writer, wrote in his Memoir that Schaw also brought news that Anne of Denmark was pregnant, and Chancellor Maitland included this news in a letter to Robert Bruce.[21] Anne of Denmark may have suffered a miscarriage at Dunfermline Palace in September 1590, where she was attended by the physician Martin Schöner and a midwife.[22]
William Schaw brought with him a Danish locksmith called Frederick who would join the queen's household.
In June 1590 Schaw and his kinsman John Gibb, signed a bond in support of their relation James Gibb of Bo'ness who had fought illegally in Edinburgh near Holyrood Palace with James Boyd of Kippis in a family feud. His death sentence was converted to banishment.[27]
Chamberlain to the Queen
Schaw was involved in discussions with the Danish ambassadors Steen Bille and Niels Krag who came to Edinburgh in May 1593 to secure Anne of Denmark's property rights.[28] On 6 July he was appointed as Chamberlain to the Lordship of Dunfermline,[29] which was an office of the household of Queen Anne,[18] where he worked closely with Alexander Seton and William Fowler. This involved receipting accounts for jewels the Queen bought from the goldsmith George Heriot,[30] collecting rents 'feumaills' from her lands including the rents of Ross, Ardmanoch, and Ettrick Forest,[31] and sometimes auditing the queen's household accounts kept by Harry Lindsay of Kinfauns for Sir George Home of Wedderburn.[32]
Alterations at
Chapel Royal
James VI and Anna built a new
Ulrik, Duke of Holstein
In March 1598 he was tasked with giving the Queen's brother,
Family and feud
His niece married Robert Mowbray, a grandson of the
Schaw died in 1602. He was succeeded as King's Master of Works by
This humble structure of stones covers a man of excellent skill, notable probity, singular integrity of life, adorned with the greatest of virtues – William Schaw, Master of the King's Works, President of the Sacred Ceremonies, and the Queen's Chamberlain. He died 18th April, 1602.
Among the living he dwelt fifty-two years; he had travelled in France and many other Kingdoms, for the improvement of his mind; he wanted no liberal training; was most skilful in architecture; was early recommended to great persons for the singular gifts of his mind; and was not only unwearied and indefatigable in labours and business, but constantly active and vigorous, and was most dear to every good man who knew him. He was born to do good offices, and thereby to gain the hearts of men; now he lives eternally with God.
Queen Anne ordered this monument to be erected to the memory of this most excellent and most upright man, lest his virtues, worthy of eternal commendation, should pass away with the death of his body."[46][47]
Elizabeth Shaw and James Schaw were William's executors. In 1612 the Privy Council of Scotland searched the accounts and found he was still owed his annual fee for several years. The council wrote to the king that he had been, "in his lyftime, and during the tyme of his service, he wes a most painefull, trustye, and welle affectit servand to your majestie."[48]
Masonic Statutes
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First Schaw Statutes
On 28 December 1598 Schaw, in his capacity of Master of Works and General Warden of the master stonemasons, issued "The Statutis and ordinananceis to be obseruit by all the maister maoissounis within this realme."
The first point of the new statutes was that master masons in Scotland should;
"observe and keep all the good ordinances set down of before, concerning the privileges of their craft, to their predecessours of good memory, and specially, they be true one to another, and live charitably together, as becomes sworn brothers and companions of craft."[50]
The statutes were agreed by all the master masons present, and arrangements were made to send a copy to every lodge in Scotland. The statute indicates a significant advance in the organisation of the craft, with shires constituting an intermediate level of organisation. These "territorial" lodges ran parallel to another set of civic organisations, incorporations, often linking masons with other workers in the building trades, such as wrights. While in some places (Stirling and Dundee), the lodges and incorporations became indistinguishable, in other places the incorporation linked the trade to the burgh, and became a mechanism whereby the merchants exercised some control over the wages of the building trades. In places like Edinburgh, where the proliferation of wooden buildings meant a predominance of wrights, the territorial lodge offered a form of craft self-governance distinct from the incorporation. Also, the masons and wrights used differing ceremonial motifs, at the respective events. The role of deacon provided a link between these incorporations and the lodges.
Copies of the statute (along with the Second Shaw Statute) were written into the minutes of the Lodges of Edinburgh and Aitchison's Haven, near Prestonpans.[51][52]
Second Schaw Statutes
The Second Schaw Statutes were signed on 28 December 1599, at Holyroodhouse and consisted of fourteen separate statutes. Some of these were addressed specifically to Lodge Mother Kilwinning, others to the lodges of Scotland in general. Kilwinning Lodge was given regional authority for west Scotland, its previous practices were confirmed, various administrative functions were specified and the officials of the lodge were enjoined to ensure that all craft fellows and apprentices "tak tryall of the art of memorie". More generally, rules were laid down for proper record keeping of the lodges, with specific fees being laid down.
The statutes state that Kilwinning was the head and second lodge in Scotland. This seems to relate to the fact that Kilwinning claimed precedence as the first lodge in Scotland, but that in Schaw's scheme of things, the Edinburgh Lodge would be most important followed by Kilwinning and then Stirling. David Stevenson argues that the Second Schaw statutes dealt with the response from within the craft to his first statutes, whereby various traditions were mobilised against his innovations, particularly from Kilwinning.[53]
The reference to the
The statutes also address practical matters like health & safety concerns while working at heights. In his eighteenth article Schaw recommended that;
All masters or "interprisaris of warkis be verray cairfull to see thair skaffaldis and fute-gangis (platforms) surelie sett and placeit, to the effect that throw thair negligence and sleuth (laziness), na hurt or skaith cum unto persons that works at the said work, under the pain of discharging of thame thairafter to work as masters havand charge of ane work."[54]
The Sinclair Statutes
Two letters were drawn up in 1600 and 1601 and involved the lodges of Dunfermline,
External links
- Summary of the Second Schaw Statutes, in HMC Report: Earl of Eglinton (London, 1885), pp. 29–30
- 'THE SCHAW MONUMENT', Church Monuments Society
- Transcript of William Schaw's Dalkeith letter
- A gold salamander jewel from the wreck of the Girona, Ulster Museum, Armada gallery
References
- ^ David Stevenson, The Origins of Freemasonry: Scotland's century: 1590 – 1710 (Cambridge University Press, 1988), p. 27: Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland: 1556–67, nos. 810, 811: Accounts of the Treasurer of Scotland, vol. 11 (Edinburgh, 1916), p. 23
- ^ John Strype, Annals of the Reformation, vol. 2 part 2 (London, 1824), p. 325: Steven J. Reid, The Early Life of James VI, A Long Apprenticeship (Edinburgh: John Donald, 2023), pp. 278-9 for John Hume.
- ^ Gordon Donaldson, Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, vol. 8 (HMSO: Edinburgh, 1982), p. 35 no. 210.
- ^ Calendar of State Papers Foreign, Elizabeth: January–June 1583 and addenda, vol. 17 (London, 1913), no. 362, 9 June 1583
- ^ National Records of Scotland E22/6 Treasurer's Accounts f. 133v
- ^ a b Stevenson, p. 28
- ^ Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland: 1581–1584, vol. 8 (Edinburgh, 1982), pp. 276–277 no. 1676.
- ^ Scott, Walter ed., James Somerville, author, Memorie of the Somervilles (Edinburgh, 1815), p. 460.
- ^ Thomson, Thomas ed., Sir James Melville, Memoirs of My own Life (Edinburgh, 1827), p. 366.
- ^ Calendar State Papers Scotland, 13:1 (Edinburgh, 1969), p. 293.
- ^ David Stevenson, Origins of Freemasonry (Oxford, 1988) p. 27: Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 10 (Edinburgh, 1936), p. 567 no. 606.
- ^ John Nichols, Progresses of Queen Elizabeth, vol. 3 (London, 1823), pp. 526-8.
- ^ Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 12, (HMSO: Edinburgh, 1952), pp. 227–8
- Scotsdated 22/23 July 1596.
- ^ Henry M. Paton, Accounts of the Masters of Works for Building and Repairing Royal Palaces and Castles: 1529-1615, vol. 1 (HMSO: Edinburgh, 1957), pp. 315-323.
- ^ Fraser, William, ed., Sutherland Book, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1892), pp. 10-11 no. 13.
- ^ J. T. Gibson Craig, Papers Relative to the Marriage of King James the Sixth of Scotland (Edinburgh, 1836), Appendix 2, p. 10.
- ^ S2CID 193905578– via (subscription required).
- ^ Thomas Rymer, Foedera, vol. 15 (London, 1715), pp. 41-2, 51: Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 10 (Edinburgh, 1936), pp. 245, 252, 256, 261: James Dennistoun, Memoirs of the Affairs of the Scotland by David Moysie (Edinburgh: Maitland Club, 1830), p. 81.
- ^ Grant G. Simpson, 'The Personal Letters of James VI', Julian Goodare & Michael Lynch, The Reign of James VI (East Linton: Edinburgh, 2000), pp. 150–153: George Akrigg, Letters of King James VI & I (University of California, 1984), pp. 104-5: Thomas Thomson, The History of the Kirk of Scotland, 5 (Edinburgh, 1844), p. 82: Robert Chambers, The Life of King James the First, 1 (Edinburgh, 1830), pp. 148, 150: James Thomson Gibson-Craig, Papers relative to the marriage of King James the Sixth of Scotland, with the Princess Anna of Denmark (Edinburgh, 1830), pp. 29–34
- ^ William Cunningham, Sermons by the Rev. Robert Bruce (Edinburgh: Woodrow Society, 1843), 164: James Dennistoun, Memoirs of the Affairs of the Scotland by David Moysie (Edinburgh: Maitland Club, 1830), pp. 81–82
- ^ Maureen Meikle, 'Anna of Denmark's Coronation and Entry', Sixteenth-Century Scotland (Brill, 2008), p. 293.
- ^ Miles Kerr-Peterson & Michael Pearce, 'James VI's English Subsidy and Danish Dowry Accounts, 1588-1596', Scottish History Society Miscellany XVI (Woodbridge, 2020), pp. 39-40, 69, later records identify Frederick as a locksmith.
- ^ Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, 1585-1592, vol. 4 (Edinburgh, 1881), p. 471.
- ^ Miles Kerr-Peterson & Michael Pearce, (Woodbridge, 2020), pp. 13-4, 55.
- ^ Marguerite Wood, Extracts from the Records of the Burgh of Edinburgh: 1589-1603 (Edinburgh, 1927), pp. 329
- ^ George Duncan Gibb, Life and Times of Robert Gib, Lord of Carriber, vol. 1 (London, 1874), pp. 223-230 citing National Archives of Scotland RD1/33, pp. 472-473: Robert Pitcairn, Ancient Criminal Trials (Edinburgh, 1833), pp. 187-9.
- ^ William Dunn Macray, 'Report on Archives in Denmark', 47th Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records (London, 1886): Acta Legationis Scotica, 1593: A journal of the Danish embassy (Latin). Rigsarkivet
- ^ William Dunn Macray, 'Report on Archives in Denmark', 47th Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records (London, 1886), p. 34
- ^ Inventory of Original Documents in the Archives of George Heriot's Hospital (Edinburgh, 1857), pp. 16-17: See National Records of Scotland Records of George Heriot's Trust GD421/1/3/11, etc.
- ^ Exchequer Rolls, XXII (Edinburgh, 1903), pp. 355, 403–405, and National Records of Scotland, GD224/906/26 no. 40.
- ^ HMC Report on the manuscripts of Colonel David Milne Home (London, 1892), p. 71
- ^ Ebenezer Henderson, The Annals of Dunfermline and Vicinity, from the Earliest Authentic Period to the Present Time, A.D. 1069-1878 (Dunfermline, 1879), pp. 244-245
- ^ Miles Kerr-Peterson & Michael Pearce, (Woodbridge, 2020), pp. 13-4.
- ^ Miles Glendinning & Aonghus McKechnie, Scottish Architecture (Thames & Hudson, 2004), p. 61.
- ^ Miles Kerr-Peterson & Michael Pearce, (Woodbridge, 2020), pp. 14, 85.
- ^ Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 13 part 1 (Edinburgh, 1969), p. 181: NRS E21 Scottish royal accounts 1598, March f50, May f71.
- Robert Chambers, Domestic Annals of Scotland, vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1858), p. 297
- ^ Letters to King James the Sixth from the Queen, Prince Henry, Prince Charles etc (Edinburgh, 1835), pp. lxxii-lxxiii
- ^ Calendar State Papers Scotland, 13:1 (Edinburgh, 1969), pp. 289, 293-5.
- ^ Reid-Baxter, Jamie, 'Politics, Passion and Poetry in the Court of James VI: John Burel and his surviving works', in Mapstone, S, Houwen, L.A.J.R., and MacDonald, A.A. (eds.) A Palace in the Wind: Essays on Vernacular Culture and Humanism in Late-Medieval and Renaissance (Peeters, 2000), pp. 199-200
- ^ Chalmers, Robert Domestic Annals of Scotland: Reign of James VI. 1591 – 1603 Part H, 1874 pub. – accessed 30 May 2007
- ISBN 0-7509-2323-7. P. 158.
- ^ Church Monuments Society Feb. 2011
- ^ RCAHMS Inventory Fife: David Stevenson, Origins of Freemasonry (1988)
- ^ Ebenezer Henderson, The Annals of Dunfermline and Vicinity: From the Earliest Authentic Period to the Present Time, A.D. 1069-1878 (Dunfermline, 1879) pp. 258-260
- ^ George Duncan Gibb, The life and times of Robert Gib, Lord of Carriber, vol. 1 (London, 1874), pp. 238-9
- ^ J. Maidment, The Melros Papers: State papers and miscellaneous correspondence of Thomas Earl of Melros, vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1837), 95-6.
- ^ Fraser ed., Montgomerie Memorials. vol. 2 (Edinburgh 1849), pp. 239–40
- ^ William Fraser, Memorials of the Montgomeries, Earls of Eglinton, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1859), p. 239, modernised spelling here.
- ^ For Aitchison's Haven see Blaeu (1654)
- ^ These Minutes are now the property of the Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland
- ^ Stevenson, p48- 49
- ^ HMC Earl of Eglington, (1885), 29–30, see external links
- ^ These 'statutes' are now the property of the Grand Lodge of Antient, Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland
Bibliography
- Chalmers, Robert (1874). "Domestic Annals of Scotland: Reign of James VI. 1591 – 1603 Part H". Electric Scotland. Retrieved 30 May 2007.
- Glendinning, Miles, and McKechnie, Aonghus, Scottish Architecture, Thames & Hudson, 2004.
- Reid-Baxter, Jamie "Politics, Passion and Poetry in the Court of James VI: John Burel and his surviving works", in: Mapstone, S, Houwen, L.A.J.R., and MacDonald, A.A. (eds.) A Palace in the Wind: Essays on Vernacular Culture and Humanism in Late-Medieval and Renaissance, Peeters, 2000.
- Stevenson, David The Origins of Freemasonry: Scotland's century 1590 – 1710, Cambridge University Press, 1988.
- Williamson, Arthur H., 'Number & National Consciousness', in: Mason, Roger A., ed., Scots & Britons, Folger / CUP, (1994), pp. 187–212.