George Young (diplomat) facts for kids

George Young was an important Scottish churchman, a member of the king's special group of advisors (the Privy Council of Scotland), a diplomat who worked with other countries, and a secretary. He was active from about 1584 to 1615.

George Young's Early Career

James VI of Scotland appointed George Young as the Archdeacon of St Andrews on October 12, 1584. This was an important role in the church.

In February 1581, he worked as a clerk for the Privy Council of Scotland. He delivered letters and documents from King James VI to the English ambassador, Thomas Randolph. In April 1581, he received a special gift from the king: the income from the church lands of Carstairs.

In April 1583, Young traveled to England with the ambassador Colonel William Stewart.

In October 1584, he carried the king's instructions for choosing town officials. He told the voters to pick the king's choices, including James Stewart, Earl of Arran as the Provost (like a mayor).

Young as an Ambassador

George Young was sent as an ambassador to England in 1585 with David Lindsay. Queen Elizabeth gave them gifts, but they were not very valuable. In January 1587, he was in London again with other Scottish diplomats. They were trying to save the life of Mary, Queen of Scots.

In 1589, he became an ambassador to Denmark. This trip was about the marriage of James VI of Scotland and Anne of Denmark. Young received 133 Pounds Scots for his travel costs. He returned on July 23, 1589, with his colleagues and went to see the king at Boyne Castle. An English observer, Thomas Fowler, reported their news. The Danish people thought James VI was asking for too much money (a "dowry") for the marriage. However, the ambassadors saw many preparations for the wedding, including a fancy coach made of silver. They also reported that Anne of Denmark really wanted the marriage to happen.

Young also worked on commissions that dealt with the border between Scotland and England in 1588, 1596, and 1598.

He traveled with James VI to Norway and Denmark, working as a deputy secretary. Young officially signed the king's marriage agreement in Oslo on November 21, 1589. Other important people also witnessed this signing.

In Copenhagen, in February 1590, Young bought books for King James VI. He also received books that authors gave to the king and then gave rewards to those authors. He returned to Scotland on April 30, 1590. In December 1593, Young was asked to join a committee. This group checked the money spent by the Chancellor, John Maitland. This money was used for the king's trips to Denmark. The funds came from financial help from England and Anne of Denmark's dowry.

The Visitor from Lübeck

In the summer of 1590, George Young helped with a situation involving a woman from Lübeck. He could speak German, which was helpful. This woman had traveled to Helsingør in the spring of 1590 to see James VI but missed him. She then came to Scotland and met Queen Anne's court.

The woman said she had a special message from "magicians of the east." This message was about a great king in north-west Europe and his important future actions, which she believed meant King James VI. She also said the king in the message had a mark on his body. She had a letter in Latin that said she brought news of the king's good fortune.

In Edinburgh, she spoke with Queen Anne in German. King James VI asked Young to interview her. At first, she did not want to talk to Young. She preferred to speak to a "wise man" of her own choice and wanted to see the mark on the king's body first. The English diplomat Robert Bowes heard that she came to Scotland because she was very fond of one of the queen's servants. So, her story was not taken seriously. Young questioned her to understand her intentions.

In June 1592, another young woman, Helen Guthrie from Aberdeen, had disagreements with the King about religious rules. She was also sent to the queen's household and was treated kindly.

Young as an Administrator

George Young received a payment or pension of 100 Pound Scots from William Schaw. Schaw managed the finances for Anne of Denmark in Dunfermline and Ettrick Forest. In 1594, the Parliament of Scotland confirmed that the king had given Young a pension of 200 pounds from Edinburgh's customs (taxes on goods).

On April 17, 1594, the king wrote a memo for Young about various concerns. These included issues with the Earl of Bothwell and worries that Bothwell might try to kidnap Prince Henry. The memo also mentioned Denmark's support for James against England, Peter Young's trip to Denmark, and matters concerning Anne of Denmark's household.

In March 1595, a Jesuit priest named Father James Myreton was held at Leith. When he was brought to the king, he said he was sent from the Pope and Cardinal Cajetan. He brought a special jewel from the Cardinal for the king. It was a gold, crystal, and bone cross that depicted the Crucifixion. James VI gave this jewel to Anne of Denmark. Young and others were ordered to interview the priest for a trial. This event was important and was reported to a Danish diplomat.

In 1596, Young was a deputy secretary. On January 20, 1597, he became part of a group of eight key members who managed the country's finances. This group was known as the Octavians.

On May 19, 1597, Young and Sir George Home met the English ambassadors Robert Bowes and William Bowes in Edinburgh. The next day, Young and Sir William Stewart brought them into the garden of Holyrood Palace to meet the king.

In 1601, Young was chosen to interview Thomas Foulis, a goldsmith, and Robert Jousie, a cloth merchant. These two men had become major lenders of money to the royal family.

George Young's Family

George Young married Margaret Murray.

After George Young died in 1615, Margaret Murray married the Laird of Claverhouse. In 1618, the Privy Council of Scotland wrote to her. They wanted George Young's papers because he had written a special document for the ambassador of the Dutch Republic. This document was given during the time of Prince Henry's baptism in 1594. Important details about trade agreements were to be looked at by Thomas Hamilton and others.