John Chisholm (soldier) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids King's Wark |
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| Leith, Scotland | |
Site of the King's Wark Royal Arsenal
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 King's Wark
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| Coordinates | 55°58′34″N 3°10′10″W / 55.9761°N 3.1695°W |
| Site history | |
| Built | in royal occupation since 1434 |
| In use | disused as arsenal since 1647 |
| Battles/wars | destroyed May 1544 |
| Garrison information | |
| Past commanders |
John Chisholm (1564-1606) |
John Chisholm was an important Scottish soldier in the 1500s. He was the main officer in charge of Scotland's artillery (big cannons and guns) for Mary, Queen of Scots and later for James VI of Scotland. He also looked after a special royal building in Leith called the King's Wark. John Chisholm was a strong supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots, even after she went to England.
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John Chisholm's Career
Managing Royal Artillery
In November 1561, John Chisholm was the clerk in charge of the royal artillery. He made sure six large cannons, called culverins, were sent to Dunbar Castle. In October 1562, he moved cannons and their carriages by ship from Leith and Dunbar to Aberdeen. This was during a time when the army was fighting against the Earl of Huntly.
Mary, Queen of Scots was very keen for Chisholm to arrive in Perth in April 1564. As the person in charge of the royal artillery in 1565, he received a large sum of money, 10,000 merks, from Edinburgh's town council. This money was used to move the royal artillery to western Scotland during a rebellion known as the Chaseabout Raid.
Finding Timber for Cannons
In 1565, Mary Queen of Scots and Lord Darnley checked on the royal artillery. They needed new wood for the cannons. John Chisholm was put in charge of fixing the guns. He was given money to buy supplies.
Mary wrote letters to forest owners asking for new timber. Wood was cut in places like Kincardine and Aberdalgie. It was then taken to the Water of Earn. In April 1566, Chisholm was told to work with the Earl of Montrose to transport the timber to Edinburgh. The wood was shipped from the Tay River to Leith. The Earl of Bothwell then helped move it to Edinburgh Castle.
Mary's Amazing Fireworks
John Chisholm also organized a huge firework display for the baptism of Queen Mary's son, Prince James. This event happened at Stirling Castle in December 1566. The preparations were very expensive, and John had to ask the Queen for more money twice.
John's records show he used ingredients like resin, arsenic, and quicksilver. He also used arrows and many small pottery pots. The fireworks were made in Leith and secretly shipped to Stirling. They were carried into the castle late at night "for fear of anyone knowing." John also helped make costumes for a play that showed an attack on a pretend castle.
Chisholm and the King's Wark
In April 1567, Mary, Queen of Scots officially gave John Chisholm ownership of the King's Wark in Leith. He had been looking after it since May 1564. At the King's Wark, John was in charge of the royal arsenal, which was a place to store weapons and supplies for the Royal Scots Navy.
The King's Wark was first built by James I of Scotland in 1434. In May 1505, two boats belonging to James IV were painted there. In August 1539, cannons and other weapons captured from pirates were stored at the King's Wark. The buildings, which included a tower, were burned in May 1544 during a war called the Rough Wooing. English soldiers looted 80,000 cannonballs. The site is now a bar and restaurant.
Supporting Mary, Queen of Scots
In September 1567, Chisholm brought cannons from Edinburgh Castle to attack Dunbar Castle. He also moved cannons from Inchkeith island to Leith and then to Edinburgh Castle. He transported artillery to Glasgow for the battle of Langside.
In 1570, Chisholm joined William Kirkcaldy of Grange in Edinburgh Castle. They remained loyal to Mary, Queen of Scots. During the long siege of the Castle and the civil war, Chisholm traveled abroad to find support and supplies. In February 1571, he was in London. He hoped that Elizabeth I of England would help Mary return to the Scottish throne.
Chisholm visited Mary at Sheffield Castle. He also took letters to France in April 1571. He borrowed money from the Bishop of Ross. The Bishop noted that Chisholm returned to Scotland from Dieppe in June 1571. He brought money, cannonballs, and pikes (long spears) from Charles IX of France. Chisholm and his ship were captured in July, but he managed to give some money to Mary's supporters.
Chisholm was allowed to go back to France. In August 1575, he wrote to Mary, Queen of Scots from Paris. He asked if he and his wife could come to England and serve in her household. He hoped Mary would soon be free from her troubles.
Getting His Job Back
After being away, John Chisholm received an official pardon in July 1576. This meant he was forgiven for supporting Mary and traveling without permission. On May 31, 1579, he was re-appointed as the "Comptroller and Second Person of the Artillery." This meant he was back in charge of cannons and weapons across Scotland.
The King's Wark was officially confirmed as his in May 1588. His title was "Controller of the accounting rolls for war machines."
Later History of the King's Wark
Anne of Denmark's Arrival
In October 1589, James VI decided to sail to Norway to meet his future wife, Anne of Denmark. Chisholm helped prepare the royal artillery for the king's ships. He was paid to get the cannons ready and put them on board the James Royall ship.
Anne of Denmark arrived in Scotland on May 1, 1590, with James VI. They stayed for five nights at the King's Wark. The path from their ship to their special room in Chisholm's house was covered with beautiful tapestries and Turkish carpets.
A special wooden staircase was built for Anne to enter directly into the first-floor hall. Beyond this hall was the queen's bedroom. James and Anne sat on thrones on a platform to listen to a welcome speech in French. The people of Leith were told not to fix ships or unload guns on the Shore until the queen left.
Bernard Lindsay's Ownership
The King's Wark buildings were given to Bernard Lindsay of Lochhill in 1606. Lindsay was a courtier and servant of James VI. He added a tennis court to the property. In 1612, he planned to build a stone arched walkway facing the shore. This was meant to be a place for merchants to meet. The king gave him a tax on wine imports to help pay for the building work.
In 1626, King Charles I asked for the "King's Houses" to be bought from Bernard Lindsay. They were to be used as a Customs House. It is thought that Bernard Street in Leith is named after Lindsay of Lochhill. In 1647, the city council of Edinburgh bought the site.
