Nicholas Williamson facts for kids
Nicholas Williamson was an English lawyer and a recusant in the 1590s. A recusant was someone who chose to remain Catholic when the official religion in England was Protestant. He was arrested in 1595 because he was planning to visit James VI of Scotland. A Jesuit priest named William Crichton hoped that Williamson would encourage James VI to try and become the King of England.
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Nicholas Williamson's Early Life
Nicholas Williamson grew up in Tusmore, Oxfordshire. His father was Thomas Williamson. His mother, Bridget, came from a family named Williamson in Mears Ashby in Northamptonshire. Nicholas was able to write in Latin, which was a sign of a good education back then. His younger brother, William, went to St Edmund Hall, Oxford, and his cousins, Francis and Edmund, studied at St John's College, Oxford.
In 1573, Nicholas Williamson married Anne Mordaunt. Her family was quite important, as her grandfather was Lord Mordaunt. Nicholas and Anne had one daughter.
Working for Important Families
Nicholas Williamson worked as a legal helper for the Earl of Shrewsbury. He helped the Earl with many business matters. For example, he made agreements for mine workers and arranged to buy glass for the Earl's buildings. Williamson also gave advice to the Countess of Shrewsbury when she wanted to buy land and houses.
He also helped manage the properties of Anthony Babington. Babington had been involved in a plot against Mary, Queen of Scots in 1586. Williamson also dealt with arguments over land and a special fishing spot on the River Trent at Shelford. These arguments were part of a big family feud between the Shrewsburys and another family, the Stanhopes.
In 1594, a German mining expert named Emanuel Hochstetter sent a German miner named Stephen Murr to Williamson. Murr was from Keswick and worked with copper ore. Hochstetter wrote that Murr would bring his son to help him speak, as his English was not very good.
Travels to Europe
In 1593, there was a fight between the Earl of Shrewsbury's supporters and the Stanhopes at the Shelford fishing spot. Nicholas Williamson was found guilty of being involved in this "riot" in 1594. To avoid a fine, he decided to travel to Antwerp in what is now Belgium. Before he left, he sold a house to make sure his wife had money.
Another Catholic, George More, who was also at the fishing spot riot, went to Flanders to avoid arrest. He later traveled to Scotland in 1598.
While Williamson was in Antwerp, he stayed at the house of George Mace. It was rumored that a strange sign, like a bloody cross, appeared on Williamson's linen. A Jesuit priest, William Crichton, introduced Williamson to a Scottish student named David Law. Law was supposed to go with Williamson to Scotland.
Williamson and Law tried to sail from Calais to Leith in Scotland. However, Williamson got seasick, so they landed at Yarmouth in England instead. From there, they started traveling north towards the Scottish border.
Arrested in England
Nicholas Williamson was arrested in Cumberland in March 1595. He had been staying at Millbeck Hall near Keswick, which belonged to a cousin with the same name. He was then taken to Henry Lee's house in Carlisle. Around the same time, David Law, the Scottish priest who was traveling with Williamson, was also captured and brought to Lee's house. Law was planning to pretend to be Williamson's servant to help him get into Scotland.
David Law was chosen for this mission because he knew Alexander Seton, an important Scottish courtier who was also Catholic. Williamson had visited Scotland before.
It is believed that Crichton helped Williamson get an introduction to Seton because Seton was close to Anne of Denmark, the Queen of Scotland. Many people thought that Queen Anne might have become Catholic or was at least friendly towards Catholics.
David Law was the son of a respected citizen of Kirkcaldy. His brother, James Law, later became the Archbishop of Glasgow. David Law tried to hide his prayer book in the garden at Henry Lee's house to hide that he was a priest. He was kept in prison in England for a year and a half. After he was released, David Law went back to his studies and later became a Catholic priest in Scotland.
Imprisonment and Interrogation
When Williamson was arrested, Henry Lee took his valuable belongings, including a gold chain, money, rings, and weapons. Williamson was taken to the Gatehouse Prison in Westminster and then to the Tower of London. He was suspected of trying to help James VI of Scotland become Catholic. The goal was to make sure a Catholic would become the next ruler of England.
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Williamson admitted that he planned to contact two Scottish noblemen, Lord Home and the Laird of Buccleuch. News of his arrest spread quickly.
Williamson also mentioned a Scottish Jesuit priest named Father John Myreton. Myreton was arrested in Scotland in March 1595 and questioned by King James VI. Myreton said he was sent by Pope Clement VIII and brought a special jewel as a gift for the Queen, Anne of Denmark.
Williamson's Mission and the English Throne
During his questioning, Williamson revealed that several important Catholic figures had written a book called A Conference about the Next Succession to the Crown of England. This book discussed who should be the next ruler of England.
The Attorney General, Edward Coke, believed that Williamson's trip to Scotland was part of a bigger plan. This plan aimed to weaken the positions of James VI and Arbella Stuart and to increase Catholic support in England for Spain.
William Crichton strongly supported James VI becoming the King of England. Williamson's mission included an offer to James VI: a relative named Francis Dacre could gather a group of men on the border to help James if he needed support in England. However, Williamson's arrest made Dacre stop his plans.
James VI was aware of these plots. He received letters about a conspiracy from Flanders and sent copies to Henry IV of France and Elizabeth I to protect his reputation. Some of Crichton's letters about Williamson were even sent directly to Elizabeth I by Maurice of Nassau.
James VI was open to plans that could lead to the Union of the Crowns, where Scotland and England would be united under one ruler. He even sent people to his brother-in-law, Christian IV of Denmark, to ask for military help if Queen Elizabeth I died. This made Queen Elizabeth I very angry.
Family Arrests and Searches
Nicholas's brother in London, Edmund Williamson, sent news of Nicholas's arrest to their father. Edmund himself was arrested a few days later in March 1595. Several other men found in his house were also arrested. Edmund's wife, Anna, was allowed to stay in their house. Another brother, James Williamson, was questioned and admitted that Nicholas had written to him from Calais, asking to meet in the north.
It was discovered that Edmund Williamson ran a kind of pawnbroking business from his house. He would give young men small amounts of money for their valuable items, much less than they were worth.
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Nicholas's wife, Anne Williamson, stayed at their house in Church Wilne in Derbyshire. Even though Anne tried to stop them, family papers were taken from her study and other places in the house. She eventually allowed the search after talking with John Harpur, who assured her that the Earl of Shrewsbury would support her while her husband was in prison. Other items and religious books were hidden in the church tower. The papers were locked away and later taken to another house belonging to the Earl of Shrewsbury. It was also found that Anne had left some documents with a cousin.
The Earl of Shrewsbury's actions in getting Williamson's papers were seen as suspicious by some.
Release from Prison
William Cecil, an important government official, called Nicholas Williamson a "Great Cozenor." This meant he thought Williamson had tried to trick or betray the Earl of Shrewsbury's loyalty to Elizabeth I. Williamson remained in the Tower of London, and records show payments for his candles and laundry while he was there.
Robert Cecil offered Williamson a deal. After he was released in 1597, Nicholas Williamson left his wife, Anne. They had argued before, and Anne had spent time away from him with her sister in 1593. Anne later remarried.
Historical Records
The papers taken from Nicholas Williamson's house are still kept in the National Archives today. They include many documents about the Shrewsbury family's business. These papers mention other people who worked for the Shrewsbury family, like Roger Portington, who managed the parks at Worksop. Portington lived in a very grand house called Worksop Manor Lodge, which shows how important some of the Earl's employees were.
Some of the family letters found among Williamson's papers have been studied recently. For example, a letter from Anne Williamson to her husband in 1590 shows her concern about her social standing. She asked him to have a farthingale (a hoop skirt) and sleeves made for her in the latest fashion. There are also letters from other women in the family, including Anne's sister and Williamson's sister.
See also
