Sir John Arnot facts for kids

John Arnot of Birswick (born in Orkney, 1530 – died 1616) was an important Scottish merchant and landowner in the 1500s and early 1600s. He held a very important job as the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, which is like being the mayor of the city. He was Provost from 1587 to 1591 and again from 1608 until he passed away. He also worked for King James VI as his Deputy Treasurer, helping manage the King's money.

Early Life and Family

John Arnot was born in 1530. His parents were William Arnot and Margaret Wallace. When the Scottish Reformation happened in 1560, his family changed their religion to Protestantism.

He married twice. His first wife was Margaret Craig of Riccarton. They had two daughters named Rachel and Marion. Margaret Craig was also involved in business, owning part of a lead mining operation.

After Margaret passed away in 1615, John Arnot married Helen Johnston. They had one daughter together, Helen or Helena Arnot (1568-1650).

A Merchant's Troubles

In 1574, John Arnot had a big problem with his business. He was shipping valuable fabrics like velvet, silk, and gold thread from Flanders (a region in Europe) back to Scotland. But near Great Yarmouth in England, English pirates tricked him. They pretended to be looking for other pirates, but then they stole all his expensive goods and even his own clothes!

John Arnot asked the English ambassador, Henry Killigrew, for help to get his stolen goods back. He later wrote to another English ambassador, William Ashby, in 1590, hoping to get justice for this old theft.

Serving as Lord Provost

John Arnot became the Lord Provost of Edinburgh in 1587, taking over from William Little. This was a very busy time for Edinburgh and Scotland.

Helping Spanish Sailors

In October 1588, a famous event called the Spanish Armada happened. Many Spanish ships were wrecked, especially off the coast of Ireland. John Arnot and another official, William Fairlie, helped 46 Spanish sailors who had survived a shipwreck. These sailors were from a ship called the Ballanzara. Arnot and Fairlie gave them a special pass so they could travel through Scotland and get on Scottish merchant ships going to France, eventually returning to Spain.

The Royal Wedding

In 1589, King James VI was planning to get married. John Arnot, representing Edinburgh, helped agree to a special tax to pay for the royal wedding. He and other city leaders even went to Holyrood House to tell the King's Chancellor, John Maitland, that they wanted the King to marry a Danish princess.

King James VI sailed to Denmark to meet his bride, Anne of Denmark. In February 1590, the King wrote to a minister in Edinburgh, asking him to make sure Provost Arnot prepared four ships for his return and arranged for workers to fix Holyrood Palace. The city council then planned a big welcome ceremony for Queen Anne when she arrived on May 19th.

John Arnot personally helped pay for a fancy dinner for the Danish ambassador. He gave money and even his own tablecloths for the banquet!

Working with the Crown

John Arnot often worked closely with the Scottish government and the King.

Loans and Royal Expenses

In July 1590, Arnot and another Edinburgh official agreed to borrow a large sum of money, £100,000 Scots, from the King's financial manager. They promised to pay the King £4000 every year. Later, in 1594, they had to repay the rest of this loan to help pay for fighting against a rebel, Francis Stewart, 5th Earl of Bothwell.

John Arnot also lent money to the King for various things. In 1594, he provided wine and beer for ambassadors visiting for the baptism of Prince Henry. He also lent money for the royal households and to the royal mint. As a promise to repay him, King James VI gave Arnot a valuable gold cup and income from royal lands in Orkney, Shetland, and Cockburnspath.

Witchcraft Commission

In October 1591, John Arnot was chosen to be part of a special group. Their job was to investigate people suspected of witchcraft. They were allowed to question and even torture people if they thought it was necessary. Other members included important figures like Robert Bruce and William Litill.

English Actors in Edinburgh

In 1598, a group of English actors came to Edinburgh to perform. John Arnot was worried because he heard they were making fun of King James VI and the Scottish people. He told an English diplomat, George Nicholson, that these plays should be stopped so that the people of Edinburgh wouldn't get angry and riot. However, King James VI actually supported another group of actors in 1599, even when the church and city leaders tried to stop them.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1604, John Arnot was given another important job: Treasurer-depute of Scotland. This meant he was the assistant to the main Treasurer, George Home, 1st Earl of Dunbar.

Silver Mine Discovery

In 1606, a silver mine was found on land at Hilderston. The King's lawyer, Sir Thomas Hamiliton, found it. The mine looked very promising, so in January 1608, King James ordered John Arnot, as the Treasurer-depute, to take charge of it.

Second Term as Provost

John Arnot served a second term as Lord Provost of Edinburgh starting in 1608. During this time, in 1609, he was found innocent of any involvement in the Gowrie plot, a conspiracy against the King. Around this time, he also gained ownership of some lands that had belonged to Robert Logan of Restalrig, including land at North Berwick and possibly Lochend House in Edinburgh, which might have been his home in the city.

John Arnot passed away in 1616, at the age of 85. He left behind a large estate, worth about £20,000, which would be like £2 million today! After his death, William Nisbet of Dean became the next Lord Provost.

Family Connections

John Arnot's family had many important connections:

• His daughter Marion Arnot married James Nisbet (1557-1621). James became known as James Nisbet of Restalrig because Marion inherited Lochend House from her father. James was also the brother of William Nisbet of Dean, who later became Lord Provost.
• His sister Rachel Arnot (died 1626) married Archibald Johnston of Warriston, an Edinburgh citizen. Their family later included another Lord Provost, Sir Patrick Johnston.
• It is also believed that Alexander Home of North Berwick, who was Provost of Edinburgh from 1593 to 1597, was related to John Arnot.