Thomas Erskine of Haltoun facts for kids

Sir Thomas Erskine of Haltoun and Brechin was an important royal secretary for James V of Scotland starting in 1524. He played a key role in the Scottish court and helped with important royal plans, including the king's marriage.

Meet Sir Thomas's Family

Sir Thomas Erskine had a family connected to important people. A royal document from 1543 mentioned that he was the uncle of John Erskine of Dun. John Erskine was a well-known reformer. He was married to Barbara Berlay, a French lady who worked for Mary of Guise, the queen.

Sir Thomas's sister, Isabella, married James Cramond of Auldbar around 1527. Sir Thomas himself married Elizabeth Scrymgeour. Their son, also named Thomas, married Agnes Ogilvy by 1541. In 1542, the younger Thomas was allowed to travel abroad. He went with his cousin, John Erskine of Dun, and John Lamby of Duncany.

Sir Thomas's Important Jobs

Sir Thomas Erskine first became a royal secretary in 1524. He was chosen by Margaret Tudor, the Queen Mother, and James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran. In September 1526, he was given the special title of a gentleman and squire in the king's household. This meant he was an important person close to the king. He even received food for himself, three horses, and two servants.

Looking After Tantallon Castle

As a reward for his hard work in Scotland and other countries, Sir Thomas received a big responsibility in August 1531. He was put in charge of Tantallon Castle. His job was to keep it, fix it, and make sure soldiers were there to protect it. James V of Scotland had taken this castle from the Earl of Angus, who had been sent away from Scotland. Sir Thomas was at Tantallon Castle in July 1533.

New Lands and Responsibilities

To thank him even more, Sir Thomas was given the lands and lordship of Brechin and Navar on February 4, 1534. He had already been managing these lands since 1527. The document giving him these lands called him Sir Thomas Erskine of Kirkbuddo. Some of the money earned from these lands each year was used to pay the soldiers at Stirling Castle.

It is thought that Sir Thomas Erskine might have helped start the College of Justice. This was an important court system in Scotland. He might have even studied at a famous university in Italy called Pavia. Later, the king became suspicious of Sir Thomas. This was because he was talking to the Douglas family, who had been banished from Scotland.

Sir Thomas was present when King James wrote his will. This happened on the ship Salamander at Leith on June 12, 1540. This was just before the king's voyage to Orkney and the Western Isles. In 1548, Sir Thomas traveled to Europe to help one of his sons. His son had been captured, and Sir Thomas went to rescue him.

Helping Plan the King's Wedding

King James V was expected to marry a French princess. This was part of an agreement called the Treaty of Rouen from 1517. This treaty aimed to make the Auld Alliance (a friendship between Scotland and France) even stronger.

Sir Thomas Erskine traveled to France, Rome, and England to help arrange King James's marriage. The first idea was for James to marry Madeleine of Valois, the daughter of Francis I of France. Sir Thomas was sent to France in April 1530 to work on this marriage as a diplomat. He was joined by John Stewart, Duke of Albany.

However, at this time, King James V's advisors and the Duke of Albany hoped for a different marriage. They wanted the king to marry Catherine de' Medici, a young duchess. Sir Thomas was on his way to Rome in December 1531 to meet Albany and discuss this marriage with Pope Clement VI. But his ship was wrecked on the French coast. When Sir Thomas finally arrived in Rome in the spring of 1531, he had dinner with the Spanish ambassador. They might have even been students together at Pavia.

The marriage plans kept changing. In February 1533, two French ambassadors visited London. They said that King James was now thinking about marrying Christina of Denmark.

Two years later, Sir Thomas Erskine was back in France with David Beaton. They were still trying to arrange the marriage between King James and Princess Madeleine. Sir Thomas had letters from King James V to many important people in France. These included Eleanor of France, the Queen of Navarre, and other high-ranking officials. Sir Thomas and Beaton were told to arrange for Madeleine to come to Scotland the next summer. She would be fourteen years old then, or in July 1535.

At first, King Francis I suggested a different bride. Sir Thomas was at Cremieu on March 6, 1536. There, a contract was made for King James V to marry Mary of Bourbon. She was the daughter of the Duke of Vendôme.