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Alexander Crichton of Brunstane

Alexander Crichton of Brunstane, (died before De- 2 War of the Rough Wooing
cember 1558), was a Scottish Protestant laird who ad-
vocated the murder of Cardinal David Beaton and sup-
2.1 Assured Scot
ported the plan for the marriage of Mary, Queen of Scots
and Edward VI of England. In contemporary letters
After the death of James V in December 1542, Scot-
and documents Alexander is known by variant spellings
land was ruled by a Governor, Regent Arran. Alexander
of "Brunstane, his territorial designation. The origi-
Crichton received an English pension as a supporter of
nal House of Brunstane was near Penicuik, and another
English political and Protestant religious policy in Scot-
Crichton estate at Gilberstoun near Portobello, Edin-
land. In July 1543 Cardinal Beaton and his allies opposed
burgh became known as Brunstane.[1]
Regent Arran and camped with up to 6,000 armed men
at Linlithgow, where Mary, Queen of Scots was kept in
the Palace. Alexander told Ralph Sadler that the princi-
pal cause of this rebellion was to break the peace with
1 Career England, the Treaty of Greenwich. This agreement pro-
vided that Mary, Queen of Scots would marry the En-
glish Prince Edward when she was of age. In his report to
1.1 Aair of the Cardinals letters England, Sadler contrasted Alexander and George Dou-
glass account of the situation with the statement of the
Alexander Crichton went to France with royal letters in Earl of Glencairn, that the rebel party were happy with
1539 and as a servant of Cardinal Beaton.[2] On his re- the marriage plan and only concerned with the detail of
turn he was forced by a storm to land in England in when Mary would be sent to England.[7] The Governor
February 1540. Subsequently, the English ambassador and the Cardinal were reconciled. Alexander continued
Ralph Sadler intended to embarrass the Cardinal in front to correspond with Ralph Sadler. In November 1543,
of James V of Scotland with some compromising letters when Sadler had been forced to move from Edinburgh
captured from Brunstane. James V argued in favour of to Tantallon Castle and the English marriage plan was
Beaton that he had separate spiritual authority in Scot- losing support in Scotland, Alexander wrote that he was
land apart from the Kings temporal powers. Later, while recruiting supporters for English policy, and mentions
the Cardinal was present, James and Ralph compared the John Charteris and John Sandilands of Calder. He per-
sent letters with copies Beaton had produced, and found a suaded Sandilandss neighbours to refuse oers of French
discrepancy. James V thanked Sadler and his uncle Henry payments.[8]
VIII but would not nd fault in the Cardinals actions.[3]

2.2 Plots against the Cardinal

1.2 Messages to France At the opening of the war of the Rough Wooing in March
1544, Alexander secretly met the English Berwick Pur-
Alexander remained in the Cardinals favour and sailed suivant, Henry Ray in Edinburgh and gave him letters he
with him to France in 1540. He returned before his mas- had written to Henry VIII.[9] In April 1544, he proposed
ter in 1541 to meet James V. The King, Alexander, and the murder of Cardinal Beaton, while Lord Hertford was
the secretary, Thomas Erskine of Haltoun, played royal planning the invasion that resulted in the burning of Ed-
tennis at St Andrews on 3 April 1541.[4] In November inburgh. The oer was not taken up, but Brunstane was
1542 he sailed to France from Dumbarton on the busi- given a cipher for his English letters. Brunstane employed
ness of rents owed to the Cardinal and Mary of Guise. a Scot called Wishart to take his plan to Lord Hertford on
He returned with money for James V from Francis I of 17 April 1544, who understood two points;
France, and was later accused of keeping some of it. An
English spy reported on Alexanders return in Decem- One is, that the Larde of Grange, late Tre-
ber 1542 that he had brought little comfort.[5] On 19 sourer of Scotlande, the Master of Rothes,
November 1542, he and his son John were rewarded for th'earl of Rothers eldest son, and John Char-
Alexanders services and expenses in France with a new ters, wolde attempte eyther to apprehende or
charter for part of their Gilberstoun estate.[6] slee the Cardynall at some tyme when he shall

1
2 2 WAR OF THE ROUGH WOOING

passe thorough the Fyf lande, ... and thought that Mary of Guise was pretending to be an-
The other is, that in case Your Majestie would gry about the plan.[20]
grant unto them a convenyent entertainment Sadler returned to London and the revelation of his wifes
for 1,000 or 1,500 men in wages, ... they will bigamy, and there is no record of a meeting with Brun-
take upon them, at such tyme as Your Majesties stane at Berwick. The diplomat Johannes Sturm wrote
armye shalbe in Scotland, to destroye the abbey to the English secretary of state, William Paget on 4 De-
and town of Arbroath.[10] cember with news of discussions of the new marriage plan
in France. Sturmius realised that the Hamilton marriage
The 19th century historian Charles Rogers discussed the
would disrupt the Anglo-French peace treaty negotiations
identity of the mesenger Wishart. He argued that the
and advised Paget they should hinder it.[21]
priest and master of arts and Protestant preacher George
Wishart would not simply be called Wishart in the cor-
respondence, and suggested the messenger was a young 2.4 Wisharts arrest
man, John, eldest son of John Wishart of Carnbeg.[11]
According to the report of Eustace Chapuys, Alexander In 1546 the preacher George Wishart stayed at the House
tried to speak to Lord Hertford at Leith on 5 May 1544 of Brunstane. The Earl of Bothwell arrested Wishart
during his invasion of Edinburgh. An English guard shot at the house of Brunstanes friend, John Cockburn of
him in the leg with an arrow. He returned next day with Ormiston on 16 January 1546. Later that night Arrans
papers of safe-conduct, saying he had oers from Scot- men came for Ormiston, Brunstane and young Sandi-
tish lords, but Hertford would not see him.[12] However, lands of Calder. Alexander escaped, running in the frost
Hertford wrote that Alexander was in the eld with Ar- through Ormiston wood and on to Tantallon Castle.[22]
rans forces and retreated with them to Linlithgow, and George Wishart was taken to St Andrews and executed.
before the 15 May Alexander had communicated with On 16 May 1546 a summons of treason was issued on
Hertford and mentioned that he planned to come to Lon- Alexander.[23] The Cardinal was murdered by a group
don as he could no longer abide in Scotland.[13] He went of Protestant lairds from Fife which included the men
to London in June 1544, carrying a letter to Henry VIII Alexander had put forward. These lairds, who became
from George Douglas of Pittendreich.[14] known as the Castilians, garrisoned St Andrews Castle
and held the Governors son hostage.
Alexander went back to London on Arrans business in
November 1544 to discuss compensation for captured
shipping.[15] Alexander repeated his oer to capture or 2.5 The Scottish Ratication
kill the Cardinal in July 1545. Henry VIII of England
would not directly sponsor the murder but Ralph Sadler The long-awaited Anglo-French Treaty of Ardres (or
wrote to Brunstane with the encouragement that it would Campe) was concluded on 7 June 1546, and required a
be an acceptable service to God to take him away. ratication from Scotland to be nalised.[24] Although the
Sadler promised Henry VIII would reward the killers. Scottish Parliament had continued to summon Alexan-
He also suggested that George Douglas of Pittendreich der Crichton for treason, the action was abandoned for
and the Earl of Cassilis should become involved in Brun- unspecied reasons on 4 August.[25] The Scottish Parlia-
stanes plot. Nothing was done.[16] ment approved its ratication of the Treaty of Ardres on
14 August 1546. As the factional rivalry between the
Governor and Mary of Guise continued, there was con-
2.3 International angles
troversy over who should carry Scotlands ratication to
The Governor of the Netherlands, Mary of Hungary be- London. Adam Otterburn wrote to Mary of Guise with
lieved that France insincerely encouraged the English news that Lord Ruthven, the secretary David Paniter, and
marriage plan in order to gain an advantage in nego- Arrans half-brother, the Abbot of Paisley accompanied
tiations with England about Boulogne which had been by Alexander had set out, but were recalled after a change
captured on 13 September 1544.[17] There was a third of plan.[26]
scheme. Brunstane wrote to Sadler on 20 October 1545 The Spanish Empire pressed for the ratication, as Scot-
requesting an urgent meeting at Berwick upon Tweed. tish captains were able to harass Flemish shipping without
George Douglas of Pittendreich had told him that the redress. Finally, Henrys Welsh diplomat Edward Carne
Lords of the Parliament of Scotland had signed an agree- was able to show the Scottish ratication to Mary of Hun-
ment for Mary, Queen of Scots to marry James Hamil- garys administrator in Brussels, the President Lodewijk
ton, the son of the Governor.[18] James Hamilton, the van Schore on 10 September. Schore pointed out its
Master of Hamilton, had been kept by the Cardinal shortcomings and noted that Arran laid siege to St An-
at St Andrews Castle since October 1544.[19] Alexander drews Castle. Mary of Hungary understood that the Em-
had heard that the Cardinal was trying to have the queen pire remained at war with Scotland despite the treaty.
brought to St Andrews, but he was sceptical that the Car- She believed Arrans government delayed the resolution
dinal really wanted the Hamilton marriage to proceed, of peace with the empire because the situation prevented
3

Henry sending military aid to the Protestants in St An- Castle designed by Migliorino Ubaldini, which Ormis-
drews Castle.[27] tons brother, Ninian Cockburn, called yon neu blak
The English Privy Council authorised payments to hous. Goods [33]
were also seized from Alexanders house
Alexander in 1546, one in April for three months wages at Penicuik. On 6 April, Grey of Wilton reported that
for a band of 100 horsemen, and in October granted Alexanders house was not burnt, but;
his servant Cockburn a passport to carry satin cloth over
the border for his furniture. The English border warden Marry! the topp is pulled downe, so much
William Eure had already given him money.[28] of the stone as was lyked, which laye in redy-
ness to bylde, caryed to Edynborough, his yong
trees cut up, and all worse handled than if it had
2.6 Declares for England been with fyer.[34]

Alexander stayed at Nunraw, he, Ormiston and their ally,


Hugh Douglas of Longniddry, remained in Lothian with
a force of 150 English horsemen. Grey of Wilton told
Alexander and Ormiston that he hoped to capture George
Douglas, and they kept his secret.[35] Following Grey of
Wiltons recommendation, Edward VI gave the two lairds
compensation for their losses caused by military action
and supplying Haddington.[36]

Brunstane Castle near Penicuik 3 Heir restored


After the battle of Pinkie on 10 September 1547, Alexan-
Alexander was forfeited as a traitor by the Parliament
der travelled with the English Norroy Herald, Gilbert De-
of Scotland on 14 December 1548, for his crimes in
thick, carrying messages between the Privy Council of
January of assisting Grey of Wilton, keeping the House
Scotland and Mary of Guise at Stirling Castle and Lord
of Saltoun, and persuading lieges of Scotland to form
Hertford.[29] The English commander Grey of Wilton oc-
leagues against Mary, Queen of Scots. After his death,
cupied Haddington,and garrisoned nearby lairdss houses
the date of which has not been established,[37] on 5 De-
in East Lothian. Alexander and John Cockburn held the
cember 1558, the forfeiture was reversed in favour of his
Houses of Ormiston, Saltoun and Brunstane for England.
heir, John Crichton, on the grounds that the procedure
Alexander and Ormiston waited for an opportunity to was awed because Alexander was out of the country at
capture Edinburgh Castle and deliver to the English the the time. The sentence against John Cockburn of Ormis-
Governor of Scotland Regent Arran and his half-brother ton was withdrawn in the same terms on the same day.[38]
John Hamilton who had displaced Alexanders kinsman
John Crichton was an active supporter of the Lords of
Robert Crichton as Bishop of Dunkeld. They also wanted
the Congregation during the Scottish Reformation. Like
Grey of Wilton to capture and garrison the Earl of Both-
his father before him, he was called the 'Laird of Brym-
wells house at Hailes Castle.[30] They wrote jointly to
ston' in English letters. He rode into Scotland to Glas-
John Luttrell, the English commander of Broughty Castle
gow at night on 23 January 1560 bringing letters from
on 17 January 1548 asking him to allow shermen from
the English court to the Protestants and was sent to Fife
Crail to supply them.[31]
to summon the Lords to come for the negotiation of the
treaty of Berwick.[39] John Crichton had Brunstane Cas-
2.7 Yon new blockhouse tle at Penicuik rebuilt in 1568, the date was carved over
the entrance.[40]
Arran brought four cannon from Edinburgh Castle at the
end of February and captured the three houses. The lairds
of Brunstane and Ormiston were declared traitors and the 4 References
Scottish Privy Council ordered the demolition of Brun-
stane, Gilberstoun, and Ormiston.[32] In March 1548,
[1] Geddie, John, The Fringes of Edinburgh, (1926), p.152.
slaters were employed to take the roof o Brunstane
House, and the roof timbers were dismantled and taken [2] Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland, vol.7
to Edinburgh. The woods were harvested and the work- (1907), p.275.
men were protected by 10 gunners armed with culverins.
The timber and stone from the house was used in the [3] Cliord, Arthur, ed., Sadler State Papers, vol.1 (1809),
construction of the new Spur fortication at Edinburgh pp.25-28, 42-44.
4 5 FURTHER READING

[4] Murray, Athol L., 'Pursemasters Accounts, in 10th Mis- [27] Letters and Papers, Henry VIII, vol. 21 part 2 (1910), no.
cellany of Scottish History Society, SHS (1965), p.35 foot- 75, 92.
note, 41.
[28] Dasent, J. R., Acts of Privy Council of England, 1542-
[5] Hannay, Robert Kerr, ed., Rentale Sanctee Andree, SHS 1547, London (1890), 395, 487, 546
(1913), pp.xxxix-xl, 131: Letters & Papers, Henry VIII,
vol. 17 nos. 1100 (2), 1193. [29] An English Garner: Tudor Tracts, (1903), pp.139, 142,
re-printing Patten, W., The Late Expedition in Scotland,
[6] Register of the Great Seal, 1513-1546, Edinburgh (1883), London (1548)
no.2839.
[30] CSP Scotland, vol.1 (1898), p.57, 59.
[7] Bain, Joseph, ed., Hamilton Papers, vol. 1, Edinburgh
(1890), p.590-1 [31] Cameron, Annie I., ed., Scottish Correspondence of Mary
of Lorraine, SHS (1927), pp.211-213.
[8] Letters & Papers, Henry VIII, vol. 18 part 2 (1902), nos.
425, 427, 428, 443, 434. [32] HMC, 11th Report, part VI, Manuscripts of the Duke of
Hamilton, (1887), p.39: Merriman, Marcus, The Rough
[9] Letters and Papers Henry VIII, vol.19, no.228. Wooings, Tuckwell (2000), pp.154, 209, 305-6

[10] State Papers Henry VIII, vol.5 part 2 continued (1836), [33] Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland, vol.9
p.377, Hertford to Henry VIII, (slightly modernised & ab- (1911), pp.xxviii, 161-2, 163, 166, 167, 172-3: CSP Scot-
breviated here) land, vol.1 (1898), p.93 no.220.

[11] Rogers, Charles (1876), pp.311-4 [34] CSP Scotland, vol.1 (1898), p.108 no.220.

[12] Calendar State Papers Spain, vol.7 (1899), no.95, (Cha- [35] CSP Scotland, vol.1 (1898), p.93 no.190, p.111 no. 227,
puyss reference shows that Crichton was already known p.118 no. 240, p.119 no.241.
to the Empire.)
[36] Dasent, J. R., ed., Acts of the Privy Council of England,
[13] Letters & Papers Henry VIII, vol.19, (1903), nos.472, 510. 1547-1552, vol.2 (1890), pp.178-9: CSP Scotland, vol.1,
p.118 no.140.
[14] Fraser, William, ed., Douglas Book, vol.4, (1885) p.365
[37] Rogers, Charles (1876), 285
[15] Rogers, Charles (1876), p.285, quoting reference subse-
quently printed in Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of [38] National Archives of Scotland, PA2/10, f.38r-41v.,
Scotland, vol.8, (1908), p.234. digitised by Records of the Parliaments of Scotland: St
Andrews University
[16] Letters & Papers, Henry VIII, vol.20 part 1, (1905), nos.
1177, 1178: State Papers Henry VIII, vol.5 (1836), p.440 [39] Sadler State Papers, vol.1 Edinburgh (1809), p.693, 699-
footnote (mentions Brunstanes cipher) 700
[17] CSP Spain, vol.9 (1912), p.41. [40] McGibbon & Ross, Castellated & Domestic Architecture,
vol.4 (1892), pp.170-3
[18] Letters & Papers, Henry VIII, vol.20 part 2, (1907),
no.622.

[19] Accounts of the Treasurer of Scotland, vol.8, p.319 5 Further reading


[20] State Papers Henry VIII, vol.5 (1836), 549, 6 Oct. 1545.
Rogers, Charles, ed., 'A Memoir of George
[21] Letters & Papers, Henry VIII, vol.20 part 2 (1907), no. Wishart', in Transactions of Scottish Historical So-
697, 927. ciety, vol. 4 (1876), pp. 260283.
[22] Laing, David, ed., Works of John Knox, vol.1 (1846),
pp.140-2.

[23] Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland, vol.8,


(1908), p.458.

[24] Merriman, Marcus, The Rough Wooings, (2000), pp.195-


201

[25] see Records of Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, website


by St Andrews University: Thomson, Thomas, ed., Acts
of the Parliaments of Scotland, vol.2 (1814), p.469.

[26] Thomson, Thomas, ed., Acts of the Parliaments of


Scotland, vol.2 (1814), pp.473-4: Cameron, Annie I.,
ed., Scottish Correspondence of Mary of Lorraine, SHS
(1927), pp.169-173.
5

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