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James Mosman

January 01, 1970

James Mosman or Mossman (died 1573) was a Scottish goldsmith. He and his son John Mosman were supporters of the cause of Mary, Queen of Scots. James Mosman was executed in 1573 for counterfeiting coins in Edinburgh Castle.[1] John Mosman carried letters for Mary, Queen of Scots, and was under surveillance by Francis Walsingham.

James Mosman rebuilt the John Knox House
Arms of James Mosman and Mariota Arres on the John Knox House

Career edit

He was a son of John Mosman, a goldsmith working in Edinburgh. He married Mariota Arres, and secondly in 1571, Janet King. Mosman and Arres rebuilt the John Knox House on the High Street in Edinburgh. Moubray House is adjacent to the west.

Mosman and Arres were given permission in May 1557 by Mary of Guise to extend the cellars of another house they owned under the High Street. This house was on the south side of the Royal Mile between houses belonging to Alan Dickson and Richard Hoppar.[2]

On 16 December 1558 Mosman weighed and valued the treasures of St Giles' Kirk including the reliquary of Saint Giles' arm bone.[3]

James Mosman and his workshop made gold chains for Mary, Queen of Scots to give as diplomatic gifts.[4] He was an assay master in the Scottish mint and made dies for the coinage. Other mint officers included, David Forrest, General of the coin house, Andrew Henderson, warden, John Balfour, comptroller warden, and James Gray, sinker or maker of dies. Grey was another goldsmith, he sold pearls to Mary and refashioned and mended a basin and laver for her.[5]

In April 1566, Mosman sold the queen rings and other pieces which were probably intended as presents to her attendants.[6] In 1567 he was converting a piece of Mary, Queen of Scots' jewelry when she was imprisoned in Lochleven Castle.[7] Mosman gave this chain set with little diamonds, which he was making into a hairband garnishing, to Robert Melville, and his brother Andrew Melville of Garvock took it to the captive queen.[8]

Mariota Arres died in 1571, and soon after James Mosman married Janet King. She was a daughter of Alexander King, an Edinburgh advocate.[9]

Marian Civil War edit

James Mosman remained loyal to Mary when she was exiled in England. Mosman worked in Edinburgh Castle with another goldsmith James Cockie making coins for Mary's supporters who held the castle during the 'Lang Siege'. They helped raise money for the Captain of the castle, William Kirkcaldy of Grange, on the security of the jewels of Mary, Queen of Scots, which were used as pledges for loans from her supporters.[10] They set up a mint in the castle to coin silver, while Regent Morton minted coins at Dalkeith. On the day the castle fell to an English army led by William Drury, many of Mary's jewels were in Mosman's hands, and he passed them to Kirkcaldy of Grange, wrapped in a cloth, "an evill favored clowte".[11]

Mosman and Cockie were executed in 1573, following a trial at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.[12][13] Mosman, William Kirkcaldy, his brother James Kirkcaldy, and James Cockie, were hanged on 3 August 1573. Mosman's receipts for loans noting the weight of some of Mary's jewels are held by the National Records of Scotland.[14]

John Mosman and Walsingham edit

His son John Mosman, Janet King, and James Cockie's children were given pacifications by the Parliament of Scotland in October 1581. John Mosman was sometimes known as "John Mosman younger" to distinguish him from his uncle, who was an established Edinburgh goldsmith. He carried a letter to John Lauder at Sheffield, a member of Queen Mary's household, from his father James Lauder, a court musician, in October 1582. He also wrote to John Lauder from London, asking him to reply and tell him if Queen Mary was not planning to benefit him. In November he wrote to Mary asking for a reward as the son of her "grace's master coiner and true subject", enough to start a trade and support his brothers and sisters. He had previously sent her an account of outstanding sums she owed his father. He had spent four months in London waiting for a reply from her and spent all his money.[15]

John Mosman was interviewed in London by the Scottish poet and spy William Fowler, who found him plain and simple and fit only for carrying letters. He became involved with the correspondence of the French ambassador Michel de Castelnau and was monitored by Francis Walsingham. Despite Fowler's judgement of his skills, Walsingham intercepted a number of letters in March 1583 which referred to Mosman's verbal reports, and he wished that he had been arrested as a "bad instrument". Fowler advised Walsingham that Mosman could be caught with letters of Mary, Queen of Scots and the French diplomat La Mothe Fénelon in a ship at Gravesend.[16]

An English diplomat in Scotland, William Davison reported on Mosman carrying letters for Maineville, a French diplomat in Edinburgh.[17] The English ambassador in Scotland, Robert Bowes wrote to Walsingham in June 1583 that John Mosman was ready to go by "privily by land to London, with good store of letters" for Michel de Castelnau. Mosman knew that Bowes was watching him.[18] Coded letters mentioning Mary's intention to reward John Mosman with 100 Écu were discovered in the Bibliothèque nationale de France and deciphered in 2023.[19]

References edit

  1. ^ P. F. Tytler, History of Scotland, 7 (Edinburgh, 1842), p. 388.
  2. ^ Register of the Privy Seal: 1556-1567, 5:1 (Edinburgh, 1957), p. 27 no. 125.
  3. ^ James Marwick, Extracts from the Records of the Burgh of Edinburgh: 1557-1571 (Edinburgh, 1875), pp. 27-8
  4. ^ James Balfour Paul, Accounts of the Treasurer: 1559-1566, vol. 11 (Edinburgh, 1916), pp. 76, 344, 352, 360, 492.
  5. ^ James Balfour Paul, Accounts of the Treasurer: 1559-1566, vol. 11 (Edinburgh, 1916), pp. 76, 152, 344, 352, 360, 492.
  6. ^ James Balfour Paul, Accounts of the Treasurer: 1559-1566, vol. 11 (Edinburgh, 1916), pp. 76, 344, 352, 360, 492.
  7. ^ William Boyd, Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 4 (Edinburgh, 1905), p. 616.
  8. ^ Joseph Robertson, Inventaires de la Royne Descosse (Edinburgh, 1863), p. clvi.
  9. ^ David McOmish, 'A Community of Scholarship', Steven J. Reid & David McOmish, Neo-Latin Literature and Literary Culture in Early Modern Scotland (Brill, 2017), p. 63.
  10. ^ Lyndsay McGill, 'Scottish Renaissance Jewels in the National Collection: making and makers', Anna Groundwater, Decoding the Jewels (Sidestone, 2024), p. 109.
  11. ^ John J. Reid & Alexander J. S. Brook, 'The Scottish Regalia', PSAS (December 1889), p. 54: Inventaires (Edinburgh, 1863), p. clii.
  12. ^ Bruce Lenman, 'Jacobean Goldsmith-Jewellers as Credit-Creators: The Cases of James Mossman, James Cockie and George Heriot', Scottish Historical Review, 74:198 (1995), pp. 159–177
  13. ^ Calendar State Papers Scotland: 1571-1574, vol. 4 (Edinburgh, 1905), p. 602.
  14. ^ Malcolm Laing, The Historie of King James the Sext (Edinburgh, 1804), pp. 236-7: William Boyd, Calendar State Papers Scotland vol. 4 (Edinburgh, 1905), p. 602: National Records of Scotland, E35/11.
  15. ^ William Boyd, Calendar State Papers Scotland: 1581-1583, vol. 6 (Edinburgh, 1910), pp. 185, 193.
  16. ^ Calendar State Papers Scotland: 1581-1583, vol. 6 (Edinburgh, 1910), pp. 196, 210, 335, 350, 353-4, 659.
  17. ^ Bowes Correspondence (London, 1842), pp. 382–383.
  18. ^ Joseph Stevenson, Bowes Correspondence (London, 1842), p. 464.
  19. ^ George Lasry, Norbert Biermann, Satoshi Tomokiyo, 'Deciphering Mary Stuart’s lost letters from 1578-1584', Cryptologia, (8 Feb 2023), pp. 57, 79 doi:10.1080/01611194.2022.2160677

Further reading edit

  • Charles John Guthrie, John Knox and his House, 2nd Edition (Edinburgh, 1905)
  • John Knox House: Edinburgh World Heritage Trust
  • Gold buttons of Mary, Queen of Scots, and Anna of Denmark

January 01, 1970
james, mosman, mossman, died, 1573, scottish, goldsmith, john, mosman, were, supporters, cause, mary, queen, scots, executed, 1573, counterfeiting, coins, edinburgh, castle, john, mosman, carried, letters, mary, queen, scots, under, surveillance, francis, wals. James Mosman or Mossman died 1573 was a Scottish goldsmith He and his son John Mosman were supporters of the cause of Mary Queen of Scots James Mosman was executed in 1573 for counterfeiting coins in Edinburgh Castle 1 John Mosman carried letters for Mary Queen of Scots and was under surveillance by Francis Walsingham James Mosman rebuilt the John Knox House Arms of James Mosman and Mariota Arres on the John Knox House Contents 1 Career 2 Marian Civil War 3 John Mosman and Walsingham 4 References 5 Further readingCareer editHe was a son of John Mosman a goldsmith working in Edinburgh He married Mariota Arres and secondly in 1571 Janet King Mosman and Arres rebuilt the John Knox House on the High Street in Edinburgh Moubray House is adjacent to the west Mosman and Arres were given permission in May 1557 by Mary of Guise to extend the cellars of another house they owned under the High Street This house was on the south side of the Royal Mile between houses belonging to Alan Dickson and Richard Hoppar 2 On 16 December 1558 Mosman weighed and valued the treasures of St Giles Kirk including the reliquary of Saint Giles arm bone 3 James Mosman and his workshop made gold chains for Mary Queen of Scots to give as diplomatic gifts 4 He was an assay master in the Scottish mint and made dies for the coinage Other mint officers included David Forrest General of the coin house Andrew Henderson warden John Balfour comptroller warden and James Gray sinker or maker of dies Grey was another goldsmith he sold pearls to Mary and refashioned and mended a basin and laver for her 5 In April 1566 Mosman sold the queen rings and other pieces which were probably intended as presents to her attendants 6 In 1567 he was converting a piece of Mary Queen of Scots jewelry when she was imprisoned in Lochleven Castle 7 Mosman gave this chain set with little diamonds which he was making into a hairband garnishing to Robert Melville and his brother Andrew Melville of Garvock took it to the captive queen 8 Mariota Arres died in 1571 and soon after James Mosman married Janet King She was a daughter of Alexander King an Edinburgh advocate 9 Marian Civil War editJames Mosman remained loyal to Mary when she was exiled in England Mosman worked in Edinburgh Castle with another goldsmith James Cockie making coins for Mary s supporters who held the castle during the Lang Siege They helped raise money for the Captain of the castle William Kirkcaldy of Grange on the security of the jewels of Mary Queen of Scots which were used as pledges for loans from her supporters 10 They set up a mint in the castle to coin silver while Regent Morton minted coins at Dalkeith On the day the castle fell to an English army led by William Drury many of Mary s jewels were in Mosman s hands and he passed them to Kirkcaldy of Grange wrapped in a cloth an evill favored clowte 11 Mosman and Cockie were executed in 1573 following a trial at the Palace of Holyroodhouse 12 13 Mosman William Kirkcaldy his brother James Kirkcaldy and James Cockie were hanged on 3 August 1573 Mosman s receipts for loans noting the weight of some of Mary s jewels are held by the National Records of Scotland 14 John Mosman and Walsingham editHis son John Mosman Janet King and James Cockie s children were given pacifications by the Parliament of Scotland in October 1581 John Mosman was sometimes known as John Mosman younger to distinguish him from his uncle who was an established Edinburgh goldsmith He carried a letter to John Lauder at Sheffield a member of Queen Mary s household from his father James Lauder a court musician in October 1582 He also wrote to John Lauder from London asking him to reply and tell him if Queen Mary was not planning to benefit him In November he wrote to Mary asking for a reward as the son of her grace s master coiner and true subject enough to start a trade and support his brothers and sisters He had previously sent her an account of outstanding sums she owed his father He had spent four months in London waiting for a reply from her and spent all his money 15 John Mosman was interviewed in London by the Scottish poet and spy William Fowler who found him plain and simple and fit only for carrying letters He became involved with the correspondence of the French ambassador Michel de Castelnau and was monitored by Francis Walsingham Despite Fowler s judgement of his skills Walsingham intercepted a number of letters in March 1583 which referred to Mosman s verbal reports and he wished that he had been arrested as a bad instrument Fowler advised Walsingham that Mosman could be caught with letters of Mary Queen of Scots and the French diplomat La Mothe Fenelon in a ship at Gravesend 16 An English diplomat in Scotland William Davison reported on Mosman carrying letters for Maineville a French diplomat in Edinburgh 17 The English ambassador in Scotland Robert Bowes wrote to Walsingham in June 1583 that John Mosman was ready to go by privily by land to London with good store of letters for Michel de Castelnau Mosman knew that Bowes was watching him 18 Coded letters mentioning Mary s intention to reward John Mosman with 100 Ecu were discovered in the Bibliotheque nationale de France and deciphered in 2023 19 References edit P F Tytler History of Scotland 7 Edinburgh 1842 p 388 Register of the Privy Seal 1556 1567 5 1 Edinburgh 1957 p 27 no 125 James Marwick Extracts from the Records of the Burgh of Edinburgh 1557 1571 Edinburgh 1875 pp 27 8 James Balfour Paul Accounts of the Treasurer 1559 1566 vol 11 Edinburgh 1916 pp 76 344 352 360 492 James Balfour Paul Accounts of the Treasurer 1559 1566 vol 11 Edinburgh 1916 pp 76 152 344 352 360 492 James Balfour Paul Accounts of the Treasurer 1559 1566 vol 11 Edinburgh 1916 pp 76 344 352 360 492 William Boyd Calendar State Papers Scotland vol 4 Edinburgh 1905 p 616 Joseph Robertson Inventaires de la Royne Descosse Edinburgh 1863 p clvi David McOmish A Community of Scholarship Steven J Reid amp David McOmish Neo Latin Literature and Literary Culture in Early Modern Scotland Brill 2017 p 63 Lyndsay McGill Scottish Renaissance Jewels in the National Collection making and makers Anna Groundwater Decoding the Jewels Sidestone 2024 p 109 John J Reid amp Alexander J S Brook The Scottish Regalia PSAS December 1889 p 54 Inventaires Edinburgh 1863 p clii Bruce Lenman Jacobean Goldsmith Jewellers as Credit Creators The Cases of James Mossman James Cockie and George Heriot Scottish Historical Review 74 198 1995 pp 159 177 Calendar State Papers Scotland 1571 1574 vol 4 Edinburgh 1905 p 602 Malcolm Laing The Historie of King James the Sext Edinburgh 1804 pp 236 7 William Boyd Calendar State Papers Scotland vol 4 Edinburgh 1905 p 602 National Records of Scotland E35 11 William Boyd Calendar State Papers Scotland 1581 1583 vol 6 Edinburgh 1910 pp 185 193 Calendar State Papers Scotland 1581 1583 vol 6 Edinburgh 1910 pp 196 210 335 350 353 4 659 Bowes Correspondence London 1842 pp 382 383 Joseph Stevenson Bowes Correspondence London 1842 p 464 George Lasry Norbert Biermann Satoshi Tomokiyo Deciphering Mary Stuart s lost letters from 1578 1584 Cryptologia 8 Feb 2023 pp 57 79 doi 10 1080 01611194 2022 2160677Further reading editCharles John Guthrie John Knox and his House 2nd Edition Edinburgh 1905 John Knox House Edinburgh World Heritage Trust Gold buttons of Mary Queen of Scots and Anna of Denmark Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Mosman amp oldid 1221858989, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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