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James Melville of Halhill
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James Melville of Halhill
Sir James Melville (1535–1617) was a Scottish diplomat and memoir writer, and father of the poet Elizabeth Melville.
Melville was the third son of John Melville of Raith, in Fife, who was executed for treason in 1548. One of his brothers was Robert, 1st Baron Melville of Monimail (1527–1621). In 1550, James Melville went to France with Jean de Monluc, Bishop of Valence at the request of Mary of Guise, who intended he should become a page to Mary, Queen of Scots. Melville first learned to speak French and play the lute in Paris, and in May 1553 joined the service of Anne de Montmorency, 1st Duke of Montmorency. Melville went on campaign with Montmorency in 1554. Serving at the Battle of St. Quentin in 1557 Melville was wounded and taken prisoner. He subsequently carried out a number of diplomatic missions for Henry II of France.
On Mary's return to Scotland in 1561 she gave Melville a pension and an appointment in her household. Sent to England as a diplomat, Melville included an account of his meeting with Elizabeth I in 1564 in his memoir. This often-quoted passage includes their discussion of the comparative attributes and accomplishments of the two queens. Elizabeth showed him miniature portraits and arranged for him to hear or overhear her play the virginals.
Melville said he had meals at Hampton Court with Lady Stafford and her daughter Elizabeth, who he had met in France. Mary, Queen of Scots, had instructed him to sometimes leave aside matters of gravity, and he discussed the fashions of clothings in Holland, Poland, Italy with Elizabeth. Elizabeth's clothes were of various styles, and he thought her golden hair was best shown when she wore an Italian-style kell (caul) and bonnet. William Cecil presented him with a gold chain.
Mary employed him as special emissary to reconcile Elizabeth to her marriage with Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley. Later, when an English merchant gave Melville a water spaniel, Melville gave the dog to Darnley. This gift displeased Mary as Darnley was not then in her favour.
Melville met the English agent Christopher Rokeby in Edinburgh in May 1566. In June 1566 he attended Mary in Edinburgh Castle, and when Mary Beaton told him of the birth of Prince James, he rode to London with the news. Melville was sent to Elizabeth with messages from Mary and her half-brother, the Earl of Moray. Melville was back in Edinburgh on 3 July.
After the murder of Darnley in February 1567, Melville joined Lord Herries in boldly warning Mary of the danger and disgrace of her projected marriage with Bothwell, and was only saved from the latter's vengeance in consequence by the courageous resolution of the queen. Just before the coronation of James VI, Melville was sent to Hamilton to invite the Archbishop of St Andrews and Abbot of Arbroath.
During the troubled times following Mary's imprisonment and abdication Melville conducted several diplomatic missions of importance, and won the confidence of James VI when the king took the government into his own hands. When Francis Walsingham came to Scotland as ambassador in September 1583, Melville was his escort.
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James Melville of Halhill
Sir James Melville (1535–1617) was a Scottish diplomat and memoir writer, and father of the poet Elizabeth Melville.
Melville was the third son of John Melville of Raith, in Fife, who was executed for treason in 1548. One of his brothers was Robert, 1st Baron Melville of Monimail (1527–1621). In 1550, James Melville went to France with Jean de Monluc, Bishop of Valence at the request of Mary of Guise, who intended he should become a page to Mary, Queen of Scots. Melville first learned to speak French and play the lute in Paris, and in May 1553 joined the service of Anne de Montmorency, 1st Duke of Montmorency. Melville went on campaign with Montmorency in 1554. Serving at the Battle of St. Quentin in 1557 Melville was wounded and taken prisoner. He subsequently carried out a number of diplomatic missions for Henry II of France.
On Mary's return to Scotland in 1561 she gave Melville a pension and an appointment in her household. Sent to England as a diplomat, Melville included an account of his meeting with Elizabeth I in 1564 in his memoir. This often-quoted passage includes their discussion of the comparative attributes and accomplishments of the two queens. Elizabeth showed him miniature portraits and arranged for him to hear or overhear her play the virginals.
Melville said he had meals at Hampton Court with Lady Stafford and her daughter Elizabeth, who he had met in France. Mary, Queen of Scots, had instructed him to sometimes leave aside matters of gravity, and he discussed the fashions of clothings in Holland, Poland, Italy with Elizabeth. Elizabeth's clothes were of various styles, and he thought her golden hair was best shown when she wore an Italian-style kell (caul) and bonnet. William Cecil presented him with a gold chain.
Mary employed him as special emissary to reconcile Elizabeth to her marriage with Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley. Later, when an English merchant gave Melville a water spaniel, Melville gave the dog to Darnley. This gift displeased Mary as Darnley was not then in her favour.
Melville met the English agent Christopher Rokeby in Edinburgh in May 1566. In June 1566 he attended Mary in Edinburgh Castle, and when Mary Beaton told him of the birth of Prince James, he rode to London with the news. Melville was sent to Elizabeth with messages from Mary and her half-brother, the Earl of Moray. Melville was back in Edinburgh on 3 July.
After the murder of Darnley in February 1567, Melville joined Lord Herries in boldly warning Mary of the danger and disgrace of her projected marriage with Bothwell, and was only saved from the latter's vengeance in consequence by the courageous resolution of the queen. Just before the coronation of James VI, Melville was sent to Hamilton to invite the Archbishop of St Andrews and Abbot of Arbroath.
During the troubled times following Mary's imprisonment and abdication Melville conducted several diplomatic missions of importance, and won the confidence of James VI when the king took the government into his own hands. When Francis Walsingham came to Scotland as ambassador in September 1583, Melville was his escort.