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William Schaw AI simulator
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William Schaw AI simulator
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William Schaw
William Schaw (c. 1550–1602) was Master of Works to James VI of Scotland and Anne of Denmark for building castles and palaces, and was an important figure in the development of Freemasonry in Scotland.
William Schaw was the second son of John Schaw of Broich, and grandson of Sir James Schaw of Sauchie. Broich is now called Arngomery, a place at Kippen in Stirlingshire. The Schaw family had links to the Royal Court, principally through being keepers of the King's wine cellar. The Broich family was involved in a scandal in 1560, when John Schaw was accused of murdering the servant of another laird. William's father was denounced as a rebel and his property forfeited when he and his family failed to appear at court, but the family were soon re-instated. At this time William Schaw may have been a page at the court of Mary of Guise, as a page of that name received an outfit of black mourning cloth when Mary of Guise died. William the page would have been in Edinburgh Castle with the Regent's court during the siege of Leith, while the Master of Work, William MacDowall, was strengthening the castle's defences. John Schaw of Broich was appointed as chamberlain of the lands of Kelso Abbey in August 1566.
The name "William Schaw" appears in a satirical note about courtiers made by an informant or spy at the royal court in 1580, the letter was sent to England. Schaw was described as the "clock-keeper" amongst followers of the King's favourite Esmé Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox, while another man, the master hunter, John Hume was the keeper of "ratches", an old word meaning a kind of tenacious hunting scent hound.
Schaw signed the negative confession whereby courtiers pledged allegiance to the Scottish Reformation. On 11 April 1581, he was given a valuable gift of rights over the lands in Kippen belonging to the Grahams of Fintry. In May 1583, he was in Paris at the death of the exiled Esmé Stewart and it was said that he took Esmé's heart back to Scotland.
On 21 December 1583, James VI appointed Schaw principal Maister o' Wark (Master of Work) to the Crown of Scotland for life, with responsibility for all royal castles and palaces. Schaw had already been paid the first instalment of his salary £166-13s–4d as "grete Mr of wark in place of Sir Robert Drummond" in November. The replacement of the incumbent Robert Drummond of Carnock with Schaw, known as a Roman Catholic, may have been a reaction to the Ruthven Raid that had removed Lennox from power. By the terms of his appointment, Schaw for the rest of his life was to be;
Grit maister of wark of all and sindrie his hienes palaceis, biggingis and reparationis, and greit oversear, directour and commander of quhatsumevir police devysit or to be devysit for our soverane lordis behuif and plessur
(In modern spelling) Great master of work of all and sundry his highness' palaces, building works and repairs, and great overseer, director and commander of whatsoever policy devised or to be devised for our sovereign lord's behalf and pleasure.
In November 1583, Schaw travelled on a diplomatic trip to France with Lord Seton and his son Alexander Seton, a fellow Catholic with an interest in architecture. The Seton family remained supporters of Mary, Queen of Scots who was exiled in England. Schaw returned in the winter of 1584, and was involved in building work for the Seton family. In 1585, he was one of three courtiers who entertained three Danish ambassadors visiting the Scottish court at Dunfermline and St Andrews. In 1588 Schaw was amongst a group of Catholics ordered to appear before the Edinburgh Presbytery, and English agents reported him as being a suspected Jesuit and holding anti-English views during the 1590s. He met an English Catholic, George More at Dalkeith Palace in September 1598.
In September 1591 Richard Cockburn of Clerkington was admitted as a Lord of Session. According to the English ambassador Robert Bowes, Cockburn had been "Master of Ceremonies" and this office was transferred to William Schaw. These appointments followed the death of Lewis Bellenden. An account of the baptism and banquet for Prince Charles on 23 December 1600 mentions that Schaw was absent, and the role of Master of Ceremonies was taken by two other men.
William Schaw
William Schaw (c. 1550–1602) was Master of Works to James VI of Scotland and Anne of Denmark for building castles and palaces, and was an important figure in the development of Freemasonry in Scotland.
William Schaw was the second son of John Schaw of Broich, and grandson of Sir James Schaw of Sauchie. Broich is now called Arngomery, a place at Kippen in Stirlingshire. The Schaw family had links to the Royal Court, principally through being keepers of the King's wine cellar. The Broich family was involved in a scandal in 1560, when John Schaw was accused of murdering the servant of another laird. William's father was denounced as a rebel and his property forfeited when he and his family failed to appear at court, but the family were soon re-instated. At this time William Schaw may have been a page at the court of Mary of Guise, as a page of that name received an outfit of black mourning cloth when Mary of Guise died. William the page would have been in Edinburgh Castle with the Regent's court during the siege of Leith, while the Master of Work, William MacDowall, was strengthening the castle's defences. John Schaw of Broich was appointed as chamberlain of the lands of Kelso Abbey in August 1566.
The name "William Schaw" appears in a satirical note about courtiers made by an informant or spy at the royal court in 1580, the letter was sent to England. Schaw was described as the "clock-keeper" amongst followers of the King's favourite Esmé Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox, while another man, the master hunter, John Hume was the keeper of "ratches", an old word meaning a kind of tenacious hunting scent hound.
Schaw signed the negative confession whereby courtiers pledged allegiance to the Scottish Reformation. On 11 April 1581, he was given a valuable gift of rights over the lands in Kippen belonging to the Grahams of Fintry. In May 1583, he was in Paris at the death of the exiled Esmé Stewart and it was said that he took Esmé's heart back to Scotland.
On 21 December 1583, James VI appointed Schaw principal Maister o' Wark (Master of Work) to the Crown of Scotland for life, with responsibility for all royal castles and palaces. Schaw had already been paid the first instalment of his salary £166-13s–4d as "grete Mr of wark in place of Sir Robert Drummond" in November. The replacement of the incumbent Robert Drummond of Carnock with Schaw, known as a Roman Catholic, may have been a reaction to the Ruthven Raid that had removed Lennox from power. By the terms of his appointment, Schaw for the rest of his life was to be;
Grit maister of wark of all and sindrie his hienes palaceis, biggingis and reparationis, and greit oversear, directour and commander of quhatsumevir police devysit or to be devysit for our soverane lordis behuif and plessur
(In modern spelling) Great master of work of all and sundry his highness' palaces, building works and repairs, and great overseer, director and commander of whatsoever policy devised or to be devised for our sovereign lord's behalf and pleasure.
In November 1583, Schaw travelled on a diplomatic trip to France with Lord Seton and his son Alexander Seton, a fellow Catholic with an interest in architecture. The Seton family remained supporters of Mary, Queen of Scots who was exiled in England. Schaw returned in the winter of 1584, and was involved in building work for the Seton family. In 1585, he was one of three courtiers who entertained three Danish ambassadors visiting the Scottish court at Dunfermline and St Andrews. In 1588 Schaw was amongst a group of Catholics ordered to appear before the Edinburgh Presbytery, and English agents reported him as being a suspected Jesuit and holding anti-English views during the 1590s. He met an English Catholic, George More at Dalkeith Palace in September 1598.
In September 1591 Richard Cockburn of Clerkington was admitted as a Lord of Session. According to the English ambassador Robert Bowes, Cockburn had been "Master of Ceremonies" and this office was transferred to William Schaw. These appointments followed the death of Lewis Bellenden. An account of the baptism and banquet for Prince Charles on 23 December 1600 mentions that Schaw was absent, and the role of Master of Ceremonies was taken by two other men.