Alexander Durham
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Alexander Durham (died 1584) was a Scottish courtier and administrator.[1]
His appointments included, clerk in the Exchequer, administrator of John Stewart of Coldingham, and Master of the Wardrobe to King James VI.[2] His wife was also a member of the household.[3] He was also known as "Sandy Durhame" or "Durame". Another member of the family, "Andrew" or Alexander Durham, worked in the spice house of the kitchen of Mary of Guise,[4] and Michael Durham was the king's physician.[5]
He bought white taffeta fabric used at the baptism of Mary, Queen of Scots.[6] Durham was argentier or "argentar" to Mary of Guise and Mary, Queen of Scots. A record of food at court, the "Bread Book", mentions a meal in his chamber in December 1549.[7]
In June 1547, Alexander Durham retrieved a valuable hat belonging to Mary of Guise from Marion Bruce in Stirling. The hat had originally been pledged for a loan or supplies bought for the royal household, and was now part of chain of credit in the sale of a house. Durham paid £100 Scots to Robert Forester of Kylemuk to redeem the hat. The velvet hat, with its gold trimmings, was described in the records of the burgh of Stirling, "ane hat of velvus, begareit all with chenyeis of gold, with a drawing chenyie and ane knop".[8]
His role later included taking receipt of an income funding the royal household called the "thirds of benefices" derived from teinds.[9] The money was collected by men working for the exchequer, like George Wishart of Drymme.[10] From 1 October 1565 up to 2 January 1568 he received £4833-6s-8d on top of £23,351-13-4d already paid to him from the Thirds, for the expenses of the houses and "avery" (horse fodder) of Queen Mary and James VI of Scotland.[11]
In August 1564 Durham took up a contribution of £124-10s-8d from Coupar Angus Abbey towards the expenses of the queen's hunting trip in Atholl and Glen Tilt and her journey to Inverness.[12] Durham allocated £250 Scots for the members of the household who remained at Holyrood for two months while Mary went on progress.[13]
He died in 1584 and was buried at the Holy Rude Kirk in Stirling.[14]