George Nicholson (diplomat)

George Nicholson was not an ambassador in Scotland but a resident agent. He had been a servant of Robert Bowes for many years. Nicholson, Christopher Shepherdson, and William Wood were mentioned as servants of Bowes in the will of Isotta de Canonici, the wife of the Italian writer Giacomo Castelvetro, who died in Edinburgh in 1594.^[1]

Bowes became unwell in 1597 and intended Nicholson should take his place. On 6 December 1597 Queen Elizabeth of England wrote a letter of accreditation for Nicholson as the English resident, to be delivered to King James VI of Scotland. Nicholson was to get 13s-4d per day and the help of the Governor of Berwick-upon-Tweed to convey his letters. His couriers included Jarret Storrie, a member of the Berwick garrison.^[2]

Nicholson was soon treated as an ambassador in all but name. Most of his letters were sent to the Secretary, Sir Robert Cecil.^[3] Cecil kept a catalogue of his "intelligencers", a list of its contents show that details on Nicholson appeared on folio number 32.^[4]

His network of contacts at the Scottish court built on the organisation built by Bowes and the English courtier Roger Aston, and he came treat James VI in a familiar way. Nicholson played cards with James VI at Falkland Palace in May 1602.^[5] Cecil from time to time reminded him of his low status as a resident agent, rather than an ambassador, a representative of a monarch and usually a member of the aristocracy. Nicholson may have been insensitive, or lacked some tact, notably he came to Dunfermline seeking an audience with the king on 3 June 1602 while the court was in mourning for the death of the infant Duke Robert. The Treasurer, Sir George Home sent him away.^[6]

To help keep track of Scottish families and factions, Bowes kept a chest in his Edinburgh lodging which contained copies of the family trees of the Scottish nobility. Nicholson made copies of these for Burghley in England as required. Bowes' wife Eleanor Musgrave had the key of the chest. A Scottish armorial manuscript now held at Lambeth Palace library which dates from 1594 was probably part of this collection.^[7]

Robert Bowes sent him to William Cecil in October 1593 with a list of instructions about Scottish politics, and if he should intercede with James VI for Francis Stewart, 5th Earl of Bothwell, and whether he should ignore Lord Home's interference with his letters, and also about Bowe's potential return to England and replacement, and his debts.^[8]

Nicholson, Roger Aston, and John Colville all wrote to Bowes in March 1595 about the arrival of James Myreton, a Jesuit priest, and brother of the Laird of Cambo.^[9] He was detained at Leith by David Lindsay, and when brought to the king he said he was sent from the Pope and a Cardinal. He brought a jewel from the Cardinal to wear on a chain that depicted the Crucifixion made of gold, crystal, and bone. James VI gave the jewel to Anne of Denmark.^[10]

In August 1595 Nicholson rode to Loch Lomond and the castle on Inchmurrin with Elizabeth's letters for James VI, where the king often went on annual hunting trips. Sir George Home told him to note that the king received Lachlan Mor Maclean to his favour. MacLean and the Earl of Argyll went hunting with the king at a "mean house" belonging to Argyll.^[11]

In September 1595 he went to Falkland Palace where he observed at first hand the feud between Anne of Denmark and the Earl of Mar, who was the keeper of her son, Prince Henry. The queen would not look to that side of the chamber where the Earl stood. She said she would not go to Stirling for fear they would give her a poisoned posset, despite the king's wish that she would go with him to Linlithow and then to Stirling Castle, where Mar and his mother Annabell Murray kept Prince Henry.^[12] In October the queen pointedly kept the younger Countess of Mar waiting outside her chamber for an hour at Linlithgow.^[13]

Nicholson was given £300 Sterling for Robert Bowes in August 1596. The money was to reimburse sums advanced to James Colville, and was paid by Thomas Foulis and Robert Jousie who administered the king's English subsidy.^[14] Sir Robert Cecil encouraged the English courtier Roger Aston with gifts which he sent to Nicholson, including 20 yards of fine black velvet for Aston's wife, Margaret Stewart, who with her mother the Mistress of Ochiltree and sisters was a lady-in-waiting in the household of Anne of Denmark.^[15]