Nicol Uddert

His magnificent house, built as a "civic palace" and described as new in 1589, is said to have been one of the grandest in Edinburgh and stood on Niddry's Close midway along the Royal Mile on its south side.^[6] It passed to Lockhart of Carnwarth in the late 17th century, at which point the Earl of Mar lived opposite. It was demolished in 1780 to build South Bridge.^[7]

On 29 May 1589 the town council, at the request of James VI organised a banquet for ambassadors from towns in Holland in Uddert's new house. The English veteran sailor George Beeston brought a fleet to Scotland. On 5 June some of his crew came ashore into Edinburgh. Three got in fight in a tavern, one was stabbed, and after this they were attacked by a group of Spanish sailors, shipwrecked survivors of the Spanish Armada, and the English trumpet officer was killed. Beeston and the English ambassador William Ashby had an audience with James VI. The king gave Beeston a locket set with diamonds and 100 gold crowns to his captains.^[8] James VI requested that Edinburgh town council give him, his three captains, and the English ambassador and their courtier escorts an "honest banquet" in Nicol Uddert's "new house at house at dinner time." The banquets were organised by William Fairlie.^[9]

There was a scheme for Flemish cloth workers, weavers and walkers from the low countries, to come to Edinburgh and set up businesses or work for Nicol Uddert. The Parliament of Scotland noted in 1594 that nothing had happened and withdrew a tax exemption granted to Uddert to help the scheme.^[10]

Nicol Uddert married Jonet Gilbert, a daughter of the goldsmith Michael Gilbert. Nicol was the father of Nathaniel Udwart.^[11] He also had a son, Nicol, Dean of Guild in Edinburgh, whose daughter Margaret married Alexander Ellis of Mortonhall.^[12]

He is thought to be father of Alexander Udwart, a burgess in Edinburgh in 1597.^[13]