The Household and Court of King James VI of Scotland, 1567-1603

This thesis examines the household and court of King James VI from the household establishment of his infancy until his departure for London in 1603 and the resulting end of a court culture in Scotland. It depends substantially on manuscript material. In particular the treasurer's accounts and royal household accounts, which previously for this period have not been examined exhaustively. Chapter One provides an introduction to Scottish courts in the sixteenth century and contemporary European courts. presenting a context in which to place James VI'S household and court. Chapter Two describes the royal household from its creation in 1567 at the coronation of the king through successive regencies, the beginning of James's personal rule, his marriage in 1589 to Anna of Denmark and the subsequent creation of her household and those of the royal children. A complete list of household offices and the people who served in them underlies the entire chapter. Furthermore, the importance of several courtiers, namely the king's childhood schoolmates, his Stewart relations and lifetime domestic servitors, contributes to the understanding of politics and factionalism within the household. Chapter Three focuses on the perceived image of the court including its choice of venue, such as the Palace of Holyroodhouse or Stirling Castle. conspicuous consumption of clothing and jewellery, and royal artistic patronage. The royal itinerary and frequency in which the king, queen and court moved from one location to another acquaint the reader with the semi-peripatetic nature of a Scottish renaissance court not to mention James's love of the hunt. Further elements in the representation of court style were the ceremonial occasions celebrated by the court, such as royal entries, coronations. baptisms and entertainment of visiting ambassadors. Chapter Four focuses on the relations between the royal court and town of Edinburgh, Scotland's capital. The growth of the town, in size and influence. as well as the increasingly close connections between merchants, burgesses, councilmen and the royal court help to explain the expanding role accepted by the town in relation to financial support of court activities and the physical provision of a royal guard. Chapter Five synthesizes the above factors to establish a comprehensive view of the court