Michael Pearce

@michaelpearce

History, Scotland. Probably writing about material culture, costume, household accounts, letters, recipe books, and the fine grain detail of Scottish royal revenue. Website:

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Michael Pearce@michaelpearce· 25d

Regent Arran's July 1547 Langholm itinerary is recorded in a household book, National Records of Scotland E31/9 f.58. It says he'll be burning the homes of the rascal inhabitants of Ewesdale and Eskdale as well as tackling the English at Langholm

Page from a household book describing expenses for feeding Regent Arran and his army for 11 days in June 1547.

Michael Pearce@michaelpearce· 25d

17 July 1547, James Hamilton, Regent Arran, captures an English fort at Langholm. His household was nearby at Staplegordon, possibly at the castle of Barntalloch

Michael Pearce@michaelpearce· 26d

Recent grainy photograph of old family home sent by nostalgic brother

White cottage seen from a distance across orchard valley

Michael Pearce@michaelpearce· Jul 7

Yet another letter from d'Esneval about the 'only portrait painter in Edinburgh', this one is Cotton Nero BVI f.397, the artist would 'faire tirer ung aultre', make a copy of a recent portrait of James VI for his mother, Falkland, August 1586

Image of a letter Cotton Nero BVI f.397, d'Esneval describes his progress commissioning a portrait of James VI in Edinburgh, a copy of new picture (he is getting another for Catherine de' Medici), August 1586, written at Falkland Palace.

Michael Pearce@michaelpearce· Jul 7

Lovely handwriting from an Italian merchant who wants to sell a billiment for a French hood to Henry VIII in 1533, BL Nero B/VI f.1, it is 'gemis & margaretis suffultum'

Michael Pearce@michaelpearce· Jul 3

'I have a fine standish for you, which was given me out of the exchequer, which because you shall not neglect your writing, I send to you' 22 November 1605, Thomas Gayton to his wife Margaret

image of TNA SP 46/60 f.179, letter from Thomas Gayton to his wife Margaret

Michael Pearce@michaelpearce· Jul 2

An opportunity arises to dust off a vintage ppt from 2008, featuring Charles McKean's limewashed Craignethan Castle

imaginative watercolour reconstruction of Craignethan Castle, with gleaming whitewashed walls, painted by Charles McKean

Michael Pearce@michaelpearce· Jun 29

Speeches of the fates at Theobalds for Anna of Denmark aka Bell Anna's houswarming , May 1607, "Shee ys the grace of all that are / and as Elisa, now a starre", Folger X.d.475. digitalcollections.folger.edu/bib193447-24...

Dialogue of the Fares at Theobalds, image Folger Shakepeare Library, X.d.475, f.2v.

Michael Pearce@michaelpearce· Jun 28

The monument of Robert Denniston in Greyfriar's Kirkyard, and a note of him: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottis...

The monument of Sir Robert Denniston of Mountjoy, Greyfriars' Churchyard, Edinburgh, photographed by Joe Rock of RCAHMS (NGS)

Michael Pearce@michaelpearce· Jun 27

James Maxwell and his wife Elizabeth, who had been Anna of Denmark's laundress, built this conspicuous aisle at Dirleton, East Lothian. James Maxwell, the Earl of Rutland, and Inigo Jones attended a christening in Copenhagen in July 1604. I feel this is sort of thing I ought to have known already

Dirleton Kirk, East Lothian (photo: Robin C Mitchell), showing the aisle or transept with 17th-century gable

Michael Pearce@michaelpearce· Jun 22

St Bride's Douglas, South Lanark, from Main Street

St Bride's Douglas, South Lanarkshire, seen from Main Street, a surprising viewpoint, if you're not familiar with the layout.

Michael Pearce@michaelpearce· Jun 22

Anthony Wingfield's opinions for New Year's gifts: I would give a safeguard or cloak of some watchet or peach colour, and embroidered with pretty flowers and leaves with sundry colours, made with gold poignettes and silk, as fantastical things are more accepted .. Walter Fish to have the doing of it

Image of a letter of the usher Anthony Wingfield to his wife Elizabeth Wingfield, mother of the maids, 13 October 1575, Folger: https://digitalcollections.folger.edu/bib244373-309964-xd428_127

Michael Pearce@michaelpearce· Jun 20

Royal jobs 1634: Thomas Caldwell his majesties barber, arrearage of stipend allowed for lodging and charges abroad in Progresses and Rydeing Journays and owed to him for nyne whole yeares, £90. Accounts of David Cunningham of Auchenharvie

Entry in the 1634 accounts of David Cunningham of Auchenharvie, TNA E101/439/2, and his signature at the bottom of the page.

Michael Pearce@michaelpearce· Jun 20

Royal jobs in 1634: Thomas Miller keeper of hi[r] majesties lutes and musicall bookes and John Taillor one his majesties musitions for their annuitie or stipend of 12d per diem., Account of the receiver David Cunningham of Auchenharvie

Somewhat faded entry in the 1634 of royal income made by David Cunningham of Auchenhavie for 1634, TNA E101/439/2, for payment to the musicians Thomas Miller and John Taillor

Michael Pearce@michaelpearce· Jun 18

Italian maiolica painters served with glaze colours from a suspended circular tray by their assistants, V&A, Li tre libri dell'arte del vasaio: collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O132180...

Italian master maiolica painters (seated in chairs) served with glaze colours from a suspended circular tray by their assistants. I have some doubts about this.

Michael Pearce@michaelpearce· Jun 18

Among wood carvings that would look good gilded in the Oval Office

Michael Pearce@michaelpearce· Jun 16

At Culzean, for red hot on the button tips on upcycling and the circular economy

Upcycled crocodile umbrella and walking stick stand

Evergreen advice "Waste not: Want not" on the kitchen fireplace at Culzean Castle. Had these enamel plaques been available in the gift shop, I would most certainly have bought one

Michael Pearce@michaelpearce· Jun 10

The pleasant servant Murray sent with the royal button was presumably James Murray of Polmaise, master of the wardrobe: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_M...

TNA SP 89/2 f.125, these particulars of Murre the Scottishe kings pleasant servante ... he did plucke of a golde button from his dublet ..

Michael Pearce@michaelpearce· Jun 3

A letter from William Keith (of Delny), probably 1592, National Library of Scotland, Morton papers MS 75 f. 38 no. 41

National Library of Scotland, Morton papers MS 75 f. 38 no. 41. William Keith of Delny cut small slits up the left hand side of this letter, and was interested in novel methods of sealing letters.

Michael Pearce@michaelpearce· May 30

Looking forward to the Ardrossan Highland Games tomorrow: www.ardrossanhighlandgames.org.uk/committee-s-...

Ardrossan Highland games 2024, photo by Charlie Gilmour

Michael Pearce@michaelpearce· May 28

28 May 1573, during the surrender of Edinburgh Castle, the goldsmith James Mosman returned some jewels of Mary, Queen of Scots, to William Kirkcaldy, who 'put thame in ane oppin coffer standand in the chalmer quhair he then usit to ly'

National Records of Scotland E35/11, 11 July 1573.

Michael Pearce@michaelpearce· May 28

The Scottish mint in the Cowgate 'was situat and set doun in the eister land and tenementis sumtyme pertaining to Ar[chibal]d Stewart & his spous, callit of auld the Cardinallis ludgeing and pertening to Thomas Acheson, as the maist meit & commodious hous for that purpose in Edinburgh'

Cowgate and Cardinal Beaton's house, from Herbert Maxwell, 'Edinburgh: A Historical Study'.

National Records of Scotland CS7/190 f.161r.

James Gray made the 'Galloway mazer' (NMS) for Archibald Stewart and his spouse Ellen Achesou

Michael Pearce@michaelpearce· May 20

Nursery staff serving porridge at Cameron Park School, Edinburgh, 1930s, and a visit by General Allenby

HES Trove image: https://www.trove.scot/image/2956109

HES Trove images: https://www.trove.scot/image/2956108

Michael Pearce@michaelpearce· May 14

Would anyone know about old chemical methods of erasing text on paper? This 16th-century ms has a rectangular patch that looks shiny under strong light, where a date was formerly written. Never noticed such a patch before

Page has a shiny rectangular area where a few lines of handwritten text have been erased. In the erased area 'mensis vero J-' remaining from a Latin date can be seen

Michael Pearce@michaelpearce· May 12

Looking at the records, people went out of their way to pick their mates as witnesses; one egregious example, Adrian Vanson, the painter, baptised his son Adrian in 1595, with witnesses Adrian the Dutch agent, and Adrian the Flemish clockmaker

Everyone called Adrian went to the christening in 1595

Michael Pearce@michaelpearce· May 10

Probably just an inner circle. There was committee of advisors on finance, and one item in the British Library is signed, giving some names, including James Melville of Halhill, Robert Melville, Durham of Duntarvie, and the comptroller David Seton of Parbroath, BL Add. MS 33531 f.270

British Library Add. MS 33531 f.270, signatures to a document suggesting ways of raising revenue from royal parks; includes "halhill, carmichael, Neubottle, Young, MYoung, Parbroath comptroller, durhame of duntarvie"

Michael Pearce@michaelpearce· May 4

Sometimes I worry that my dogs might be snobs

Two dogs in a May garden in formal poses

Michael Pearce@michaelpearce· Apr 28

Here's a postcard of an earlier state, with ivy

Michael Pearce@michaelpearce· Apr 18

Does anyone know the artist of this Victorian painting of two artists and a woman painting? It's a subject that defies my best efforts with google

Michael Pearce@michaelpearce· Apr 15

The tree book is interesting too, this from a later edition