Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-vpsfw Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-21T20:24:13.192Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The King's Scottish Revenues and the Covenanters, 1625–1651

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2009

David Stevenson
David Stevenson
Affiliation:
University of Aberdeen
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

The ordinary revenue of the kings of Scotland in the early seventeenth century was drawn from a wide variety of sources. The comptroller received the revenues known as ‘property’ - fixed revenues and rents from Crown lands, payments from royal burghs, customs duties and the impost of wines. Out of these he met the"expenses of the royal household. The treasurer was responsible .for meeting nearly all other official and royal expenses out of the ‘casualty’, which included feudal casualties (irregular payments such as wards and reliefs), escheats, compositions and other profits of justice. The collector general and the treasurer of the new augmentations received various revenues from former church property. Administration of these revenues was simplified in 1610 when the earl of Dunbar, already treasurer, was appointed in addition comptroller, collector general and treasurer of the new augmentations, thus bringing responsibility for all branches of the ordinary revenue into the hands of one man, though he continued usually to be referred to simply as the treasurer. This amalgamation of offices became permanent, though the four offices all continued to exist in name until 1707, and separate accounting for the different branches of revenue continued until 1636.

Type
Articles
Information
The Historical Journal , Volume 17 , Issue 1 , March 1974 , pp. 17 - 41
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1974

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Murray, A. L., ‘Notes on the Treasury Administration’, in Mclnnes, C. T. (ed.), Accounts oj the Treasury of Scotland, 1566–74, XII (Edinburgh, 1970), xii-xv.Google Scholar

2 Murray, A. L., ‘The Scottish Treasury, 1667–1708’, Scottish Historical Review, XLV (1966), 92, 98.Google Scholar

3 Ibid. p. 91.

4 Purves, W., The Revenue of the Scottish Crown, Rose, D. M. (ed.) (Edinburgh, 1897), pp. xliv-xlv. The Scots £ was worth is. 8d. sterling. All sums cited below are in £ Scots unless otherwise stated. The merk was worth 135. 4d. Scots.Google Scholar

5 Aylmer, G. E., The King's Servants (London, 1961), p. 64.Google Scholar

6 Kearney, H. F., Strafford in Ireland (Manchester, 1959), pp. 33, 169.Google Scholar

7 Cooper, J. F., ‘The Fortune of Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford’, Economic History Review, 2nd series, XI (1958–1959), 245–6Google Scholar; Wedgwood, C. V., Thomas Wentworth (London, 1961), p. 233Google Scholar; Ranger, T., ‘Strafford in Ireland’, Crisis in Europe, Ashton, T. (ed.) (London, 1965), p. 275n.Google Scholar; Firth, C. H. (ed.), The Life of William Cavendish Duke of Newcastle (London, n.d.), p. 77.Google Scholar

8 Purves, , Revenues, pp. xlv–xlvi; Scottish Record Office (S.R.O.), E.4/5, Exchequer Act Book 1634–9, f°s- 2Ir–2IV.Google Scholar

9 Wedgwood, , Thomas Wentworth, p. 251.Google Scholar

10 Donaldson, G., Scotland: fames V to James VII (Edinburgh and London, 1965), p. 302Google Scholar; Rait, R. S., The Parliaments of Scotland (Glasgow, 1924), pp. 492–4Google Scholar; The Acts of Parliaments of Scotland (APS) (12 vols., Edinburgh, 1814–75), v, 13–20, 39–40, 167–74, 209–16.Google Scholar

11 Rait, , Parliaments of Scotland, p. 494Google Scholar; Purves, , Revenues, pp. 183–200.Google Scholar

12 Row, J., The History of the Kirk of Scotland (Wodrow Society, 1842), pp. 365–6, 380–1.Google Scholar

13 Register of the Privy Council of Scotland (RPCS), 7625–7 (2nd series, 8 vols., Edinburgh, 1899–1908), pp. 265–7.Google Scholar

14 Balfour, J., Historical Work (4 vols., Edinburgh, 1824–5), II 134; S.R.O., E.4/5, fos. 42v-43r,52r.Google Scholar

15 The Earl of Stirling's Register of Royal Letters, Rogers, C. (ed.) (2 vols., Edinburgh, 1885), 1, 93–4.Google Scholar

16 Register of the Great Seal of Scotland (11 vols., Edinburgh, 1882-1914), 1620–33Google Scholar, no. 1659; 1634–51, no. 503; Stirling's Register, 11, 472, 497, 523–4; Historical Manuscripts Commission (H.M.C.) 8: 9th Report (3 vols., London, 1883–4), 11, 244.Google Scholar For some of the intrigues of the early years of Charles' reign, see Memoirs of Archibald, Lord Napier : written by himself (Edinburgh, 1793). passim.Google Scholar

17 S.R.O., E.4/5, fos. 25v–29r.

18 S.R.O., E.4/5, fos. 29r, 36V-39V, 110V-114V. Dick also paid a ‘grassum’ or entry fee of 20,000 merks.

19 Stirling's Register, II, 825; Imrie, John, ‘The “Impeachment” of John Stewart, Earl of Traquair’, paper read to the Fifth Scottish Historical Conference, Glasgow, 1970. I am most grateful to Mr Imrie for permission to use material from this paper, cited below as Imrie, Impeachment.Google Scholar

20 APS, v, 61–2.

21 Burnct, G., The Memoires of the Lives and Actions of James and William Dukes of Hamilton (London, 1677), pp. 25–6.Google Scholar

22 Memoirs of Archibald, Lord Napier, p. 95.

23 RPCS, 1633–5, pp. 305–15; Stirling's Register, II, 499–500.

24 RPCS, 1625–7, pp. xix–ccii; APS, v, 23–8, 31–9, 189–207.

25 Stirling's Register, II, 735–6.

26 S.R.O., E.4/5, fos. 2IV-23r.

27 S.R.O., E.4/5, fos. 23r, 24r–24v; Stirling's Register, II, 794–5.

28 Imrie, Impeachment.

29 S.R.O., E.4/5, fos. 80v, 162r–162v.

30 APS, v, 35.

31 Imrie, Impeachment.

32 H.M.C. 8: 9th Report, II, 247.

33 APS, V, 285, 605.

34 Balfour, , Historical Works, II, 377.Google Scholar

35 S.R.O., E.4/5, fos. 170r–172v, 180v–181r; Taylor, L. B. (ed.), Aberdeen Council Letters, 1634–44 (London, 1950), II, 55, 64.Google Scholar

36 S.R.O., E.4/5, fos. 239r–243r, 245r–246r.

37 APS, v, 431–2.

38 Imrie, Impeachment.

39 Baillie, R., Letters and Journals (2 vols., Bannatyne Club, 1841–2), 1, 7.Google Scholar

40 Balfour, , Historical Works, II, 200Google Scholar; Baillie, , Letters and Journals, 1, 6,8,11.Google Scholar

41 S.R.O., E.4/5, fos. 238V, 245r, 246r, 257V, 258V.

42 Gardiner, S. R. (ed.), Hamilton Papers (Camden Society, 1880), p. 54Google Scholar; Burnet, , Hamilton, pp. 64–5, 89; H.M.C. 21: Hamilton (London, 1887), 1, 96.Google Scholar

43 For which see Stevenson, D., ‘The Financing of the Cause of the Covenants, 1638–51’, Scottish Historical Review, LI (1972), 89–123.Google Scholar

44 S.R.O., E.5/2, Exchequer Minute Book 1634–49, fos. 70r, 7OV.

45 S.R.O., PA.14/1, Register of the Committee for Common Burdens, fos. 256r–257r.

46 Spalding, J., Memorialls of the Trubles (2 vols., Spalding Club, 1850–1), 1, 301.Google Scholar

47 S.R.O., PA.I4/I, fos. 199r-199v.

48 S.R.O., E.4/5, fos. 42v–294r.

49 S.R.O., E.5/2, fos. 72v–80r.

50 In July 1641, APS, v, 639–40.

51 Edinburgh University Library, MS Dc.4.16, Transactions of the Committee of Estates, fos. 55V, 63v-64r.

52 S.R.O., PA.16/3/5/3, Army Papers, Accounts, p. 13.

53 S.R.O., PA.14/1, fos. 157r, 221r, 256r–257r.

54 S.R.O., E.73/9/1, Customs Accounts; S.R.O., E.27/1, Receivers General's Accounts, fo. 41r.

55 S.R.O., PA.14/1, fos. 260v–262r.

56 Ibid. fos. 107r; National Library of Scotland, MS Wodrow, Folio LXXIII, fos. 101v–102r.

57 Acts of the exchequer and parliament promised the councillors who had borrowed the money repayment out of the king's revenues as soon as possible, APS, v, 324, 639–40. The money was repaid to Dick (S.R.O., E.27/1, fo. 42r) though when is not clear.

58 Purves, , Revenues, p. xliv; RPCS, 1633–5, p. 309Google Scholar; Spalding, , Memorialls. 11, 95.Google Scholar

59 APS, v, 416.

60 Ibid. v, 388, 428; Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, 1634–51, no. 970.

61 S.R.O., E.4/6, Exchequer Act Book 1642–7, fos. 2r-3v.

62 S.R.O., PS.1/109, Register of the Privy Seal, fos. 267V, 269r–269V; S.R.O., PS.1/110, fo. 161V; S.R.O., E.5/2, fo. 83r; S.R.O., E.4/6, fos. 10r-10v.

63 Marshall, R. K., ‘A Calendar of the Correspondence in the Hamilton Archives at Lennoxlove’ (Appendix to Edinburgh University Ph.D. Thesis, 1970), 1, 229.Google Scholar

64 APS, v, 497, 519, VI.i, 263–4, 271–2; S.R.O., PS.1/109, fos. 270r, 274V. 281r; S.R.O., PS.1/110, fos. 151V, 152r; S.R.O., PS.1/111, fos. 39r–40r.

65 S.R.O., E.4/6, fos. 4r–5r.

66 E.g. Marshall, , ‘Calendar’, 1, 237, 246, 253.Google Scholar

67 S.R.O., E.4/6, fos. 18r–25v, 210r–216v.

68 Ibid. fos. 70V, 100v–101r.

69 S.R.O., PA.11/2, Register of the Committee of Estates (Army), fos. 76r–77r; A Collection of State Papers of John Thurloe, Birch, T. (ed.) (7 vols., London, 1742), 1, 36–7; APS, v, 519.Google Scholar

70 S.R.O., E.4/6, fos. 75r–76v.

71 S.R.O., PA.14/2, Proceedings of the Scots Commissioners for Conserving the Articles of the Treaty, 1642–3, pp. 36, 44; S.R.O., PA.14/1, fo. 206V.

72 S.R.O., E.4/6, fos. 1r-347v; S.R.O., E.5/2, fos. 146v–163r.

73 APS, VI.i, 129, 192–3, 235–6, 354–5; Balfour, , Historical Works, III, 221; S.R.O., E.4/6, fos. 2r–3V.Google Scholar

74 The 1644 commission of exchequer was renewed several times and remained in force until the fall of the engagers in 1648, APS, VI.i, 303–5, 433, 460, 563, 633, 780.

75 The Diplomatic Correspondence of Jean de Montereul …, Fotheringham, J. G. (ed.) (2 vols., Scottish History Society, 1898–9), II, 30–1, 51, 82.Google Scholar The cost of maintaining the king while he was with the Scots army was at first met by the commissary general out of the covenanters'revenues. Between May and September 1646 he paid out £4,314 sterling. Arrangements were then made for the exchequer to support the king, and in Sept.-Dec. it provided at least £2,623 sterling for this purpose, Papers relating to the army of the Solemn League and Covenant, Terry, C. S. (ed.) (2 vols., Scottish History Society, 1917), II , 519, 549, 608; S.R.O., E.28/40/2, 3, 5, 11, Treasury Vouchers.Google Scholar

76 S.R.O., E.73/10/5, Customs Accounts; S.R.O., E.73/11/11, Customs Accounts; S.R.O., E.26/8, Treasury Accounts.

77 S.R.O., E.4/6, fos. 279V, 281r–281v, 284v–219r.

78 S.R.O., PA.11/7, Register of the Committee of Estates, fos. 43V-44V; S.R.O., PA.7/5/38, Supplementary Parliamentary Papers.

79 S.R.O., E.27/8, Receivers General's Accounts, fo. 27r. By contrast the duke of Hamilton and his brother the earl of Lanark spent about £264,000 Scots (£22,000 sterling) borrowed on their own security in raising the army of the engagement to try to help the king; Foxcroft, H. C., ‘An Early Rescension of Burnet's Memoirs of the Dukes of Hamilton’, English Historical Review, XXIV (1909), 529–30.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

80 S.R.O., E.5/3, Minutes of Committee on the Condition of the Exchequer, fo. 2r.

81 S.R.O., E.5/2, to. 163r.

82 S.R.O., E.5/3, fos. 3v–5r; S.R.O., PA.11/7, fos. 52V–53V, 41r; APS, VI.ii, 314–5.

83 S.R.O., E.5/3, fo. 5V. How these sums, totalling £89,433:12:0 were to be paid out of £80,000 was not explained.

84 APS, VI.ii, 174–6, 204, 271–3, 274, 321; Balfour, , Historical Works, III, 389.Google Scholar

85 APS, VI.ii, 321–2.

86 Ibid. VI.ii, 567, 569, 570, 572, 573, 574. Unfortunately there are no surviving exchequer registers or minute books for the period 6 April 1649 to the Cromwellian conquest except for a fragment of a register, 7 Feb.–29 Mar. 1650, S.R.O., E.4/7.

87 Calendar of State Papers, Domestic, 1650 (London, 1876), p. 207.Google Scholar

88 State Papers of John Thurloe, 1, 153.Google Scholar

89 APS, VI.ii, 600, 604.

90 Ibid. VI.ii, 593, 605; Stirling's Register, 1, 345.Google Scholar

91 APS, VI.i, 419, 666; S.R.O., PA.11/8, fos. 39V–40V; S.R.O., PS.1/116, fo. 189r.

92 Aylmer, , The King's Servants, p. 30; S.R.O., E.34/50/5, Papers relating to James VI's visit to Scotland; RPCS, 1616–19, P.387; RPCS, 1633–5, P.108.Google Scholar

93 S.R.O., E.31/19, Minute Book of the Board of the Green Cloth; S.R.O., E.27/1, fos. 2IV, 25V.

94 S.R.O., E.31/19, fos. 16V-17V; Aylmer, , The King's Servants, pp. 472–3.Google Scholar

95 S.R.O., E.31/19, fos. 2Ir-21v, 24r.

96 [Eglesfield, F.], Monarchy Revived (London, 1661), p . 89.Google Scholar

97 Mackenzie, G.. Memoirs of the Affairs of Scotland (Edinburgh, 1812), p. 9.Google Scholar

98 APS, VI.ii, 631, 644, 650.

9 9 Ibid. VI.ii, 656, 657–8, 684, 685–6.

100 S.R.O., PS.1/116, fo. 183V.

101 He was ‘bedfast not able to sturr out of his dwellinghous in Perth’ on 30 April 1651, S.R.O., E.31/19, fo. 38r.

102 S.R.O., E.27/1, fos. IIV , 43v–46r.

103 Ibid. fos. 22r, 45r.

104 Ibid. passim.

105 APS, VII, 326–7, 433.