George Elphinstone had connections with the Western Isles and Ireland and was involved in negotiations between the West and the court. In October 1598, his mistress was mentioned as a recipient of diplomatic gifts from Sorley Boy MacDonnell, along with himself, the king, Anne of Denmark, and Beatrix Ruthven.[6]
In November 1599 George Elphinstone looked after a group of English comedians in Edinburgh. He was given money to buy timber to set up their stage, and in December gave them the king's reward of £333-6s-8d Scots. The actors included Lawrence Fletcher and Martin Slater.[7] Edinburgh's kirk session attempted to prevent the performances, despite a royal warrant. Martin Slater later gained the patronage of Anne of Denmark's brother, Ulrik, Duke of Holstein and set up the Red Bull Theatre in London.[8]
Elphinstone married Agnes Boyd, daughter of Thomas Boyd, Lord Kilmarnock, and Marion Campbell in August 1600. As a wedding gift James VI gave her a gold chain necklace and a gold belt set with pearls, and a pair of matching gold "garnishings" set with pearl to wear in her hair, worth £580 Scots.[9] After spending a weekend in Glasgow with the newly weds at the end of August, James VI gave Elphinstone land in the New Park of Partick to build a better house to entertain him in the next time.[10]
Elphinstone was a servant of the Duke of Lennox, and in September 1600 Lennox and the king nominated him Provost of Glasgow. His achievements as Provost include the 1605 Letter of Guildry, which established a merchant's guild with its Dean of Guild, a Deacon Convenor of the Crafts, and a Visitor of the Maltmen. He gained the enmity of the town council in 1608 when he claimed customs income from the town's market and bridge.[11]
One of the Elphinstone residences was on the site of 87–89 Main Street, Gorbals. In the nineteenth century the remaining buildings consisted of a small tower and an adjacent lodging with seventeenth-century decorative plasterwork on the ceiling of the upper storey.
The children of George Elphinstone and Agnes Boyd included;
James Elphinstone
References
^Paul Goatman, 'James VI, noble power and Glasgow', in Miles Kerr-Peterson and Steven J. Reid, James VI and Noble Power in Scotland (Routledge: Abingdon, 2017), p. 86.
^Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 13 (Edinburgh, 1969), p. 625 no. 498.
^Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 13 (Edinburgh, 1969), p. 443 no. 355, p. 535 no. 424.
^Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 13 (Edinburgh, 1969), p. 444 no. 356.
^Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 13 (Edinburgh, 1969), p. 524 no. 410.
^Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 13 (Edinburgh, 1969), p. 326 no. 252.
^David Masson, Register of the Privy Council of Scotland: 1599-1604, vol. 6 (Edinburgh, 1884), p. 79.
^Robert Pitcairn, Criminal Trials in Scotland, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1833), p. 238, quoting the royal treasurer's accounts; "ane cheinzie and ane belt of goldsmyth work, set with pearle, with ane pair of garnissingis in the lyk wark, set with pearle, propynit in his Maiestis name, to Sir George Elphinstounis wyff the day of hir mariage."
^Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 13 (Edinburgh, 1969), p. 705 no. 552: Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, vol. 6, no. 1110.
^Paul Goatman, 'James VI, noble power and Glasgow', in Miles Kerr-Peterson and Steven J. Reid, James VI and Noble Power in Scotland (Routledge: Abingdon, 2017), pp. 86-89.
^Nadine Akkerman, The Correspondence of Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia, vol. 1 (Oxford, 2015), p. 145.
^Mary Anne Everett Green, Elizabeth, Electress Palatine and Queen of Bohemia (London, 1909), pp. 88-90.
^William Vaughan, The golden fleece diuided into three parts (London, 1626).
^James Gordon of Rothiemay, History of Scots Affairs, from 1637 to 1641, vol. 1 (Aberdeen, 1841), p. 21.
^Joseph Lemuel Chester, The Marriage, Baptismal, and Burial Registers of the Collegiate Church or Abbey of St Peter Westminster (London, 1876), p. 140: 'William Elphinstone, Lawyer', Westminster Abbey.
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