Mentions to heralds in The Diary of Robert Birrel, Burges of Edinburghe (1567-1605)

Source

The Diary of Robert Birrel, Burges of Edinburghe, in Dalyell, John Graham, Fragments of Scotish History, Edinburgh: Archibald Constable, 1798, pp.1ff. (Internet Archive.) [Note: the diary has its own page numbering.] I corrected typographical errors due to the OCR system misrecognition. There may, however, still exist such errors. Please consult printed version for academic purpose.
Apart from the mentions to heralds, I found an interesting account that, in 1604, there was a proclamation that the countries shall be no more called Scotland nor England, but Great Britain [p.62].
In the same volume there is an account of an English expedition into Scotland under Edwart VI in which there are mentions to heralds: The Expedicion into Scotlāde, of the most Woorthely Fortunate Prince, Edward, Duke of Soomerset, Vncle unto ... Edvvard the VI. ..., pp.iff. Is it a mere coincidence it was Somerset herald who accompanied the Duke fo Somerset? Here I picked up some of the mentions:
[p.35.]
... whereunto my Lordes Grace, ouer night, for summons, sente Somerset hys heraulde, towarde whome iiii. or v. of this capitayns prikkers, with their gaddes ready charged, did righte hastely direct their course ; but Trotter both honestly defended the heraulde, ...

[p.79.]
... he sent Soomerset his herald with a trompet before to knowe whoo kept it, ...

[p.80.]
... for caus [sic] of communicacion bilyke, retourned again to them hauing wt him Norrey an herauld & king of armes of ours : ...

[pp.83-4.]
... Here also as we wear settled, our herauld Norrey retourned from the Skottes counsell, with the larde of Brimston, and Roze their heraulde ; ...
     Rose the heraulde departed erely with this saufecundet, ...

[p.91].
     My Lords Grace consideryng that of vertue and welldooyng the proper mede is honour ; aswell thearfore for rewarde to them that had afore doon well, as for cause of encoorage to oother then after to doo ibe lyke, dyd this daye after noon adourne many lordes, knyghtes, and gentlemen, with dignitees as folowe. The names and promotiōs of whoō I haue here set in order, as they wear placed in the herauldes book.

The text

[p.11.]
     The 2 of Aguste [1567], proclamatione made by the heralds of hes Majestie's coronatione, villing all hes subjects to live in ye feare of God, and in hes obedience, under all heighest paine and chairge yat might follow therafter.
     The 22 of Aguste, James Earll of Murray wes made and proclaimcd Regent vith grate solemnity, by the heralds at the crosse, till ye King shojild atteine to ye age of 17 zeirs compleit.

[p.14.]
     The 22 day of Februarii [1568], Sir Villiam Steuarte wes inaugurat Lyone King of Armes in the kirk, after sermone in ye forenoone, in presence of ye Regent and Nobilitie.

[p.17.]
     The 2 day of Aguste [1568], the peste wes knowen to be in James Dalgliesh's hous.
     This same day, about 2 in the afternoone, Sr William Steuarte, Lyone K. of Arms, departed out of Edinburghe to Dumbrittane castell, being suspecte of conspiracey against the life of ye Regent the Earll of Murray.
     The 9 of Aguste, ye Regent came to Edinburghe, and ye Persone Knowes taken for conspiracey against ye ſaid Regent.
. . .
     The 22 day of Aguste, being Sonneday, Sr David Lindesay ves vith grate solemnity inaugurate King of Armes, ye most of ye nobility being present at the ceremonie with my Lord Regent. He wes proclaimit Sr David Lindesay of Ratheillet, Knight, Lyone King of Armes.

[pp.30-1.]
     The 21 of Julii [1593], the Parliament haldin ; the Earll of Bothuell forfaulted, and hes armes rivin at the crosse of Edr be the heraldis. [See also Records of the Parliaments of Scotland (Forfeiture of [Francis Stewart], earl of Bothwell and his accomplices). The date is, however, on 23 March in the year of the Lord 1592 [1593].]
     The 24 of Julii, at 8 hours in the morneing, the Earle of Bothuell, the laird of Spott, Mr Villiam Leslie, and Mr Jon Colvill, came into the King's chalmer weill provydit with pistol ; this Earle and hes complices, came not yis way provydit with pistollis and drauin suordis to harme the King's Maiestie aney wayis, bot becaus he could not get presence of his Maiestie, nor speich of him, for the Homes, quho wer courtiers with the King, and enimies to the said Earle of Bothuell, sua they came in into hes Maiestie's chalmer, resolving yameselues not to be haldin back, till they sould haue spoken vith him : and sua after yai came in, hes Maiestie wes coming frae ye backstair and his breiks in hes hand in ane feir ; howbelt he needit not. Ye forsaid Bothuell and hes complices fell upone yair knies, and beggit mercie at hes Maiestie ; and his Maiestie being wyse, merciful, a noble Prince of grate pitie, not desyrous of bluid, grantit yame mercie, and receivit yame in hes favour ; and at 4 hours afternoone, causit proclame yame hes frie leidges ; and upone ye 27 day, ye same proclamatione of ye Earll of Bothuell's peace wes renewit at ye crosse vith heralds and trumpettis sounding for ioy.

[pp.35-6.]
     The 22 of Novr [1595], 4 heralds sitting drinking, tua of yame fell in words, viz. Johne Purdie and Johne Gladstanis. The said Johne Gladstanis stikit Johne Purdie at the table ; and the said Gladstanis being apprehendit, he wes beheidit upone the 25 day of the same moneth of Noyr, for the same slaughter.

[p.44.]
     The 4 of August [1597], the Earles of Angus, Huntley, Errole, wer relasit fra the horne wt ane herald and 6 trumpettis.

[p.49.]
     The 2 of Julii [1600], the laird of Johnestoun restorit to hes honours at the crosse of Edr, be the proclamatione of a herald and 4 trumpettis.

[p.63.]
     The 19 of Marche [1605], the Maxwells came to th ehouse of Newbis, and tuik the hous ; and, in taking of the hous, sundrie wer woundit and hurt. They keipit the hous till the gaird and heraldis causit them to surrender.
. . .
     The 22 of Junii, a proclamatione, that Ducks, Marqueses, Earls, Lordis, and Barronis, sould ... and uther proclamations, yat yai compeir the first of November, thair haill names being red out be the messenger [the messenger here was a messenger-at-arms...?].

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