20th of May

B. Yvo, Bishop of Chartres, 1115. St Bernardine of Sienna.

Born. – Albert Durer, artist, 1471, Nuremberg.
Died. – Christopher Columbus, 1506, Valladolid; Thomas Boston, popular Scotch writer in divinity, 1732, Ettrick; Charles Bonnet, naturalist, 1793, Geneva; Rev. Blanco White, miscellaneous writer, 1841.

On this Day in Other Sources.

In 1365 we find a four years’ truce with England, signed at London on the 20th May. 

– Old and New Edinburgh, pp.21-26.

From the Rental Book of the Barony1 it is found that on 20th May, 1521, John Gayne and Tome Gayne, his son, were rentalled in “the 13 s. 4 d. land of Kowkadens, be consent of David Lyndsay,” whose “kyndnes” had probably been acquired by purchase.

– Scots Lore, pp.397-399.

1  Diocesan Registers (Grampian Club), i. p. 81.

The Lord James is said to have been appointed, to repair to the Queen – to persuade her majesty, to return to Scotland: and he was admonished, not to consent, that she should have the mass, in any manner; as if the established church had been abolished, by the acts of a convention, which as yet had no valid authority. Another convention was appointed for the 20th of May [1561]. A different party of no small importance, hastened to send the well known Lesley, the Vicar-general of Aberdeen, who is better known, as Bishop of Ross, to offer their duty, and services, to the Queen. Lesley, who sailed, from Aberdeen to the Brill, arrived before the Lord James, who took London, in his way. He appears, to have warned the Queen of the artifices of her brother; and to have persuaded her of the fidelity of a great body of faithful adherents: she commanded him to remain in France, till her return to Scotland: and to assure the nobles, and prelates, whom he represented, of her favour towards them. 

– Life of Mary, pp.15-41.

[Murray’s faction] assembled in a secret meeting, at Stirling, between the 20th and the 26th of May [1567], when they resolved to dethrone the Queen, and to crown her infant son, who was not a twelve month old; and to these ends, they entered into a written agreement, which they severally signed. 

– Life of Mary, pp.155-184.

On the 20th of May [1568], the Queen’s majesty having heard, certainly, of the Scotish Queen’s landing, sent express commandment to the deputy of Carlisle, to treat her with all honour, and favour, that he could, and commanded that the Lady Scroope, the Duke of Norfolk’s sister, being in the north parts, should speedily repair, with other ladies, and gentlewomen, to attend on her: and further sent letters of comfort to the said Queen; and gave order, also, that Lord Scroope, the warden of those frontiers, being then at court, and Sir Francis Knolls, the vice chamberlain, to depart in post, towards the said Queen, with letters, and messages of as much comfort, as the time will allow; who departed the 20th of May; and at their coming to her, declared the Queen’s grief of mind, for her many late mishaps; and therewith gave her an assurance of her friendship and favour, that with her honour, any way she might: whereof, the Scotish Queen took great comfort, and speedily sent up the Lord Herries, as her most trusty counsellor, a nobleman of great understanding, and the Lord Fleming, whom she afterward made her chamberlain, to the Queen’s Majesty. It was, moreover, ordered, that she, with her train, should be entertained with all honour, and courtesy, and a free liberty given to her servants, or subjects, to come to Carlisle to speak with her, and to return into Scotland, at their pleasure. Thus much from Cecil. Had all been like this! But, it is easy to see, that much of this attention to the Scotish Queen was merely affected, in order, to show fair appearances to the eyes of France, and Spain; to withdraw the Queen’s attention, from her sense of captivity; and to lay a foundation of confidence, whereon might be built a large superstructure of future wrongs. 

–  Life of Mary, pp.184-206.

There was at this time a dearth of victual in Scotland, and it was considered to be upon the increase. The magistrates and justices of Edinburgh arranged means for selling meal in open market, though in quantities not exceeding a firlot (or four pecks), at twelve shillings Scots per peck.* They also ordered all possessors of grain to have it thrashed out and brought to market before the 20th of May [1709], reserving none to themselves, and forbade, on high penalties, any one to buy up grain upon the road to market.

– Domestic Annals, pp.379-389.

*  1 firlot = 4 pecks; 1 peck = approx. 12 lbs.

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