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1624 Letter from the Court of King James I and VI at Greenwich Palace to Edinburgh, probably carried by the King's Mail messengers

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241h June 1624. Letter sent by the 3r<1 Duke of Lennox at Greenwich Palace near London to Lord Kilsyth
at Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh. The letter bears a fine example of Lennox's heraldic seal.
The Duke of Lennox was one of only two Dukes at King James's court and Lord Kilsyth was a Scottish
Privy Councillor and Vice Chambertain of Scotland.
The Duke was one of the highest ranking courtiers and would certainly have had use of the royal 't_ /\ /,l /1
messengers of the King's Mails. This letter was very probably carried by these messengers as it is "'--• /I I , ,;,t__ - r tt .. , ""Y"t" 'I (' .
highly unlikely that he would have employed his own messengers to take it to Edinburgh. t'

The writer, Esme Stuart, was Seigneur d'Aubigny and Earl of March and had become 3r<1 Duke of /
Lennox in February 1624 on the death of his elder brother, Ludovic. He was a Gentleman of the
Bedchamber and the only duke at King James's court apart from Buckingham. He was Duke of Lennox
for only five months as he died of a spotted fever (probably typhus) the month following writing this
letter.
The recipient, William Livingston, was Laird of Kilsyth. He was a member of several Scottish
Parliaments, a Scottish Lord of Session and Vice-Chamberlain of Scotland. He was an important My Lord I received your letter: and I give you many thanks for the caire you have had of my business: especially
member of the Scottish Privy Council and, at the time this letter was sent, was attending the Council at
Holyroodhouse, his attendance there being recorded for 23rc1 and 25 June and 1 st July 1624. concerning Kifmaranock as for other Lands or tenancies in that parte that may be convenient for me: I pray you
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interlaine any bargaine thereanent so far as may bee with convenience: assureing you there shall bee no want in
mee, but want of money: and when soener occasione presents wherein I can requite your paines and carefulness
Greenwich Palace was a royal palace of my will I assure you I shall never fail/ to expresse my self
much loved by the Tudors in particular.
It fell into disrepair during the English your L most loveing friende
Civil War and was demolished from the E. Lenox
1660's onwards.
Grenwiche the 24 of June 1624