Roger Aston

Sir Roger Aston (died 23 May 1612) of Cranford, Middlesex, was an English courtier and favourite of James VI of Scotland.

Biography Aston was the illegitimate son of Thomas Aston (died 1553). cites Leycester's Cheshire p. 213 Scottish sources spell his name variously as "Aschetone", "Aschetoun", or "Aschingtoun".

After serving the Earl of Lennox, Lord Darnley, and Mary, Queen of Scots, Aston was made a Gentleman of the Bedchamber to James VI of Scotland in 1578.Amy Juhala, 'For the King Favours Them Very Strangely', in Miles Kerr-Peterson and Steven J. Reid, James VI and Noble Power (Routledge: Abingdon, 2017), pp. 162-3: Register of the Privy Seal, vol. 8 (Edinburgh, 1982), p. 65 no. 390.

In England, he was Master of the Great Wardrobe to King James I in England. He held both positions until his death. From 1595 he was keeper of Linlithgow Palace, and one of his daughters was born at the palace in October 1595.Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 12 (Edinburgh, 1952), p.7.

At the Scottish court

In May 1580 twenty five gentlemen were appointed as "pensioners to attend the King's Majesty at all times on his riding and passing to the fields". The riding entourage included Aston with, Captain James Stewart, Captain Crawford, Walter Stewart of Blantyre, the Master of Cathcart, John Carmichael, James Anstruther, Patrick Hume of Polwarth, and John Stewart of Baldynneis.Steven J. Reid, The Early Life of James VI, A Long Apprenticeship (Edinburgh: John Donald, 2023), p. 140: National Records of Scotland, 'Estate of the king's house', E34/35 f.8v.

In July 1582 Aston was sent to Antwerp with a Scottish diplomat. They were to bring back Colonel William Stewart of Houston. Aston wrote to the Earl of Leicester describing his mission, the state of Scotland, and reporting the surrender of the town of "Houdencke", meaning Oudenaarde, whose garrison was allowed to retire with ensigns displayed.Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 6 (Edinburgh, 1910), p. 139.

The diplomat and intriguer Archibald Douglas held a longstanding grudge against Aston based on an incident in 1583. James VI had given Francis Walsingham a ring but Walsingham discovered the stone was worthless. He gave the ring to Aston to return it to Scotland but Aston later claimed it was stolen from him.John Duncan Mackie, Calendar State Papers Scotland: 1597-1603, 13:2 (Edinburgh, 1969), p. 919 no. 746.

Babington Plot In September 1586 Aston carried King James's congratulations to Elizabeth on the discovery of the Babington Plot.Annie Cameron & Robert S. Rait, King James's Secret (London, 1927), pp. 23-23. In December 1586 he rode again to London with Robert Melville and the Master of Gray who were sent as ambassadors to plead for the life of Mary, Queen of Scots.Annie I. Cameron, Warrender Papers, vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1931), p. 252. He received £4,000 from Queen Elizabeth I for James VI, the payment of an annuity or subsidy.John Duncan Mackie, Calendar State Papers Scotland: 1597-1603, 13:1 (Edinburgh, 1969), pp. 202.

Aston brought the news of Mary's death to James VI in February 1587.Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 9 (Edinburgh, 1915). p. 300. Archibald Douglas had advised William Davison to delay sending Aston to Edinburgh with the bad news, which could affect and diminish Aston's standing with the king, and so his utility to English service. However, Aston's reputation did not suffer.Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 9 (Edinburgh, 1915), p. 267.

Factional politics In July 1587 Aston wrote to Francis Walsingham and Archibald Douglas from Falkland Palace. He told Walsingham he felt abandoned and wished to seek his fortune elsewhere. To Douglas he wrote of his hopes that Elizabeth would work for James, and of his efforts for Douglas personally in the "part of a true friend". He felt unable to write to their friend Thomas Fowler because of his evil fortune. Douglas sent Aston's letters to Walsingham. It was expected that Aston and Sir William Keith of Delny would lose their places at court because they had been supporters of the Master of Gray, who was out of favour. The Earl of Huntly's followers called Aston, Keith, and the Lord Privy Seal "Queen Elizabeth's pensioners". Aston felt he was watched as an Englishman and could not write as often as he wished.Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 9 (Edinburgh, 1915). p. 448-9, 452, 453: Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 10 (Edinburgh, 1936), pp. 127-9.

Aston travelled from the court at Falkland to Edinburgh in 1588. While he was asleep he was robbed of £70 in gold and some jewels including a ring.HMC Salisbury Hatfield, vol. 13 (London, 1915), p. 395.

Aston remained in the king's service, and in December 1588 stayed at Kinneil House and played a card game called "maye" with the king. Aston wrote to James Hudson that James was pleased by the news of the deaths of Catherine de' Medici and the Duke of Guise. He mentioned the worth of Fulke Greville's opinions. He was himself growing weary of the "little certainty in this state as I know not what to say to it". James Hudson sent Aston's letters to Walsingham.Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 9 (Edinburgh, 1915). p. 654, 656-7, 669.

In March 1589 Aston (and Thomas Fowler) wrote of his support for the Chancellor of Scotland, John Maitland, 1st Lord Maitland of Thirlestane. Aston went to London and met with Walsingham on 12 April. Fowler wanted his correspondence kept secret from the Scottish ambassador and Aston. Aston returned to Edinburgh on 28 May 1589.Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 10 (Edinburgh, 1936), pp. 7, 17, 37, 58, 89.

In August 1589 Aston travelled to London to buy items for the arrival in Scotland, the wedding, and the coronation of Anne of Denmark. He visited or wrote to Lord Scrope at Carlisle for actors from the Queen's Players to perform in Edinburgh. However, bad weather prevented Anne of Denmark from sailing.Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 10 (Edinburgh, 1936), pp. 150, 157. Aston travelled to Norway and Denmark with the king in 1589 and 1590.David Stevenson, Scotland's Last Royal Wedding (Edinburgh, 1997), p. 121.

The English ambassador Robert Bowes was asked to tell James VI about the execution in London of the Irishman Brian O'Rourke, who had been captured in Glasgow. Bowes decided to give a list of alleged treasons to Aston so that he could approach the king in the "best season" to break the news.Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 10 (Edinburgh, 1936), pp. 492, 589, 593. Aston socialised with Bowes, and would travel to the horse races at Gatherley near Richmond, which Bowes also attended.Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 10 (Edinburgh, 1936), p. 609 as 'Garetele'.

On 3 January 1592 James VI sent Aston to Elizabeth to describe the events of 27 December, when the rebel Francis Stewart, 5th Earl of Bothwell broke into Holyrood Palace and to ask that the annuity or subsidy be advanced to pay for a royal guard.Annie I. Cameron, Warrender Papers, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1932), pp. 166-70. On his return to court, he attempted to persuade Anne of Denmark not to intercede with James VI for Bothwell's supporters, including the physician John Naysmyth.Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 10 (Edinburgh, 1936), p. 631.

The good captain of Linlithgow Aston was made keeper of Linlithgow Palace and once for a practical joke hung a copy of his family tree in the gallery next to that of the king of France, which James VI found very amusing.Joseph Bain, Calendar of Border Papers, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1894), pp. 563 In 1594 he repaired the roof of Linlithgow Palace using lead shipped from England. While he was at Stirling Castle in September 1595 he sold a hackney horse to James VI for him to ride, costing £200 Scots.Miles Kerr-Peterson & Michael Pearce, 'James VI's English Subsidy and Danish Dowry Accounts, 1588-1596', Scottish History Society Miscellany XVI (Woodbridge, 2020), pp. 79, 84, 87, 89. He asked the English ambassador Robert Bowes for a fair and large portrait of Queen Elizabeth.Calendar State Papers Scotland: 1595-1597, vol. 12 (Edinburgh, 1952), p. 76. Bowes referred to him as the "good captain of Lithgow".Thomas Birch, Memorials of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, vol. 2 (London, 1754), p. 66. Roger Aston was of doubtful parentage and as a joke hung a copy of his family tree next to that of the king of France in the long gallery at Linlithgow, which James VI found very amusing.Joseph Bain, Calendar of Border Papers, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1894), p. 563

Aston kept up a correspondence with Sir Robert Cecil. His letters were sensitive, and once when they were intercepted in England and returned to Scotland he risked disgrace.Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 12 (Edinburgh, 1952), pp. 348-9. Cecil kept a catalogue of his sources and "intelligencers", a list of its contents show that details on Aston appeared on folio number 21.Stephen Alford, All His Spies: The Secret World of Robert Cecil (Allen Lane, 2024), p. 194: Mary Anne Everett Green, Calendar State Papers Domestic, 1595–1597 (London, 1869), p. 568 no. 34: TNA SP 12/265 f. 207. Probably, James VI knew what Aston shared with his English correspondents, and found this a useful source of information.Amy Juhala, 'For the King Favours Them Very Strangely', in Miles Kerr-Peterson and Steven J. Reid, James VI and Noble Power (Routledge: Abingdon, 2017), pp. 162-3.

Aston and Anne of Denmark Aston's wife was Mary Stewart, a well-connected gentlewoman in the household of Anne of Denmark. In May 1595, Anne of Denmark asked Roger Aston to obtain a portrait of Elizabeth I for her. Aston asked the English diplomat Robert Bowes to help.Annie Cameron, Calendar State Papers Scotland, 11 (Edinburgh, 1936), p. 594 no. 540.

In 1598, Aston had hoped to buy land for his wife and children's future in Scotland, but was caught up in the financial crisis caused by the bankruptcy of Robert Jousie and Thomas Foulis.Calendar State Papers Scotland vol. 13 part 1 (Edinburgh, 1969), pp. 155, 210-211. They owed him £4,066 Scots.Thomas Thomson, Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland: 1593-1625, vol. 4 (1816), p. 168.

He informed Sir Robert Cecil of the queen's factional struggles, which seem to have been mostly concerned with the custody of her son Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales.John Leeds Barroll, Anna of Denmark: Queen of England (Pennsylvania, 2001), pp. 20-32.

Aston felt that Anne of Denmark had been involved with the Ruthven brothers and the mysterious events culminating in their deaths at Gowrie House in Perth. He wrote of these suspicions to Cecil, and that incriminating "presumptions were great by both by letters and tokens".Calendar State Papers Scotland, 13:2 (Edinburgh, 1969), p. 723.

Aston went to London to collect the subsidy money in January 1601/2.Calendar State Papers Scotland, 13:2 (London, 1969), p. 921 no. 748. Isobella Bowes, the wife of the diplomat Robert Bowes, sent gifts to Anne of Denmark with Aston. Bowes asked Robert Bruce of Kinnaird in June if his wife, Martha Douglas, could find out if the queen had received them.David Calderwood, History of the Kirk of Scotland, vol. 6 (Edinburgh, 1845), p. 134.

Aston was injured in a fall on the steps outside Anne of Denmark's bedchamber at Dunfermline Palace in March 1602 and was unconscious for three hours.Calendar State Papers Scotland, 13:2 (Edinburgh, 1969), p. 960 no. 780. He recovered, and subsequently discussed with Anne of Denmark how her support for the exiled Gowrie brothers and sisters and a suspected plot against King James may have dented her reputation in England.Calendar State Papers Scotland, 13:2 (Edinburgh, 1969), p. 1110.

England