Roger Aston
Sir Roger Aston (died 23 May 1612) of Cranford, Middlesex, was an English courtier and favourite of James VI of Scotland.
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.
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.
[9] 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.
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".
[17] In August 1589 Aston travelled to London to buy items for the arrival in Scotland, the wedding, and the coronation of Anne of Denmark.
[19] 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.
[21] 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.
[22] 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.
[23] 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.
[27] 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.
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.
[33] 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.
[34] 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.
[37] 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.
[38] 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.
James apologised that the language had been corrupted first by the version of Scots used by Geddie, and then by Young's attempts to convert the text into English spelling.
whose Soule exchanged the Earthly for the Heavenly Tabernacle the 23d of May 1612. haveing long continued a diligent & trusty Servant to James King of Great Britain France & Ireland and for the painfull & faithfull Service he had done to his Grandfather his Father & Himselfe was by him ordained (and to his death so continued) one of the Gentlemen of his Majesties Bedchamber in Anno 1587. as may appear by his Majesties Letters Patents, appointed by Sr Roger Aston to be inclosed and kept in this his Monument; He was alsoe made Master of his Majesties Great Wardrobe in England at the house of which office he departed this Life.
