Sir John Carmichael
Sir John Carmichael (died 16 June 1600) was a Scottish soldier, the Keeper of Liddesdale, a diplomat, and owner of Fenton Tower at Kingston, East Lothian.
He was active in the Marian Civil War, and in September 1571 the Earl of Morton wrote approvingly of an incident where he had chased and fought some horsemen of Queen Mary's side near Edinburgh.
In 1573 Regent Morton went to Jedburgh to hold justice courts, and he sent Carmichael to arrest Black John Ormeston for his involvement in the murder of Lord Darnley.
[5] In September 1587 James VI sent him to ask Edinburgh council for a loan of 100 gold crowns to buy velvet saddles to give to the French poet and diplomat Guillaume de Salluste Du Bartas.
[9] According to David Hume of Godscroft, the Earl of Angus and Lord John Hamilton argued over precedence in the king's privy or outer chamber at Holyrood Palace.
This was disappointing news which led to fears amongst the Scottish aristocracy that the "order used in Denmark", where noble titles were not used, might prejudice their ancient rights of access to the royals.
He was also to renew requests made by the Justice Clerk, Lewis Bellenden for money to help James VI govern Scotland, to maintain an armed guard, and fund an embassy to Germany.
From the remainder James VI gave money to a courtier Sir James Sandilands for household expenses, to Robert Jousie for textiles for court costume, to William Schaw for building work, bought gifts for the French ambassadors François de Civille and Jean Hotman, and paid for the banquet, sugar confections, and gold chains given to Danish ambassadors at his homecoming.
[23] The king sent Carmichael and William Stewart of Blantyre to Glasgow to arrest Brian O'Rourke, a rebel to Queen Elizabeth, and take him to England on 3 April 1591.
[27] In December 1592 he rode with Sir George Home with news of the crisis caused by the discovery of the Spanish blanks to Alloa Tower, where James VI and Anna of Denmark were celebrating the wedding of the Earl of Mar and Marie Stewart.
[29] Lord John Hamilton captured Archibald Wauchope of Niddrie with other rebel followers of the Earl of Bothwell at the meadow of Lesmahagow on 1 July 1592 and imprisoned them in Craignethan Castle.
[30] In September 1592 he escorted Captain James Halkerston and John Hamilton of Airdrie to Dalkeith Palace where they were interrogated and threatened with the boot, a device to crush their legs.
[33] Sandy Ringan had met with Carmichael as warden, and was disappointed by their discussion, and insulted by a practical joke when eggs were put in his scabbard, to glue his sword so it could not be drawn.
[34] After the murder, James VI told the English diplomat in Edinburgh George Nicholson that Carmichael had been a "better Englishman than a Scotsman," meaning that he had shown partiality to England on the border.
