Sir James Wilsford orWilford (about 1516–1550) was an English soldier and politician, who was commander at theSiege of Haddington in the war known as theRough Wooing and also sat asMember of Parliament forBarnstaple.[1]
James Wilsford was born about the year 1516, the son of Thomas Wilsford (died 1553), a landowner at Hartridge in the parish ofCranbrook inKent, and his first wife Elizabeth (died by 1531), daughter of Walter Culpeper, ofBedgebury in Kent. They had four sons and nine daughters. His father's second wife was Rose, daughter of William Whetenhall of Hextall's Court, Kent, with a further five sons and a daughter, Cecily (died 1584), who marriedEdwin Sandys,Archbishop of York[2] One of his brothers was the soldier and politician Sir Thomas Wilsford (died 1610).[3]
Wilsford was aProvost Marshal at theBattle of Pinkie Cleugh on 10 September 1547 and was subsequently knighted.[4]Ulpian Fulwell wrote of Sir James in hisFlower of Fame (1575);
"He was so noble a capitaine, that he wonne the hartes of all Souldiers. He was in the towne among his Souldiers and friends, a gentle lamme. In the field amongst his enemies a Lyon.[5]
Sir James was one of the captains who supervised and garrisoned the fort atLauder, the future site ofThirlestane Castle, in April 1548.Lord Grey of Wilton recommended him for the command of the English and Italian mercenary force occupyingHaddington on 28 April.[6] On 3 June 1548, Wilford andThomas Wyndham capturedDalkeith Palace, burnt the town, and took prisoner James Douglas, the futureRegent Morton.[7] On 1 November 1548, Wilford wrote toProtector Somerset describing the state of Haddington, with a garrison stricken by plague:
"The state of this town pities me both to see and to write it; but I hope for relief. Many are sick and a great number dead, most of the plague. On my faith there are not here this day of horse, foot and Yttalians 1000 able to got the walls, and more like to be sick, than the sick to mend, who watch the walls every 5th night, yet the walls are un-manned."[8]
Wilsford was captured atDunbar in January 1549.[9] One account relates his capture byRobert Lauder of the Bass while supervising a wagon train of provisions.[10] The French soldierJean de Beaugué also included the event in hisHistory of the War in Scotland.[11]Mary of Guise described his capture as a "bonne prise", a good catch, in a letter to her brother, theDuke of Aumale.James Croft succeeded him in command at Haddington.[12]
A legal record narrates that Wilford was held by a French soldier, Captain Escho, and transferred into the keeping of Thomas, Master of Erskine, a son of the keeper ofStirling Castle,John Erskine, 5th Lord Erskine.[13] By June 1549, Wilford was imprisoned at Stirling Castle where he was visited by an English herald.[14] The EnglishPrivy Council wrote to theEarl of Rutland to organize his release by an exchange of prisoners. Wilford was valued as a "man of special service" and "someone who has notably served", but was now "vexed with much sickness." It was suggested he might be exchanged for the son ofLord Fleming. Wilford was transferred to the keeping ofJanet Stewart, Lady Fleming, and was released sometime in November 1549.[15]
In February and March 1550, Wilsford was granted the keeping of the Bailiwick ofGravesend andMilton and the Little Park ofOtford, Kent for his lifetime.[16]
James Wilsford died in November 1550, and his eulogy was delivered byMiles Coverdale. He was buried at St. Bartholomew's by the Exchange in London.[17] A brass plate from his monument engraved with the Barrett and Wilford arms is preserved at theMuseum of London.[18] Coverdale was also buried at St Bartholomew's.
He married Joyce Barrett, who soon after his death married Thomas Stanley, later an Under-Treasurer of the Mint, who in 1553 became guardian of Wilford's only son Thomas.[3]
Wilford's portrait was painted, perhaps byHans Eworth; four copies of this portrait survive, three versions show a view ofHaddington.[19] The portraits are (retrospectively) dated 1547 and give Wilford's age as 32.[20]