Francisco de Busso (died 1576) was an Italian courtier in the service of Mary, Queen of Scots. Busso was a Master of Household, in charge of provisions and household servants.[1]
Career
Busso had been a servant and Master of Household to Mary of Guise (died 1560).[2][3] He was a Knight of the Order of St James of the Sword. In 1552, Mary of Guise sent him as an envoy or diplomat to Mary of Hungary, Governor of the Netherlands, when she wanted her to return some letters of Henri Cleutin which had chanced into her possession.[4]
Mary, Queen of Scots, made him superintendent and overseer of her palaces and building works in September 1563. He was the Keeper of Holyrood Palace. His name appears in financial records of the court as "Senyeour Frances" or "Francisco".[5] His first name is recorded as "John" in some official documents.[6] He worked with William MacDowall to improve the gardens at Holyrood.[7]
A French diplomat, Paul de Foix, noted he was close to Mary.[8] In July 1565, Mary gave him a damask silk mantle from her mother's clothing and gave the rest of the outfit to the wife of the wardrobe servant Servais de Condé.[9]
John Knox wrote of the disapproval of Scottish courtiers at the influence of Busso and other foreigners preferred by Mary. In September 1565 the English diplomat Thomas Randolph listed him with David Riccio, and the Englishman Thomas Fowler, as "unworthy persons" and foreigners who were exciting suspicion for their influence at court.[11] In 1565 the leaders of the Chaseabout Raid, a rebellion against Mary, included his presence in their list of grievances.[12]
^Gordon Donaldson, All the Queen's Men: Power and Politics in Mary Stewart's Scotland (Batsford, 1983), p. 66: Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, vol. 19 (Edinburgh, 1898), p. 238.
^David Laing, Works of John Knox, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1848), p. 507: NRS E30/11 f.19v.
^Joseph Robertson, Inventaires de la Royne Descosse (Edinburgh, 1863), p. 156.
^Charles Rogers, History of the Chapel Royal of Scotland (London, 1882), p. lxx: Diurnal of Occurrents (Edinburgh, 1835), pp. 103-4.
^Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), pp. 153, 213: HMC Manuscripts of the Marquis of Salisbury at Hatfield House, vol. 1 (London, 1883), p. 325 nos. 1075–6, 324 no. 1067
^Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), pp. 212-3, 219.
^David Laing, Works of John Knox, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1848), p. 551.