Administrator

He was on very friendly terms with James VI, his legal talents being useful to the king. In July 1593 he was appointed to a council to manage the estates and finances of Anne of Denmark.^[2] He was one of the eight men called the Octavians who were appointed to manage the finances of Scotland. Widely regarded as an able administrator, Hamilton was entrusted with a large share in the government of Scotland when James moved to London in 1603.

Anne of Denmark and Prince Henry

Hamilton was present at Stirling Castle on 10 May 1603 when Anne of Denmark argued with Marie Stewart, Countess of Mar and the Master of Mar to gain custody of her son Prince Henry.^[3] He wrote an account of the incident.^[4] Anne of Denmark, according to Hamilton, told Lady Paisley and her physician Martin Schöner that she had taken "balm water".^[5] The Earl of Montrose, Lord Chancellor of Scotland, made efforts to calm the controversy and help set Anne of Denmark on her way to England in June.^[6]

Silver mine at Hilderston

In 1606 a promising deposit of silver was found on Hamilton's land at Hilderston near Bathgate. For a time, Hamilton worked the mine, employing the English mining entrepreneur Bevis Bulmer. Hamilton was appointed "Master of Metals" in Scotland in March 1607.^[7] Bulmer left the works in August 1608. The dissolution of their partnership was acrimonious. In January 1608 King James decided to claim the mine for himself.^[8] Hamilton was compensated for his loss by the King by May 1608, around the time a daughter Anna Hamilton was born, according to a letter from Lady Jane Drummond.^[9]

Lord Clerk Register

In 1612 he was appointed Lord Clerk Register to the Privy Council to succeed John Skene. After the death of James VI, the earl resigned his offices, but served Charles I as Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland. Thomas was referred to familiarly by his friends as 'Tam o' the Cowgate', his Edinburgh residence being in that street.

Peerages

On 19 November 1613, he was created a Lord of Parliament as Lord Binning. Further, on 20 March 1619, he was created Earl of Melrose. Upon the death of the first and last Viscount of Haddington (on 28 February 1626), the king agreed to exchange the title of Earl of Melrose to that of Earl of Haddington, with the original precedence and remainder to heirs male bearing the surname and Arms of Hamilton. In 1628 The Earl of Haddington purchased the Tyninghame estate for 200,000 merks.

In 1624, under the title of Thomas Hamilton, Earl of Melrose, he purchased Balgone House south-east of North Berwick.^[10]

Material culture

An inventory of silverware belonging to Thomas Hamilton was made in 1607. Some of the silver was kept in a press in the high hall of one of his houses. His daughter had the key. Other silverware was held by his steward, James Bisset. Hamilton had some silver at Barnbougle Castle and more at the Byres and Preistfield. An inventory was also made in July 1615 of the household furnishing at the Byres.^[12]

Hamilton made over furnishings at Tyninghame House to his heir in June 1635. This list included items which he had "brought home", meaning that he had purchased them in London or imported them. There was a new suite of tapestry of eight pieces of the History of David, and a new History of Abraham in six pieces. There were rich hangings of the Story of Jacob and other subjects, with ten other tapestries, eight pieces of old tapestry, and striped and embroidered cloth hangings for walls with a matching window curtain. An inventory of the whole furnishings of Tyningham was made at this time.^[13]