Andrew Halyburton

Andrew Halyburton (before 1490 – 1507) was a Scottish merchant.

Andrew Halyburton was stationed at Middelburg in Flanders where he was 'Conservator of the Scottish Staple,' or 'Conservator of the Scottish privileges in the Low Countries.' A surviving letter in French calls him, 'Conservateur de la Nasion des Eschosoys a Midelburg.' This consular role administered to the Scottish import and export trade with the county of Flanders. However, few official Scottish or Flemish records of Andrew's administration survive. In two letters to the town of Middelburg James IV of Scotland called Andrew 'our merchant' and 'the King's familiar servant,' and 'privilegiorum nationis in istis terris conservator,' - conservator of our nation's privileges in your lands. The letters reminded the council of Middelburg of Andrew's jurisdictions over Scottish trade issues, and how he should speak in their courts on behalf of Scottish sailors and captains.

One of Andrew's ledgers survives in which he recorded a series of accounts he opened with Scottish clients who sent money and goods to him in Flanders, often to fund special purchases. Some of the cargoes were carried in the ships of Andrew Barton of Leith. Halyburton's ledger provides evidence on the exchange rates for the gold and silver coins used in international trade. Primarily, Andrew's clients sent him wool or skins to sell. A letter from Andrew to a Scottish client survived with the ledger, advising hides would sell best at Eastertide 1502; he wrote,

"Thar standis yet ii sekkis of woll of youris unsauld, and quhen thai are sauld, I shall send you your reckoning of all things between us. ... Please you to wit that here is an evil mercat, sa help me God, except your woll, ... Hydis, I trow, shall be the best merchandise that come here at Pasche, for thar is many folkis that speris (ask) about thaim."

The account for James Stewart, Duke of Ross and Archbishop of St Andrews, includes a payment apparently for letters sent to Margaret of York from Perkin Warbeck and the White Rose Lady Catherine Gordon in September 1497; 'Item, gyffyn Davy Rattrye quhen he passed to (blank) with the quhit ros lettrys to my lady, 10 shillings.' The Duke of Ross sent money to Halyburton, which he banked with Cornelis Altanitis in Bruges, the money was to be paid out in Rome to purchase Papal Bulls. Halyburton also commissioned two carved stone tomb sculptures for the Duke, which he called 'throwchts.' Andrew sent the stones to Veere in a barge he called a Schout, from where they were shipped to Scotland.

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