ENGLISH, MUNGO [SSNE 7070]

Surname: ENGLISH
First name: MUNGO
Nationality: SCOT

Text source

Mungo English was a Scot who moved around Switzerland, Germany, the Dutch Republic in the 1680s and 1690s. Smout notes him simply as one of several military officers who banked with Andrew Russell in Rotterdam, though there appears to be more to the relationship than that. His letters usually talk of relationships with merchants and associated finances. Those consulted for this database do not make mention of any military status or rank. He does pass comment on military movements in Germany between the French and Imperialists, but only as an aside. His travelling companions were Mr Hume [SSNE 7126] and Mr Elliot [SSNE 7127], and at times Mr Stonedge [SSNE 7158].English frequently made mention of those Scots who guaranteed his money, namely Mr James Maklurg in Edinburgh and Mr Walter Scott in Wauchop (called by English "Stonedge's chamberlain". A Mr Dunlop was responsible for funding Mr Hume. English and the others also had dealings with Mr Gilbert Spence of Bremen [SSNE 6295], and indeed lodged in his house when in the city. English and his friends were in Heidleberg on 5 November 1688 and had dealings with Mr Bortholt, merchant there. They also dealt with Mr Paradi there who promised to honour any bills drawn upon any merchant in Frankfort.In one letter from Mongo English to Andrew Russell, dated Hamburg 26 October 1689, English notes that we have "addressed our selves to our country-man Mr Robert Jolly, Mercht. here who as soon as we shewed him your letters and acquainted him that yow are our Mercht. immediately offered very kindly to advance us what money we stood in need of", Jolly followed this up with his own letter to Russell dated Hamburg, 10 December 1689. In it he said "Some weeks agoe, [I] had the honor of Mr Eliot, Mr Hume and Mr Mongo English companie from Dutchland, who shewing me your letters & giving them Credit & recomendatione to some parts in Germanie; oblidged me to give them f240 guilders for their bills on yow with advice and other bills on their friends in Scotland at £25 Scots per Gulder wich were sent to Mr Alex Pyper".Among the few glimpses of his private feelings in his letters it is clear that he was quite homesick. On 24 October 1689 he wrote "I long to hear from Scotland for we have had no Scots letters since we left Heidelberg". He stated to Russell a preference for remaiing in Bremen over the Netherlands in October 1689 and was still there in February 1690 declaring his intention to move to Holland with Stonedge in early February. By 17 April English was in London from where he wrote a letter requesting a number of books on behalf of "young Stitchill who is married to Stonedge's sister". These included 1. Cocceius Ststem of Divinity 2. Mr Jurieus Prejuges Legittimes in French 3. The Sissone of the Council of Trente in French 4. The History of the Synode of Dort in Latine 5. Donnellus Commentaries upon the Civil Law 6. Salamasius Works (especially upon Civil Law). English wrote to the booksellers Mr Leers and asked Russell to pay him and English would pay Russell back in Edinburgh. Stitchill wanted the books unbound and Mr Leers would wrap them accordingly. Apparently Andrew Russell had already shipped a trunk of books home to English already

National Archives of Scotland, RH15/106/663. Various letters and bills of exchange (1688); RH15/106/689. Various letters and bills of exchange (1689); RH15/106/710/ff.11-16 (1690) & f.22 English to Russell, 17 April 1690, London; T. C. Smout, Scottish Trade on the Eve of Union (Edinburgh & London, 1963), p.108.

Service record

SCOTLAND, STUART KINGDOMS, HEIDELBERG: Arrived 1688-11-05; Departed 1689-03-05; Capacity TRAVELLER, purpose MISC.
STUART KINGDOMS, SCOTLAND, KOTZ: Arrived 1688-12-10; Capacity TRAVELLER, purpose MISC.
SCOTLAND, STUART KINGDOMS, TUBINGEN: Arrived 1689-05-07; Capacity TRAVELLER, purpose MISC.
SCOTLAND, STUART KINGDOMS, MUNICH: Arrived 1689-07-22; Capacity TRAVELLER, purpose MISC.
SCOTLAND, STUART KINGDOMS, SWITZERLAND: Arrived 1689-08-01; Capacity TRAVELLER, purpose MISC.
SCOTLAND, STUART KINGDOMS, HAMBURG, BREMEN: Arrived 1689-10-01; Departed 1690-02-14; Capacity TRAVELLER, purpose MISC.