James Wilford Sir James Wilford ( 1516 – 1550 ) was an English soldier , and commander of Haddington in Scotland during its occupation in the war of the Rough Wooing . James Wilford was the son of Thomas Wilford of Hartridge , Kent , and Elizabeth Colepeper . He married Joyce Barrett , she died in 1580 . His sister Cicely ( d . 10 February 1584 ) married Edwin Sandys , Archbishop of York . He was elected Member of Parliament for Barnstaple in 1547 . In Scotland . Wilford was a Provost Marshall at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh on 10 September 1547 and was subsequently knighted . Ulpian Fulwell wrote of Sir James in his " Flower 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 . Sir James was one of the captains who supervised the fortification at Lauder on the site of Thirlestane Castle in April 1548 . Lord Grey of Wilton recommended him for the command of the English and Italian mercenary force occupying Haddington on 28 April . On 3 June 1548 , Wilford and Thomas Wyndham captured Dalkeith Palace , burnt the town , and took prisoner James Douglas , the future Regent Morton . On 1 November 1548 , Wilford wrote to 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 . " Capture . Wilford was captured at Dunbar in January 1549 . One later account relates his capture by Robert Lauder of the Bass while supervising a wagon train of provisions . The French soldier Jean de Beaugué also published the event in his " History of the War in Scotland " . Mary of Guise described his capture as a " bonne prise " in a letter to her brother , the Duke of Aumale . James Croft succeeded him in command at Haddington . In June 1549 Wilford was imprisoned at Stirling Castle where he was visited by an English herald . The English Privy Council wrote to the Earl 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 of Lord Fleming . Wilford was transferred to the keeping of Janet Stewart , Lady Fleming , and was released sometime in November 1549 . In February and March 1550 , Wilford was granted the keeping of the Bailiwick of Gravesend and Milton and the Little Park of Otford , Kent for his lifetime . Death . James Wilford died in November 1550 , and his eulogy was delivered by Miles Coverdale . He was buried at St . Bartholomew ' s by the Exchange in London . A brass plate from his monument engraved with the Barrett and Wilford arms is preserved at the Museum of London . Coverdale was also buried at St Bartholomew ' s . Portrait . Wilford ' s portrait was painted , perhaps by Hans Eworth ; four copies of this portrait survive , three versions show a view of Haddington . The portraits are ( retrospectively ) dated 1547 and give Wilford ' s age as 32 .