Patrick Adamson(March 1537 – 10 February 1592) was a Scottishdivine,andArchbishop of St Andrewsfrom 1575.
The Most Reverend Patrick Adamson | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop of St Andrews | |
| Church | Church of Scotland |
| Archdiocese | St Andrews |
| In office | 1575–1592 |
| Predecessor | John Douglas |
| Successor | George Gledstanes |
| Other post(s) | Primate of Scotland |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | 1576 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 1537 |
| Died | 10 February 1592(aged 54) St Andrews,Scotland |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Denomination | Presbyterian |
| Spouse | Elizabeth Arthur |
| Children | 2 sons and 1 daughter |
| Alma mater | University of St Andrews(MA) |
| Coat of arms |  |
Life
editAdamson was born atPerthwhere his father, Patrick Adamson, aburgessbecameDeanof MerchantGuildry.[1][2]
Adamson studied philosophy at theUniversity of St Andrewswhere he graduated with aMA,[3]later receiving a doctorate.
Residence in France
editAfter serving asMinisterofCeres, Fifefor three years, in 1565, Adamson travelled toParisas tutor to the eldest son of Sir James MacGill,theLord Clerk Register(orClericus Rotulorumof Scotland), serving there initially as aKnights Hospitallerchaplain.[4]
In June 1566, Adamson wrote aLatinpoem on the birth ofPrince JamesforMary, Queen of Scotsand herKing consort,Lord Darnley;by describing the young James asserenissimus princeps"of France and England" which, leaked by a rival toCharles IX of France'scourtiers,caused offence resulting in six months' detention in France.[3]He was released only through the intercession of Queen Mary and other senior Scots nobility, thereafter relocating with his pupil to read law at theUniversity of Bourges.
At the time of the 1572St. Bartholomew's Day Massacrein Paris, Adamson had been living under cover at a tavern inBourgesfor seven months; its aged landlord was later reportedly thrown from the roof for offering charity to such a "heretic". Adamson's time at this "sepulchre"was spent composing a Latin poetical version of theBook of Joband a tragedy ofHerod the Great,also written in theLatin language.[3]
Return to Scotland
editIn 1572, Adamson returned toScotlandbecomingMinisterofPaisley.In 1575, he was appointed by theGeneral Assemblyas one of the commissioners to settle the jurisdiction and policy of the church. AsModeratorin the following year, he together with his successor,David Lyndsay,presented the Church Assembly proceedings toLord Morton,RegentofScotland.[3]
In 1576, Adamson's consecration asArchbishopofSt Andrewsgave rise to a protracted conflict among thePresbyterianfaction in the Assembly. Adamson had already published a catechism ofLatin versededicated to James VI, which work was highly acclaimed even by his opponents, as well as a Latin translation of theScots Confessionof Faith.[3]
In 1578, Adamson submitted himself before the General Assembly, procuring a brief respite but the following year fresh accusations were brought against him. During these turbulent political times, he took refuge inSt Andrews Castle,where a so-called "wise woman",Alison Pearson,[5]who was later burned forwitchcraft,cured his apparent "serious illness".[3]
Excommunication
editIn 1583, Adamson returned to public service by being posted asScottish ambassadorto theCourt of St James'sofElizabeth I of England;whilst in London rumours were spread about his bad behaviour. On his return he implemented strong measures inparliamentagainst Presbyterians, and consequently accusations of heresy followed with excommunication at aprovincialsynodheld atSt Andrewsin April 1586; however, at the next General Assembly this verdict was rescinded as beingultra vires.[3]
In 1587 and 1588, however, fresh accusations were brought against Adamson, and again he was excommunicated, though afterwards on the inducement of a former adversary,Sir Andrew Melville,his sentence was remitted. Meanwhile, Adamson had produced theBook of Lamentations,and theBook of Revelationin Latin verse which he dedicated to the king but complained of his harsh treatment.King Jameswas unmoved by Adamson's representations and transferred theepiscopalrevenuesto his new favourite,Ludovic, 2nd Duke of Lennox.
After falling from grace, Adamson spent the remaining three years of his life supported by charity.[3]
Legacy
edit
Adamson possessed many gifts, being learned and eloquent, but also had grave defects of character; however, the "Recantation of Episcopacy(1590) "attributed to him is probably spurious. His collected works, prefaced by a favourable panegyric, in the course of which it is said that" he was a miracle of nature, and rather seemed to be the immediate production of God Almighty than born of a woman ", were published by his son-in-law, Thomas Wilson, in 1619.[3]
Anheraldicmemorialto Adamson survives at theancient cathedral of St Andrews.[6]
By his wife ElizabethnéeArthur, Adamson had two sons, James and Patrick, and a daughter, Mariota, who marriedSir MichaelBalfour.[7]His elder brothers, James and Henry, both served asProvostofPerth,and they were fathers ofHenryandJohn Adamsonrespectively.
References
edit- ^"Perth Magistrates".Scottish Family Heritage. Archived fromthe originalon 21 March 2012.
- ^"alternative-perth.co.uk".Alternative-perth.co.uk.Archived fromthe originalon 1 March 2012.Retrieved28 October2021.
- ^abcdefghiOne or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Chisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911). "Adamson, Patrick".Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 181.
- ^"Index: S | British History Online".British-history.ac.uk.Retrieved28 October2021.
- ^"On this day in Scotland: Alison Pearson, witch".Iainthepict.blogspot.co.uk.28 May 2012.
- ^"Property Detail".Archived fromthe originalon 26 September 2012.Retrieved22 May2012.
- ^"Home Page".Orkneybalfours.Retrieved28 October2021.
Further reading
edit- Chambers, Robert;Thomson, Thomas Napier(1857)..A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen.Vol. 1. Glasgow: Blackie and Son. pp. 21–35 – viaWikisource.