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Patrick Adamson

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The Most Reverend

Patrick Adamson
Archbishop of St Andrews
ChurchChurch of Scotland
ArchdioceseSt Andrews
In office1575–1592
PredecessorJohn Douglas
SuccessorGeorge Gledstanes
Other post(s)Primate of Scotland
Orders
Consecration1576
Personal details
BornMarch 1537
Royal Burgh of Perth, Scotland
Died10 February 1592(1592-02-10) (aged 54)
St Andrews, Scotland
NationalityScottish
DenominationPresbyterian
SpouseElizabeth Arthur
Children2 sons and 1 daughter
Alma materUniversity of St Andrews (MA)
Coat of armsPatrick Adamson's coat of arms

Patrick Adamson (March 1537 – 10 February 1592) was a Scottish divine, and Archbishop of St Andrews from 1575.

Life

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Adamson was born at Perth where his father, Patrick Adamson, a burgess became Dean of Merchant Guildry.[1][2]

Adamson studied philosophy at the University of St Andrews where he graduated with a MA,[3] later receiving a doctorate.

Residence in France

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After serving as Minister of Ceres, Fife for three years, in 1565, Adamson travelled to Paris as tutor to the eldest son of Sir James MacGill, the Lord Clerk Register (or Clericus Rotulorum of Scotland), serving there initially as a Knights Hospitaller chaplain.[4]

In June 1566, Adamson wrote a Latin poem on the birth of Prince James for Mary, Queen of Scots and her King consort, Lord Darnley; by describing the young James as serenissimus princeps "of France and England" which, leaked by a rival to Charles IX of France's courtiers, 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 the University of Bourges.

At the time of the 1572 St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre in Paris, Adamson had been living under cover at a tavern in Bourges for 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 the Book of Job and a tragedy of Herod the Great, also written in the Latin language.[3]

Return to Scotland

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In 1572, Adamson returned to Scotland becoming Minister of Paisley. In 1575, he was appointed by the General Assembly as one of the commissioners to settle the jurisdiction and policy of the church. As Moderator in the following year, he together with his successor, David Lyndsay, presented the Church Assembly proceedings to Lord Morton, Regent of Scotland.[3]

In 1576, Adamson's consecration as Archbishop of St Andrews gave rise to a protracted conflict among the Presbyterian faction in the Assembly. Adamson had already published a catechism of Latin verse dedicated to James VI, which work was highly acclaimed even by his opponents, as well as a Latin translation of the Scots Confession of 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 in St Andrews Castle, where a so-called "wise woman", Alison Pearson,[5] who was later burned for witchcraft, cured his apparent "serious illness".[3]

Excommunication

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In 1583, Adamson returned to public service by being posted as Scottish ambassador to the Court of St James's of Elizabeth I of England; whilst in London rumours were spread about his bad behaviour. On his return he implemented strong measures in parliament against Presbyterians, and consequently accusations of heresy followed with excommunication at a provincial synod held at St Andrews in April 1586; however, at the next General Assembly this verdict was rescinded as being ultra 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 the Book of Lamentations, and the Book of Revelation in Latin verse which he dedicated to the king but complained of his harsh treatment. King James was unmoved by Adamson's representations and transferred the episcopal revenues to 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

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Cathedral of St Andrews, Fife

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]

An heraldic memorial to Adamson survives at the ancient cathedral of St Andrews.[6]

By his wife Elizabeth née Arthur, Adamson had two sons, James and Patrick, and a daughter, Mariota, who married Sir Michael Balfour.[7] His elder brothers, James and Henry, both served as Provost of Perth, and they were fathers of Henry and John Adamson respectively.

References

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  1. ^ "Perth Magistrates". Scottish Family Heritage. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012.
  2. ^ "alternative-perth.co.uk". Alternative-perth.co.uk. Archived from the original on 1 March 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Adamson, Patrick". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 181.
  4. ^ "Index: S | British History Online". British-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  5. ^ "On this day in Scotland: Alison Pearson, witch". Iainthepict.blogspot.co.uk. 28 May 2012.
  6. ^ "Property Detail". Archived from the original on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  7. ^ "Home Page". Orkneybalfours.com. Retrieved 28 October 2021.

Further reading

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Religious titles
Preceded by Archbishop of St Andrews
1576–1592 		Succeeded by
Academic offices
Preceded by
John Douglas
Archbishop of St Andrews
 Chancellor of the University of St Andrews
1576–1592 		Succeeded by
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